Acu-Rite Control System MILLPWRG2 User Manual

							ACU-RITE MILLPWRG2 41
1.3 Console
Context sensitive help
The MILLPWRG2 uses an intuitive method to aid the user when 
assistance is required.  When assistance is needed with a feature, the 
User Manual can be displayed directly at the point which describes the 
feature.
To use this help, in this example, the console is in PGM mode, and a 
Linear Engraving cycle is being programed.  It is desired to see 
descriptions of the cycle parameters, and the cycle itself. The 
following steps describe the actions needed to take. 
Using context sensitive help
Press the INFO key to open the on screen User 
Manual.
This will display a new window containing the section in the User 
Manual, opened directly to the description of the desired feature. 
This is the active window when Context Sensitive Help is activated.
To activate the Contents View on the left side of the display, press 
the Contents View soft key.  This allows the user to see all available 
topics from the User Manual.  The Forward and Back soft keys will 
navigate the users previous history. The Previous Topic and 
Next Topic soft keys will select the previous and next topic in the 
manual contents (shown in the Contents View on the left hand side).  
These soft keys allow the user to select other sections of the User 
Manual while in Context Sensitive Help.  Using these keys will 
navigate the User Manual even if the Contents View is hidden.
The following describes the action, and use of the soft keys:
The Back soft key navigates one page back per key 
press to a previous page that was viewed from the 
history.  History is not cleared when the Help Screen 
is exited.
The Forward soft key navigates one page forward per 
key press from the viewed pages in history.
The Previous Topic soft key navigates one Topic up 
in the contents window per key press.
The Next Topic soft key navigates one Topic Down in 
the contents window per key press.
The Contents View soft key is a toggle key to show/
hide the contents view on the left hand side of the 
display.
To close, press the Exit soft key. 
						

							421 Introduction
1.3 Console
Console keypad
The following keys are located on the console keypad.  There is also a 
quick reference guide located at the beginning of this manual on page 
ii of the inside front cover.
1Axis keys, use to select the required axis.
2Numeric keys, use to enter numeric data.
3CANCEL key, use to cancel current action.
4CLEAR key, use to clear selections such as values entered in a 
field.
5ARROW keys, use to navigate around the screen, and highlight 
dialogue fields. Also used to move the table axes.
6STOP key, use to pause, or stop a program that is running, or a 
machine operation.
7GO key, use to start, or resume a program.
8USE key, use to complete an operation, i.e. data values entered in 
a dialogue.
9ENTER key, use to activate selections, and entries.
10+/- key, use to toggle key for “Plus/Minus” data entry.
11 CALC key, opens the fully functional calculator.
12Function keys, select appropriate key for quick access to the 
function and data entry.
13Milling function keys.  Selection of appropriate key provides direct 
access to the milling function dialogue. 
						

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1.4 Operating Mode Screens
1.4  Operating Mode Screens
Display navigation
The DRO mode is the default start up mode, and PGM mode can be 
selected from the front panel key after start up.  A condensed 
description of these has been provided here on how to navigate, and 
become familiar with the information that is being provided.
Complete descriptions and details of these are provided later in this 
manual, see DRO screen on page 53.
DRO display screen
The MILLPWRG2 display screen provides the information required to 
monitor the machine, it’s movement, programming, and more.
The default screen, or home screen, displays two main windows, and 
soft keys in the soft key display area. When the console is first turned 
on, the unit defaults to this screen. See Screen navigation on page 
34.
The DRO screen displays information per the current operation. DRO 
mode allows the use of the milling function keys, or can be used as a 
DRO in manual machining operations. 
The system Shutdown soft key is located here as well as in PGM mode. 
						

							441 Introduction
1.5 Accessories
Program display screen
From the DRO mode, press the DRO/PGM key, and the 
display changes to program mode showing the 
currently selected or loaded program.
When programing a job, the display activates a graphic view of the 
program. While the program is running, the operation that is being 
performed is graphically shown as well. The VIEW key provides 
features to configure the graphic area.
For more information, see Program function screen on page 79.
1.5  Accessories 
Electronic edge finder
The electronic edge finder KT 3D enables the ability to teach positions, 
find the center point of a circle, or locate datum (work piece zero) by 
touching off on the part. Advantage of an electronic edge finder is that 
it instantly senses when contact is made with the point (even if the 
axis over traveled).   
						

							Machining 
Fundamentals 
						

							462 Machining Fundamentals
2.1 Conventions
2.1  Conventions
Axis conventions
Count direction
When programming a part using MILLPWRG2, table movement and 
tool movement are determined by the use of positive or negative 
numbers. MILLPWR
G2 has been factory set with the following 
positive and negative count directions for the X, Y and Z-axes:
X axis
The table will move to the left and the tool will move to the right for 
a positive count direction.
Y axis
The table will move toward you while the tool moves away from you 
for a positive count direction.
Z axis
The quill will move up (away from the table surface) for a positive 
count direction.
Cartesian coordinates
A cartesian coordinate is a position that can be measured from the 
X- and Y-axes.
Polar coordinates
A polar coordinate is a position that is defined by an angle and a 
radius. Angles can be entered in decimal degrees, or Degrees, 
Minutes, Seconds (DMS). 
						

