DNC Software for Thermal Cutting Machine Comcut

DNC software for thermal cutting machine ComCut

Installation and configuration

Edition 08jun00 for ComCut DNC Version 1.9

Subject to alterations

Cutting Systems, Groß-Umstadt, Germany

Messer Cutting & Welding AG

Cutting Systems

Otto-Hahn-Str. 2-4

D - 64823 Groß-Umstadt

Post-office box 1102

D - 64818 Groß-Umstadt

Tel. (06078) 787-0

Fax. (06078) 787-150

DNC software for thermal cutting machine ComCut
Installation and configuration

Contents

1. Introduction......

2. Installation......

3. Configuration......

3.1. Setting of the path of the ESSI files......

3.2. Setting of the DNC interface......

3.3. Setting of the language......

3.4. Setting of the transformation of auxiliary functions......

4. Operation at the machine control panel......

5. Technical description......

1. Introduction

The present DNC software is only determined for the thermal cutting machine ComCut.

The following describes the installation and configuration of this software on a PC. For operation of the DNC software at the thermal cutting machine ComCut it has to be referred to the machine documentation.

2. Installation

The DNC software for the thermal cutting machine ComCut has to be installed on a PC with the operating system Windows 95, 98 or NT. The software consists of the following files :

-DNC.EXE Program file

-DEUTSCHE.LANLanguage file for the German language

-ENGLISH.LANLanguage file for the English language

-SETUP.BATInstallation job

-ComCut DNC Linkage for Desktop

-ComcutDNCd.docprovided German documentation in the Word 97 format

-ComcutDNCe.docprovided English documentation in the Word 97 format

The installation can be very simply carried out :

Insert the floppy disk ‘DNC software for the thermal cutting machine ComCut’ into the floppy disk drive of your PC.
Invoke the Windows Explorer and click under the work station on the ‘3,5 floppy disk (A: )’.
Double click on the file SETUP.BAT under "Content of A:\".
Alternatively, you can also invoke in the start menu of Windows the function "Run" and enter in the "Open" line the command "a:\setup.bat".
The installation job SETUP.BAT creates the folder "C:\Comcut" on the partition C: of your hard disk and copies the three files DNC.EXE, DEUTSCHE.LAN and ENGLISH.LAN from the floppy disk into this folder on the hard disk.
In addition, the linkage "ComCut DNC" will be copied into the Desktop folder, i.e. into the directory C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP. In this way, the Program Icon for the DNC Program will be created on the Windows Desktop.

3. Configuration

Start the DNC program by double clicking on the Program Icon "ComCut DNC", and so, the following window appears :

As long as this window is opened or minimised, i.e. is dropped onto the taskbar, you can transfer the nesting plans (ESSI files) for cutting[1] from the thermal cutting machine ComCut.

The DNC program will be terminated by using the button "Close".

Should an error occur during a data transfer between the PC and the thermal cutting machine ComCut, the DNC program can be started again with "Reset".

Prior to the first transfer, you should check the configuration of the DNC software and, if need be, adapt it to the machine parameters. For this, open the menu "Configure". It contains the functions

3.1. Setting of the path of the ESSI files

With the function "Directory" you can determine the directory, in which the nesting plans are located.

After selection of "Directory" you will be first asked for a password :

Enter the default password "comcut" (without apostrophes) or the password changed by you (see next chapter) and confirm with OK.

Now, the last selected path for the ESSI files will be displayed. The default path while working with the OmniWin software is C:\OMNIWIN\LOCHSTR :

Adapt the path, if your ESSI files are located in another directory, and confirm with OK.

3.2. Setting of the DNC interface

For adjusting the parameters of the serial interface, at which the DNC line is connected to the thermal cutting machine ComCut, the function "Com" in the menu "Configure" has to be invoked.

After selection of "Com", you will be first asked for a password :

Enter the default password "comcut" (without apostrophes) or the password changed by you (see next chapter) and confirm with OK.

The window "Com Port Set-up" opens :

The above window shows the standard settings for the serial interface for the DNC operation. The defaults for Baud rate (4800), Data bit (7), Stop bit (1) and Parity (Even) correspond to the pre-settings of the thermal cutting machine ComCut. The settings here must conform with the settings at the ComCut.

If the serial interface COM1 at the PC is for example already occupied by a mouse, select the 2 as Com Port.

Under Password you may enter a different one than the default password (comcut).

After eventual adapting of the parameters confirm with OK.

3.3. Setting of the language

With the function "Language" in the menu "Configure" the language of the DNC menu, which appears on the ComCut control, can be determined. The language (English), which is used for messaging on the PC by the DNC program itself, will be not changed by this setting!

In the "Select Language file" dialog the language file DEUTSCHE.LAN (for the German language) or ENGLISH.LAN (for the English language) can be selected at the moment.

3.4. Setting of the transformation of auxiliary functions

To adapt definite auxiliary functions in the ESSI format for the ComCut control, the function "Code Conversion" has to be invoked in the menu "Configure".

After selection of "Code Conversion", you will be first asked for a password:

Enter the default password "comcut" (without apostrophes) or the password changed by you (see chapter 3.3.) and confirm with OK.

The window "Essi code converter" opens (see next page).

By default the auxiliary functions 39 and 40 (for speed and kerf) may not be contained in the ESSI format for the ComCut. Therefore, for the auxiliary functions 39 and 40 in the column „Original“ no auxiliary functions are included in the column „Replacement“[2].

Also compare chapter 5. ‚Technical description‘ for this.

The conversion of the auxiliary functions is effected during the DNC transfer to the ComCut control.

4. Operation at the machine control panel

To load a program into the ComCut control, first press the „Remote“ button, then choose the function „DownLoad Program“ and enter a value for the kerf.

The ComCut contacts the DNC computer and then displays the first seven characters of the first five available ESSI files with the help of the five function keys. To select a file, press the corresponding function key and then „Enter“. If the desired file is not displayed, simply press „Enter“, and the next five files will be displayed. Scrolling of the list is possible, until a file is selected. If a file was selected, it is loaded into the DNC computer. When the transmission is terminated, a character count will be briefly displayed, before further queries concerning the cutting speed, etc. are carried out.
The file must be stored in the memory, if it should not be overwritten by the next loaded file.

5. Technical description

During the transmission of the ESSI data from the DNC computer to the ComCut control some properties will be stripped off or modified respectively, in order to prevent problems with the ComCut controller:

The plate perimeter check and all other lines before the % character will be deleted in the program. The first line in the parts program is always a %.
Every comment between the auxiliary functions AF 3 and AF 4 (including the 3 and 4 themselves) will be removed.
Every auxiliary function AF 39, 40, 0 will be removed too.
The program end codes „/“ and „99“ will be converted into the auxiliary function 64.
As an end-of-block character only a linefeed will be sent, but no carriage return.
No possibility is given to load a program only partly. Prior to processing, the whole parts program must be transferred into the control.

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