ProLIGHT 1000 Control Software

PLTW
Computer Integrated
Manufacturing
 Program Interface
•Standard Tool Bar • Program Window
•Output Tool Bar • Status Bar
•Input Tool Bar
• Help Functions
•Operator Panel
• Homing The Mill
• Position Readout
•Machine Information Panel
• Setting up Tool Libraries
•Verify Window • Editing Functions
•Jog Control Panel
Program Interface
Standard Tool Bar

Help
Print Run/Pause/Stop
Program.
Cut/Copy/Paste
Save File
Verify Prog.
Open File
Operator Panel Toggle
New File
Jog Control Toggle
Output Toolbar

Spindle On/Off

Output # 1 On/Off

Output # 2 On/Off

Robot # 1 On/Off

Robot # 2 On/Off
Input Toolbar

Emergency Stop Switch

Safety Shield Indicator

Plus Limit Input Indicator

Minus Limit Input Indicator

Robot # 1 Input On/Off

Robot # 2 Input On/Off
 Operator Panel
Stops
Optional Skip - Program
Skips lines in Cycle Start
the program Cycle Pause -
Optional
Run Stop -
in Single
that have a (M01)
“/” Immediately
Stops
Stepwhen
Mode Spindle Speed
atisthe beginning Pauses
reached
Feed in the-
Override Override
program-
programthe
Overrides Overrides
feeds set in the spindle speed
program by a set in program
percentage by a percentage
Position Readout
The position readout is used to determine the current
position of the spindle/cutting tool. It can be used like a
digital readout on a manual milling machine.

X Axis Position
Y
ofAxis Position
Spindle
of Spindle
Z Axis Position
of Spindle
Position Panel Menu
Right click on the control panel
to display the Fly-out Menu
 Position Panel Menu
Set the
Change between coordinate
Inch and Metric system to Work
Units or one of six part
coordinate
systems
Set the current
position to
Set The
0,0,0
Machine
Position Send the Mill To
a specified
coordinate
 Machine Information Panel
Current Tool
Number

Current Feed Elapsed Time

Rate Set in of current
Current job
The Number
Program Diameter of
of Passes Spindle speed
Current
current
Block Total
set number
in the
Made In The Coordinate
cutting tool
ofprogram
blocks in
Sequence
Current theSystem
program
number of
Program
block being
executed
Verify Window
The Verify Window is
used to test the program
code before attempting to
cut a part. This option
creates a simulation based
on the code and the
description of the tools in
the tool library. (Click on the
picture to show view a simulation)
 Verify Setup
Select solid
or
Zoom
centerline Slide the bar
toIn/Out or
represent to tilt the
Fit theand
theSelects
tool block in the
block in the
block window
from three
window
predefined
(All)
views: Top,
Slide the bar
Front and
rotate the
Isometric
block
 Verify - Setup Stock
Identifies the
initial tool
Set the size position. This
of the stock is only used
in the verify for verify and
Set the origin
window provides a
of the stock reference for
(0,0,0). Most the verify
parts use the process
upper left
corner
 Verify - Setup Options
Centerline
Refresh the
Automatically Displays
Options: the
display when
tool when
refreshes the
a change
checkedis
verify window
made that
Shows rapid
when a change
would
movesmake
made
is made that
thebywireframe
the tool
would make
look
whendifferent
checked.
the solid look
different
 Jog Control Panel
The jog control panel is used to move the table and spindle.
It is operated by the Mouse or Keyboard

Enables Keyboard Adjusts the jog

Identifies
Control (F4) Positive Y Axis
feed rate: Slow
incremental
Step step (A)
at .001 inch jog Positive
(up Z Axis
arrow)
(1in/min), Med.
distances when jog (plus sign)
Step at .010 inch (B) (12in/min) andX Axis
Positive
jogging the
Switches from Fast(50in/min)
jog (right arrow)
machine
incremental
Step to (C)
at .100 inch
continuous Negative Z Axis
movement Negative X Axis Negative Y Axis jog (Minus sign)
jog (Left Arrow) jog (Down Arrow)
Jogging

