The processlist builder now uses a "Wait For Run Buttons Clear" command to test for clear run buttons before continuing the cycle. This protects against the run buttons being permanently enabled and causing the machine to run without the buttons being pressed.

[BIGDISPLAY] Waiting for RUN BUTTONS CLEAR

[DISPLAY] Next Step: (Pre-Bend) Wait for the run buttons to CLEAR
Wait For Run Buttons Clear

The Run buttons RELEASE or CLEAR is the trigger that allows a new step to run in STEP mode. This prevents STEP mode from running as if it is in AUTO if the run buttons are stuck. So - the release of the run buttons is now what advances CNC Bender to the next step in step mode.

This enhancement requires the presence of the new command named "Wait For Run Buttons Clear" in the Command Definition library. It also requires two new clear inputs for the run buttons (See the CIO dictionary screen image at the right)

New CIO objects that examine cleared run buttons:

The status of up to 20 servo axes are now displayed at all times in a grid on the top of the screen.


Whenever the states change, the grid cells color changes to either grey, green, or red.

For important events, CNC Bender now displays large messages for short periods of time.

This gives operators large, clear, and friendly messages of what step needs to be taken next.

Some of our OEM partner controls require that the operator press the ENABLE button to Jog.

CNC Bender can be set in Low Level to require an ENABLE button for all jogging. If the ENABLE button is not pressed when the joy stick is moved, then the "Press ENABLE to Jog" message appears on the screen.

CNC Bender was optimized so that CNC Bender / CNC Processor CPU Usage was dropped from 75%-80% down to 25% or lower without any degradation in bender performance. The typical CPU usage under load rarely spikes beyond 35%.

Note: This optimization causes the CNC Bender user interface to run much more quickly.

CNC Bender can now be setup in Low Level to require that a Key be inserted and switched to the EDIT mode on an operator station to allow an operator to edit data on the screen.

The only exception is password entry and the Low Level menu - which requires a password to enter.

Setup the feature in the low level menu - general dynamic options:

The new Mandrel Lube With Timer option allows operators to lube the mandrel for a period of milliseconds

• from the LOAD to START motion
• from any FEED
• from any ROTATE
• from any BEND

Setup the feature in the low level menu - general dynamic options by naming the secondary process list names:

This feature allows CNC Bender's PROCESSOR to control when the tube support is lifted or dropped - and if the drop should be confirmed with an input.

• Enable
• Feed Position for Output Down
• CIO Name of Tube Support Output Down
• Feed Position for check Input Down
• CIO Name of Tube Support Input Down

The following additions have been made to the configuration file:

• Smart Inspect Logging Settings for enhanced logging over TCP/IP connections.
  
• Loop interval changes

ADD these to the CNCProcessor.cfg file:

[Smart Inspect Logging]
Enabled=0
Logging Method=TCPIP
Filename=c:\cnc\logs\cncprocessor.sil
TCPIP Address=192.168.0.190

[Loop]
Main Loop Interval=0.100
Background Read Servo Loop Interval=0.100

The image on the right is a screen shot of Smart Inspect logging from a CNC Processor session.

The new feature allows CNC Bender technicians to track performance inside CNC Processor through the network. Process times are returned as finely graded as microseconds - allowing us to track and fine-tune bottlenecks out of the process.

The items on the right can be removed from the configuration file. They are no longer used in CNC Processor.

REMOVE these from the CNCProcessor.cfg file:

[Loop]
Power Off Manual Mode Pause=250
Power On Manual Mode Pause=250
Cycle Hold Pause=100

[PRIORITY]
Master Loop Priority=10000

During JOGGING - CNC Processor can check for EOT (end of travel) of an axis before it arrives at the true FAULT EOT. This gives the axis a chance to stop jogging before it arrives at a FAULT position or emergency switch.

The changes are setup in the main.axislist configuration for each axis.

The following additions have been made to the AXIS configuration file:

• Enable EOT= 1 or 0
• Low EOT= (floating point value)
• High EOT= (floating point value)

Example of what to add in each AXIS in the main.axislist file. The value shown here are typical of the FEED axis:

Enable EOT=1
Low EOT=0
High EOT=3160

When the axis arrives at the programmed EOT, a Big Message (see above) displays on the screen that announces that the axis has arrived at the axis EOT - and CNC Processor stops the axis motion.