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Axis Motion	Profile Cutting Control Systems

Tutorial

In the following, a simple introductory tutorial is shown which indicates just how easy it is to use Axis Motion Profiler. The tutorial is designed for an operator of a laser table with no previous experience with the program. We have found that such operators can be doing useful work in a very short time. The second time users tutorial is shown first.

A SECOND Time Users Guide To Axis Motion Profiler

If you have already edited a file and saved it as an RSG and have also set the machine parameters for the job (such as the Z bottom surface and top positions) then to cut the job you only need to do the following:

1. Turn on the Cutting machine control box and the computer system. Start Profiler by typing PR.

2. Use the file dialogue (File/Open menu item) to open the "DXF" or RSG drawing file.

3. You can make any editing changes to the drawing in edit mode.

4. To produce a machining file select the File/MachineMode menu item.

5. You have now changed to the "Machine Mode" of the software package and your "DXF" or RSG file has been converted to an "RSM" file. You can now proceed to cut the job you have on the screen.

6. At the beginning of the day or if the machine has been turned off the cutting machine must be "HOMED" by pressing "FUNC" on the Hand Console or "F12" on the PC keyboard and then typing "51".

7. Use the arrow buttons on the hand console to move the cutting head on the machine to the bottom, left hand corner of the material that you plan to cut. This corresponds to the bottom left hand corner of the drawing on the screen.

8. The following steps depend on the type of tool being used. We describe a typical sequence for a laser cutting machine with height control.

a. SET the required POWER LEVEL with the knob on the laser card installed in the computer.

b. PRESS the "START" button on the hand console once. Wait for the head to rise to HOME.

c. PRESS "START" again to confirm and start the job cutting.

d. TO STOP PRESS "STOP" on the hand console OR "F11" on the keyboard.

e. The machine will start the job from where the cutting nozzle was positioned i.e. the bottom left corner of the drawing.

A First Time Users Guide To Axis Motion Profiler

1. Turn on the Cutting machine control box. The switch is located next to the power cord entry point to the control box.

2. Turn on the computer system. On the computer screen you will see a DOS prompt "C:\>" type "PR" (short for Profiler) and then press "ENTER". Read and accept the AXIS MOTION PTY. LTD license agreement. To continue PRESS "ENTER".

3. You will now find that the computer screen is in the "EDIT MODE" and you are now ready to accept (or "import") drawings in the form of "DXF" or RSG files. The aim is to convert these into machine cutting files called "RSM" files. To do this, select the "FILE" menu item and then the OPEN menu item. Using the open dialogue select the DXF or RSG file you want to open.

4. You now have your drawing file in the "EDIT MODE" of the system. You can edit this drawing and save it as an RSG file for future use.

5. Menu items include:

a. "LAYOUT" will allow you to move the drawing around the screen.

b. "EDIT" will allow you to set start points, direction of cuts, erase lines or sections of the CAD drawing, join any open shapes and other functions.

c. "SEQUENCING" Will allow you to adjust the order in which shapes are cut.

d. "GROUPS" will allow you to group various lines and shapes together to apply different parameters.

6. WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED EDITING make sure you save the file as an RSG file if you want to save all of the editing information. To produce a machining file click on "FILE" then "MACHINE MODE"

7. You have now changed to the "Machine Mode" of the software package and your "DXF" or RSG file has been converted to an "RSM" file. You can now proceed to cut the job you have on the screen.

8. At the beginning of the day or if the machine has been turned off then the Cutting machine must be "HOMED"

9. Press "FUNC" on the Hand Console or "F12" on the PC keyboard and then type "51". The cutting head of the machine will move to the front left corner of the machine. This is HOME position. The machine now knows its limits and where the head is in relation to the table.

10. Use the arrow buttons on the hand console to move the cutting head on the machine to the bottom, left hand corner of the material that you plan to cut. This corresponds to the bottom left hand corner of the drawing on the screen.

11. The following steps depend on the type of tool being used. We describe a typical sequence for a laser cutting machine with height control.

a. Before you can cut the job the machine needs to know where the top surface of the material is.(This is on the Z axis). To do this, Press "FUNC" "2" "ENTER" on the hand console. The machine will tell you to drive to where you want the "Z BOTTOM" position to be.

b. Use the arrow buttons to lower the laser cutting nozzle to within 1 mm of the surface (or until the top height control light, at the nozzle, comes on). Then press "ENTER"

c. Next the machine will ask for the "Z SURFACE" of the material, confirm with "ENTER". Finally the machine will ask for "Z TOP". Move the head up until the nozzle is clear of the job for all of the sheet including waves in the material. (If you are using holding jigs or clamps, then lift above them also.) Then press "ENTER".

d. Set the "CUTTING SPEED" next. To do this press FUNC then 0 and enter the cutting speed in mm/minute.

e. You are now ready to cut the job.

f. SET the required POWER LEVEL with the knob on the laser card installed in the computer.

g. PRESS the "START" button on the hand console once. Wait for the head to rise to HOME.

h. PRESS "START" again to confirm and start the job cutting.

i. TO STOP PRESS "STOP" on the hand console OR "F11" on the keyboard.

j. The machine will start the job from where the cutting nozzle was positioned i.e. the bottom left corner of the drawing.

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