Click on the image. Notice how the position

indicator changes as the machine is jogged
Jog Control Panel

Right clicking on the Jog Control

Panel will produce a Fly-out Menu.
Here the mill can be homed, sent to a
position, docked, hidden or setup.
Jog Control Panel

Change the Feed rate Set the incremental

for slow, medium steps for A, B, and C
and fast settings
Program Window
The program
window is were the
NC code is entered.
The window can be
locked to prohibit
accidental edits
while jogging the
machine using the
keyboard.
Program Window

When the program

window is gray the
program is locked. To
unlock the Program
select - Edit - Unlock
or hit Ctrl-L.
 Right Click in the
program window to
produce the fly-out
Program Window menu

Standard
Cut/Copy/Paste
Will Evaluate
Jump to a
selected
Automatically code
specific line
renumbers
Saves the
the file
number
Run itsthe
in program program
current
Verify
without
location the
Estimate
program how
without
prompting
longprompting
the program
will take to run
Status Bar

Prompts the user or

Shows whether
provides current Show Shows
Showthethe status
state of ofof
state
Indicates
Indicates the linewhether
number
program Current
the Time
of file has
lock
informationcurrent home Caps
Number
LockLock
been
the edit
position modified
cursor
is valid and since the last save
the total
number of lines
 Homing The Mill

Homing means to move the spindle or cross slide

to a fixed known position on the machine.
Homing commands perform two functions:

1. To check against a specified coordinate for calibration

loss.
2. To provide for quick machine set up when the part
location does not vary.
 Help Functions
The help function is easy to use and full of information. The
four ways to access help are.
••Selecting
Select the the
Selecting help
the Help
Context
help button
fromicon
thein
Help in some
main
icon
the thedialog
menu
in
Standard boxes
Standard
tool bar
tool bar

This is similar
Context Helptoallows you to pick on an icon or area of
context the
help. It onlyinterface to get help on that item.
program
provides help on the
elements of the
current dialog box.
Help Functions
These options are available
when you select help from
the main menu bar
Help Functions
CNC codes and
programming, Linear
Interpolation, Circular
Descriptions of
Interpolation,
conceptsCanned Cycle,
and features
Subprogramming,
not coveredPolar
Programming, Homing the
elsewhere.
About Light
Machining Machines
Center, Using
Covers Customer
Corporation menus, and
Cutter Compensation.
toolbars, windows
Technical
Things that and
Support.
aren't
screenquite
elements
common
procedures but still
crop up frequently.
Help Functions
Enter the text
The index function allows
you are
you to search for help by for
looking
entering keywords andhere
then
selecting from a list of
related topics
As you type
options related
to you text
appear here.
Help Functions
The save settings option prompts
you to select which settings you
wish to save
Help Functions
The restore setting allows you to
restore settings to a user default or
factory defaults
Help Functions
Selecting Tip Of The Day will
produce a tip on using the
WPLM1000 software. By default
the program offers a tip every
time the software is booted.
CNC Milling Machine Axis

The Milling machine

moves along three Axis -
X, Y and Z. When
programmed the mill
moves to coordinates
along the three axis. The
origin is the point at
which the three axis meet.
The graphic shows the
orientation of these axis.
 CNC Milling Machine
Y

Work Envelope

Z
X
Machine Zero Workpiece
or Home
Part Reference Zero
Position

Table
 Part Reference Zero (PRZ) Position
Yp
D= tool diameter

- x offset = D/2
Top View
(0,0,0) PRZ Position

Work Piece
Cutting Tool
Ym
Xp
Part Axes
Xm - y offset = D/2
Machine Axes
 Part Reference Zero (PRZ) Position
Zp

