Single Point Alignment

Single Point Alignment

Idea
For a more flexible solution which requires a single program step, see Free Position Alignment
A Single Point Alignment is used in a part program to set a rough origin point from which your program can create a determinant reference frame using DCC commands without any further operator input.  A Single Point Alignment step can be added to your program in either offline or online modes.

A Single Point Alignment requires a good physical part-to-machine alignment and increased approach and retract moves for the automated alignment steps.

Creating a Single Point Alignment
  1. Prompt the operator to take a point at the origin location.
    1. Right click in the Program Database window and select Add Prompt to Program from the popup window.
    2. Enter the instructions for the operator.  Since the program will be "paused" while the instructions are displayed, you should add a comment to press [OK] to take the point.
      1. Optionally, an image can be added for clarity.
    3. Click [OK] to add the prompt command to the program.


  1. Add a Features | Point command to the program.  When running the program, this will be executed after the operator says OK to the prompt.
    1. An Online example is shown here.  If you are creating the program offline, switch from Joystick mode to Define Man mode to create the program step.
      1. If you are online, take a point at the target location with the machine.
      2. If you are offline, click [OK] to accept the Measure Point dialog and add it to the program.


Alert
The operator should take the touch as close to the target location as possible.  The distance from the actual point to the target as shown in this picture must be accounted for in increased approach and backoff for the automated alignment which follows the Single Point Alignment.

  1. Add an Alignment | Set Origin command to set zero at the location where the point was taken.
    1. In the case where it is not possible to take a point at the nominal origin, a suitable location can be used for the origin point and the appropriate offsets added from this location to put the origin in the correct location.


  1. Add an Alignment | RuntimeAlignPart command to the program.

  1. Continue by adding commands to create an automated alignment.