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2.1 Conventions
Absolute and incremental work piece positions
Absolute work piece positions
Absolute coordinates are position coordinates that are referenced to 
the datum of the coordinate system (origin). Each position on the work 
piece is uniquely defined by its absolute coordinates.
Example 1: Holes dimensioned in absolute coordinates
Incremental work piece positions
Incremental coordinates are referenced to a previous step within the 
program, which serves as the relative (imaginary) datum. When you 
write a part program in incremental coordinates, you thus program the 
tool to move by the distance between the previous and the 
subsequent nominal positions. Incremental coordinates are therefore 
also referred to as chain dimensions.
Example 2: Holes dimensioned in incremental coordinates
Absolute coordinates of hole 4
X = 10 mm
Y = 10 mm
Hole 1Hole 2Hole 3
X = 10 mm X = 30 mm X = 50 mm
Y = 10 mm Y = 20 mm Y = 30 mm
Hole 5, with respect to 4Hole 6, with respect to 5
X = 20 mm X = 20 mm
Y = 10 mm Y = 10 mm 
						

							482 Machining Fundamentals
2.1 Conventions
Setting the datum
Overview
Datum is the workpiece zero or absolute zero, and is a point of 
reference that the MILLPWR
G2 bases all of the parts coordinates 
from.
A datum must be established for every job. Datums location may be 
indicated on the print; or the operator may establish a datum that 
allows most of the parts dimensions be entered directly using the 
least amount of calculations. 
When establishing datum, it may be easiest to locate a known point 
on each axis, such as the corner of the part, or a location on a vise or 
fixture. 
Datum can be set at a point on the top surface, a position beneath the 
surface, or at a point where theres no material present (such as in the 
center of a circular part). Touching off the edge of a work piece using 
a tool, or an edge finder can be used when establishing a datum. See 
Steps to establish the datum on page 106.  
						

							ACU-RITE MILLPWRG2 49
2.2 Manual Machine Positioning
2.2  Manual Machine Positioning
Move table
Non cutting mode
You can make or change jog moves when in DRO mode with the servos 
on.
In mm units the jog increment is 20 microns, 200 microns and 2000 
microns respectively.
Changing the mode
Jog move modes are performed at the currently active feedrate. The  
active Jog is selected by pressing the appropriate soft key, then 
pressing the appropriate ARROW key to move the table in the direction 
required. The UP and DOWN ARROWS move the table in the Y axis. The 
LEFT and RIGHT ARROWS move the table in the X axis. Use the soft keys 
Move Z Up or Move Z Down to move the Z axis in the desired 
direction.
Changing the jogging speed
The active jogging speed defaults to the max feed as determined by 
the machine builder. The jogging speed may be changed by pressing 
Clear. Enter the new speed in the dialogue and press ENTER.  The new 
value will remain active until set again or on the next power up. The 
active jogging speed (at 100% override) is displayed in the Jog Mode 
ATTENTION dialogue.
Incremental moves
In DRO Mode, Press the Move Table soft key.
Then select the soft key Jog increment required. Then press the 
ARROW keys (for X and Y) or the soft keys for Z. One jog increment is 
moved per ARROW key press.
Continuous moves
To manually position the machine using continuous movement, 
press the Move Table soft key. Make sure none of the incremental 
Jog keys are highlighted.
Jog ModeDescription
RapidDefault rapid speed for continuous jogs. Actual 
speed determined at machine setup, and can be 
over ridden using the potentiometer.
Jog: 0.1Conventional Jog increment set at 0.100”.
Jog: 0.01Conventional Jog increment set at 0.010”.
Jog: 0.001Conventional Jog increment set at 0.001”. 
						

							502 Machining Fundamentals
2.2 Manual Machine Positioning
Press the appropriate ARROW key (or soft key) to move the table in the 
direction required for the axis move. The table will move at the 
currently active jogging speed. The table will move until the ARROW 
key is released.
Adjusting the feedrate
The Feedrate Override potentiometer can be used to override the 
currently active feedrate or rapid rate for machine moves. The switch 
provides a range of 0% to max% as defined in Job setup, see page 
225. Setting the switch to 100% will allow the actual feedrate or rapid 
rate currently active to be used.
Preset moves
The Preset feature allows the machine to be used manually like a 
readout. The preset dialogue is used to set a target location. After 
entering a target location, the INCR display will show the distance 
between the current position to, and the target position. 
Press the DRO/PGM key on the front panel to place the 
MILLPWRG2 in DRO mode. 
Press the ABS/INCR key on the front panel to place the 
MILLPWRG2 to INCR.
Press the Preset soft key to open the Preset dialogue.
Enter the target coordinates for X, Y, and Z.
Press the USE key to set the target and exit the Preset dialogue.
Press the CANCEL key at any time to cancel and exit the Preset 
dialogue.
Manually move the table and/or quill until the INCR axis positions are 
zero. When the INCR positions are zero, the machine is at the target 
position.
Zero incremental
The INCR display may be set to zero at the machines current location.
Press the DRO/PGM key on the front panel to place the MILLPWRG2 
in DRO mode.
Press the ABS/INCR key on the front panel to place the MILLPWRG2 
to INCR.
Press the Zero X soft key to zero the X axis.
Press the Zero Y soft key to zero the Y axis.
Press the Zero Z soft key to zero the Z axis.
The INCR display will show zero. As the table or quill are moved, the 
INCR display will show the distance from the current position to the 
zero location.
The machine builder determines the default rapid rate and 
maximum feedrate at setup. If the MILLPWRG2 is shut 
down, the configuration file reloads these default rates at 
the next power up.