Homag Sawtech - saw model number 34 - setup

Set up for a group of Homag Sawtech saw controllers

34 - CHF320/CHF41/CHF51/CH03+ saw with PC controller (NPS 400 V3xxx/Ilenia)

See Homag Sawtech - Ilenia for details of the Ilenia controller

Saw transfer parameters

- Create an entry in the Saw parameter table (at the main screen: Parameters - Saw transfer parameters)

Name - any chosen name (e.g. NPS400 V3013)

Path - network folder for saw program and data (e.g. n:\nps400\

If the transfer to the Saw is by floppy disk this should be set to, for example, A:\ or B:\. For a serial link set the path to a valid directory on the hard drive. For a direct connection to the Saw (network link) this path is the network drive on the saw controller. If necessary use Windows explorer to map a network drive to this location before setting up the saw transfer path, or use a UNC path.

At the right hand side of the row are a set of extra parameters to set.

On transfer to the saw the previous contents of the transfer directories (path for saw data) are deleted prior to transfer and only new files are transferred. To avoid this use Buffered transfer. For transfer to the Saw by floppy or serial link set this parameter to N. For a direct link to the Saw (network connection) set this parameter to Y

Saw parameters

Create or adjust a set of saw parameters with the following values:-

- Set the 'Saw model number' to the one listed above (34)

- Set 'Create label data for saw' to a value of:: Per piece (if printing labels at the saw)

System parameters

- Check the settings in System parameters and ensure that data is created for cutting dimensions and other items such as offcuts and part drawings (if required).

Optimising parameters

Create or adjust a set of optimising parameters with the following values:-

Duplicate parts: Show in duplicate patterns

Recut: Maximum setting is Multiple unequal

Head cuts:  Maximum settings is 5

Retrim after head cut (inc. saw blade thickness): Must match value for: Minimum crosscut trim (inc. saw blade thickness) - Rear:

Label design

For label design facilities (which can be download to the controller) at the main screen select (Tools - Label design)

Controller settings

There may also be settings to make at the Saw controller refer to the guide for the Controller.

Files created for transfer (some may not be present)

Notes

The NPS400 V3 controller supports multiple fourth phase recuts (including head patterns). The files produced for saw model 34 are very similar to those for saw model 33 but note the following differences.

The order in which crosscut dimensions appear has been reversed (right-to-left)

Head patterns are cut as though all blocks are heads (there is no 'main' block)

If a pattern contains at least two blocks and the first head is staggered (not null), the first head cut dimension is reduced by a crosscut trim in order to allow the saw controller to take a fixed trim at the left side of the board.

The pieces database created during transfer to saw has an extra description field for each part record and is therefore incompatible with previous versions. The extra description field (DESCR1) is filled out with the contents of the information box for part description if this is set (otherwise left blank).

Up to multiple fourth phase recuts are allowed using additional function codes:-

6 - Recut in main (3rd phase)

7 - Recut in head (3rd phase)

8 - Uneven recut in main (4th phase)

9 - Uneven recut in head (4th phase)

If a pattern contains higher phases than multiple 4th phase an error is produced after optimising.

OS/2 bitmaps - Images from OS/2 bitmaps can be shown on labels for this saw model. The image is printed half tone.

Head cuts - The controller assumes that all blocks are subject to the 'rear crosscut trim' specified as the third value of the #TRIMS line of the NPS400 program file. Patterns are (in fact) created with only the main block subject to this trim and all other blocks subject to the 'head retrim value' (optimising parameter).

To alleviate this problem, NPS400 head cut programs are now created assuming that all blocks use the head retrim value. The difference between the head retrim and the rear crosscut trim is removed as a separate (calculated) trim during head cutting.

The contents of the #TRIMS line is then:-

Non head patterns

#TRIMS,0,Lr,Xr,Z,1

Where:-

Lr = rear rip trim

Xr = rear crosscut trim

Z = rear recut trim

Head patterns

#TRIMS,Xcni,Lr,Rt,Z,1

Where:-

Xcni = rear crosscut trim - head retrim

Rt  = Head retrim

Note that under this scheme, setting the head retrim larger than the rear crosscut trim is an error condition: in this case the head retrim is assumed to be the minimum of the two values.

Where the head retrim is the same as the rear crosscut trim, the calculated value for trim during head cutting is zero.

Trim no longer specified for head cuts - It is assumed that a trim is no longer required during the head cut phase except in the case of a checkerboard head and main pattern where further division is achieved by rip operations.

Function codes - for this controller are as follows:-

Head cut    1

           Main    Head

Rip         4        2

Crosscut    5        3

Recut       6        7

Uneven cuts 8        9

Note that the main block has no head cut dimension to define its length. Patterns with a blank (or null) head require an extra head cut dimension for this to ensure that the extra waste is not added to the main portion.

Depth of bed for drawback - this saw parameter is obeyed by this controller. If set it allows the saw to cut checkerboard head patterns where the board would otherwise be too long for a drawback. By cutting the pattern as a staggered head a smaller drawback is required for the head cut (at the expense of extra cutting time).

When cutting patterns with heads, the NPS400 takes the cut which separates the main block first. Therefore the main block comes off the saw first and is shown at the right hand side of the NPS400 pattern drawing. This is a mirror of the Optimising program operation, where main is shown on the left hand side of the pattern and is assumed to remain on the saw after all heads have been removed. Improvements have been made the saw model 34 cutting dimensions to avoid confusion at the saw and ensure that the Optimsing program pattern drawings match the display at the NPS400. These changes result in the renaming of the Optimising program RHS block to 'main' and the Optimising program LHS block to be the last head. This means that the optimising parameters (Nos. 9-11) and saw parameters (No. 3) controlling the complexity of heads and main are no longer effective unless they are all set to the same values.

Override trims - Head retrim and rear crosscut trim - must usually match for Homag Sawtech saws but if the optimising parameter 'Override trims' is set to Yes this rule does not apply and the head retrim is set as the minimum of the actual head retrim and crosscuts trims.

Crosscut only patterns - these are dealt with as a special sort of head cut pattern so the crosscut trim is placed in the '#TRIMS' field (trim during heads). For example, #TRIMS, 6.0,.

Label individual recut parts - Labels for recuts and offcuts are usually printed at the crosscut stage. To print labels for recuts and offcuts as these pieces are produced set the Saw parameter: Spare to a setting of L.

Labelling of second cut patterns - Programs for second cut patterns are generated using the CNI labelling method, where the part item number is listed against the #CUT line which produces that part. This means that the correct number of labels is produced irrespective of labelling mode at the saw controller (per piece or per book). Note that labels are also produced at the first cut pattern(s). To avoid a miss-count of parts at the controller, the 'quantity required' (PRESET) field of the parts database is therefore doubled for parts that require a second cut pattern.

Format of export to pieces database  - The 'DESCR1' field contains the contents of information box 14. Previous versions exported the 'information box for Part Description' (key letter M) to this field if it was defined. Note that only the first 30 characters are transferred from box 14 to the DESCR1 field. It is recommended that box 14 be used for  'part size for second cut ' (21 chrs). A summary of the recommended information box setup for model 34 follows:-

Box  Name     Length

1     Program    9

2     Edge matl 15

3     Edge thk1  5

4     Edge prg1  8

5     Edge mat2 15

6     Edge thk2  5

7     Edge prg2  8

8     Edge mat3 15

9     Edge thk3  5

10    Edge prg3  8

11    Edge mat4 15

12    Edge thk4  5

13    Edge prg4  8

14    2nd cut size 21