|
This Chapter will deal with some information specific to KipwareTP® - Editor and Toolpath Plotting Software.
For complete video training for KipwareTP® ... please visit our Video Training Catalog through the link below :
https://www.kentechinc.com/Kipware_Video_Training_Catalog/index.htm
KipwareTP® was designed to be a quick "stick" plotter tool for the user to visually obtain verification for G code programs whether create in Kipware® conversational or not. Fanuc and Okuma formatted G code for milling and turning are supported with additional options for live tool and Y axis turning programs released in BETA format with ongoing development being performed. This section is devoted to some general information to expand on terminology and operation of KipwareTP®.
Some general information for the KipwareTP® main screen is outlined below :
DISPLAY Menu :
Button #1 ... selecting this button will activate the ZOOM mode and scrolling the mouse wheel will ZOOM the display in and out. You can move the image by holding down the RIGHT mouse button and dragging the image to the desired location.
Button #2 ... selecting this button will activate the MOVE mode and change the cursor to a hand icon. Double click on the screen to locate the part 0/0 to that location.
Button #3 ... selecting this button will clear the plot screen.
Button #4 ... selecting this button will activate the on-screen MEASURE mode. Once activated the mouse movement / locations will be displayed in the DRO fields. Selecting the MEASURE button will allow the user to perform a MEASURE sequence. Double click to indicate the START POINT ... then double click again to indicate the END POINT. KipwareTP® will then display the result screen indicating axis distance, total distance and angle in degrees between the two points.
PLOT CONTROLS Menu :
Button #1 ... turns on / off SINGLE BLOCK mode where the plot will execute only one line and wait for the user to press any key to plot the next line.
Button #2 ... turns on / off OPTIONAL STOP mode where the plot will pause on any M01 command and wait for the user to select any key to continue.
Button #3 ... turns on / off BLOCK DELETE mode where the plot will ignore any line preceded by a /.
Button #4 ... selecting this button will open the Z VISION PARAMETER menu where the user can set the MAX and MIN Z coordinate to be used in the Z VISION BAR.
Button #5 ... selecting this button will open the various TOOL PLOTTER options where the user can define a tool configuration through the Tool Library ... set up the tool plotting LIST in the Plotting Tool List and also set the tool plot display ON / OFF.
Button #6 ... rapid mode (G00 blocks in the G code) will be plotted at 10% of the normal rapid plotting speed.
Button #7 ... rapid mode (G00 blocks in the G code) will be plotted at 50% of the normal rapid plotting speed.
STOCK Controls :
The STOCK option in KipwareTP® allows the user to define stock or import a DXF file or Kipware® SketchPad SKETCH ... and then plot the G code toolpath over the displayed stock model. This gives the user another level of verification by comparing the toolpath to the stock model.
Tye of stock that can be displayed include :
SQUARE Stock ... input the parameters of the square in the fields to the left ... then select DISPLAY SQUARE STOCK to display the model.
ROUND Stock ... input the parameters of the round in the fields to the right ... then select DISPLAY ROUND STOCK to display the model.
DXF Input for Stock ... select the BROWSE button to find the desired DXF file on your PC ... then select DISPLAY DXF STOCK to display the DXF contents as a stock model.
SKETCH Input for Stock ... select the BROWSE button to find the SKETCH file created in the Kipware® SketchPad ... then select DISPLAY KIPWARE SKETCH STOCK to display the Sketch contents as a stock model.
Do Not Show Stock ... this option will turn the stock model display OFF and will not display any stock model.
TOOL PLOT Controls :
KipwareTP® gives the user the ability to plot user defined tools in addition to plotting over stock models. This option allows users to create tool configurations in the TOOL LIBRARY ... and then assign TRIGGER COMMANDS to call specific tools using the TOOL LIST option. Below are some additional in-depth explanations of these options.
The tool library is where users create tool configurations to be used in plotting. Tools can range form round tools ( most commonly for end mill and drills ) as well as complex turning tools as described using the ANGLE field in the configuration. The number of tools that can be held in the library is unlimited.
Once tools are defined in the Library ... they can set to auto-display using the Plotting Tool List option. In this menu users assign a TRIGGER COMMAND to a corresponding tool from the library.
In the example above ... we have assigned the G code command T01 to call the "80 Degree Diamond OD" tool from the Library. This means that every time KipwareTP® sees the T01 command during the plot ... the "80 Degree Diamond OD" tool configuration will be plotted at every end point in the plot. Similarly ... users can set up to (10) trigger codes which will call (10) tool configurations to be auto called during the plot. An example might be to use each T code as a trigger to call the corresponding tool configuration from the Library.
Users can also SAVE and LOAD previously configured Tool List. An example of this would be to configure a tool list based on tools loaded into the ATC magazine or tool turret for a CNC mill or lathe. This list can then easily be recalled when a plot is being performed for code that will run on that machine.
Selecting the CLOSE / SET button will activate the current TOOL LIST for the current plot.
The displaying of the tools configured in the Tool List can be turning ON / OFF by selecting the SET TOOL ON / OFF option from the drop down menu under the TOOL PLOT Control option button.
|