Front View

Xp
Work Piece

(0,0,0) PRZ Position

Note: x offset = y offset = D/2
z offset= 0
 Checking PRZ
Send the Mill to a
point above the x and
Y zero to make sure
the center of the
cutting tool is over the
top front corner.
 Tool Library
Setting up the tool library properly is a critical step. Once the tool
library is setup, however, it does not need to be changed unless a
new tool is loaded into a an existing tool holder. During setup the
tool is defined by its geometry, size, number of teeth and relative
length (Height Offset).
 Tool Library
Some of the information in the tool library is simply
used when verifying programs. For instance, the NC
program only directs the center of the tool so the
verify program needs to know the diameter of each
tool to show how much material is removed. The tool
offsets and tool numbers, however, are very
important when running programs with multiple tools.
Each tool must be defined with a Tool Height
Offset.
 Tool Setup
The first step in setting up a tool library is to home the
machine. The homing process send the mill to a known
position along all three axis. The machine can be
homed by:
• Selecting Setup in the menu bar and then “Set/Check Home”
• Holding the “Control” key and typing “H”
• Right Clicking on the Jog Control Panel and selecting
“Set/Check Home”
 When a tool offset is
established the
Tool Height Offsets control program
calculates its Height
move using the
Where does the offset
mill spindle go
when it is directed
to a height of .5?

Tool Height offset

 Tool Setup Wizard
A wizard is available for setting up tools. Select “Tool -
Setup Tool Wizard” from the main menu

Click Next
The first tool
established a
reference height
Tool Setup Wizard

Put the
reference
tool in the
spindle
click here.

Click on
Next
 Tool Setup
Offset gage - Works as
Wizard
a continuity check. The
light shine when a
complete circuit is
made by touching the
tool and table.
Click Next to continue

After inserting the reference tool use the jog control

panel to put the end of the cutting tool on the top of the
block
 Tool Setup Wizard
Remove the
reference tool
and then select
next

Your Done! Note that the Z coordinate in the Position Panel

changes to zero. The current height is now the reference
point. All other tools heights will now be compared to it.
Tool Setup Wizard

If the tool library

has other tools
If defined
the tool you may
is not in
now select them
the library you to
set the
will needtool height
to set it
upoffset
first.
Setting Up The Tool Library

Type in a tool
Enter the description
Diameter

Select the tool number.

This will be identified
as tool 1 (M06T1)
 Setting Up The Tool Library

Select the type of

Tool

An End Mill has

a flat bottom. A
center Acutting is has a
Bull Mill
recommended
nose radius on its
since plunging
corners is
- Define
often required
the radius here
 Setting Up The Tool Library

Select the type of An

Tool engraving
tool is a
type of
tapered
Define the taper cutter
angle
Define
A Ballthe
Mill has a
diameter
constantatradius
AitsStandard
(1/2 Drill
end pointon(118°
Diameter) its end.
Point)
Setting Up The Tool Library

Load the tool in the spindle

and set the parameters
Setting Up The Tool Library

Jog the machine

so the tool is
touching the top
of the reference
point (Tool
offset Gage)
Setting Up The Tool Library
Set the tool Height offset
by clicking “Current Z”
Setting Up The Tool Library

Note that the position panel

shows a z height of zero.
The control software has
calculated the difference
between the reference tool
and tool 1
 Setting Up The Tool Library

Tool Height offset

Continue setting up as many tools as necessary in the library. Any time that a
tool is removed from the tool holder (not the spindle) the height offset must be
reset. Now lets take a closer look at some more options in the tool library.
Setup Tool Library
Station locations
are used for mills
Identifywith
equipped tool
Number of teeth
Material (High
automatic tool
(flutes) in the
Speed Steel is a
changers.
cutting tool
good general
Always apply any
changespurpose
before tool)
continuing to the
next tool.
Editing Programs
The following techniques are helpful when editing
programs:
Find - In the Edit Menu, Find can be used to search for
specific text. This might be used to find a moves made
to negative Z depths.
Editing Programs
The following techniques are helpful when editing
programs:
Replace - In the Edit
Menu - Used to find
specific text and replace
it with a correction.
Helpful in changing feed
rates that have been
placed all throughout the
program.
Editing Programs
The following techniques are helpful when editing
programs:
Goto - Found in the Edit menu - Sends the edit cursor
to a specified program line. This is helpful when it is
necessary to make a change on a line that has been
identified by the software as having an error.