VTube Communication for CRIPPA MPF

About this Page

This page describes the setup and use of the VTube to CRIPPA MPF file communications for older CRIPPA benders that do not have the SVNET protocol.

Protocol

VTube-STEP can build CRIPPA MPF files that can be loaded into CRIPPA controls VTube-LASER, can build and correct data in CRIPPA MPF files for bender corrections.

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Communications Setup at the CRIPPA Bender

Connect the CRIPPA bender to the network using a standard Ethernet cable. Setup the data folders so that they are a shared network location on your network. These folders will contain MPF files.

Setup Benderlink at VTube-STEP or VTube-LASER

Entering Benderlink Setup

Enter the VTube System Options menu. Enter the Measure 2 tab menu. Enter the Setup Benderlink Network menu.

Setup the Benderlink Network Grid for the CRIPPA MPF Bender

Choose an unused row in the grid for a new CRIPPA bender setup. (Click on the image at the right to see a zoomed image.) Assign a bender name that will help operators identify which bender this is. This text will be displayed at the top of the Bender Setup menu. Assign the CRIPPA MPF protocol. Enter the path to the shared drive or folder in the NetPath field. This path should point to the folder that contains either MPF files or folders of MPF files at the CRIPPA bender. VTube accepts UNC names as well as regular paths with drive letters. Enter the IP address in the PING IP ADDRESS field if it is a fixed field. (This is not required. It allows VTube to ping the address to see if the network location is active before trying to open communications.) Press Close to save the settings. VTube will save these values to a persistent configuration file that will not change unless you change them in this grid.

How to SEND MASTER XYZ Data to the CRIPPA Control from VTube-STEP

At the SOCO Control

At the SOCO control, enter the SOCO XYZ Screen. With the XYZ Screen open, the SOCO control will understand that it must extract the MASTER XYZ data in the incoming data and import that into the SOCO NVS software.

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You can import data or models into VTube-STEP then send the calculated LRA bender data to the CRIPPA bender using the VTube EXPORT menu. In the EXPORT menu, click on the CRIPPA MPF button. Set the check boxes for the options you want to use, then press Build New Crippa MPF File. If the path to the bender is not in the Path Manager list, then you can Add a New Persistent Path to find the path to the bender. If it is in the list, then double click on that path.

At the VTube-STEP Computer Move to the VTube-STEP computer and follow these steps to transfer the XYZ data to the SOCO. Press the Bender Output button in the navigation pane. Set the correct bender number. Press the Send to Bender button. The SOCO will receive new data and ask if it should be imported with a dialog. Press YES to import the data.

How to SEND MASTER XYZ Data to the SOCO Control from VTube-LASER

You can also send the new XYZ Centerline data from the VTube-LASER BENDER SETUP menu to the SOCO bender using the VTube Bender Output menu. Enter the XYZ Screen At the SOCO Control At the SOCO control, enter the XYZ Screen. With the XYZ Screen open, the SOCO control will understand that it must extract the MASTER XYZ data in the incoming data and import that into the SOCO NVS software.

Enter the BENDER SETUP menu in VTube-LASER Follow these steps in the VTube-LASER: Press the "BENDER SETUP button in the Navigation Pane.

STEP 1 - Set the correct bender number at the top of the window. As of version 2.7, the SOCO SVNet option is available - which means you should see a SOCO bender at the top left corner of the screen. STEP 2 - On the right click on "Setup the Bender". STEP 3 - Click on AUTO SEND The SOCO will receive new data and ask if it should be imported with a dialog. Press YES to import the data.

How to SEND CORRECTION Data to the SOCO Control from VTube-LASER

At the SOCO Control At the SOCO control, setup and bend the first tube through the YBC and then Compile Execution screen.

After Bending the Tube After the bending cycle is complete, remove the tube from the dies. Leave the bender in AUTO mode.

Measure the tube with VTube-LASER Measure and align the tube to determine if it qualifies by falling within the envelope tolerance for the tube shape. In the VTube-LASER screen shot, you see the actual result of the first tube not qualifying in shape. The red cells in the tangent point grid on the lower left show that the measured tube centerline is out-of-tolerance.

Correct the SOCO with VTube-LASER - Enter BENDER SETUP Follow these steps in the VTube-LASER: Press the "BENDER SETUP button in the Navigation Pane.

RECALL SOCO YBC data and then SEND CORRECTIONS STEP 1 - Set the correct bender number at the top of the window. As of version 2.7, the SOCO SVNet option is available - which means you should see a SOCO bender at the top left corner of the screen. STEP 2 - If the Part Number is empty, then press the Copy the Master Part Setup values. STEP 3 - Click on RECALL. This will update the BLUE columns in the Bender Setup. STEP 4 - You can manually change the ADJUSTMENT values before sending corrections. In this case, we set the first and last Length adjustment to zero in order to keep the start position of the carriage in the same place. STEP 5 - Click on AUTO SEND. This will send the ORANGE columns to the SOCO bender.

At the SOCO Bender - Press GO! Press GO! The SOCO will compile the changes. You will see a progress bar after you press GO!

The "Auto Compensation Completed" message will appear in the lower right corner. Bend the corrected part now.

Measure at the VTube-LASER Computer Measure and align the tube again to determine if it qualifies by falling within the envelope tolerance for the tube shape. This screen shot shows an actual resulting change after the correction.

Other Pages

• See VTube-LASER
• See VTube-STEP
• See SOCO for information on the SOCO benders
• See Video 62 - SOCO Communications Video to see an actual corrections loop with a SOCO bender.