Acu-Rite Control System MILLPWRG2 User Manual

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5.1 Programming Introduction
Program screen display
When programming a machining step, the display changes according 
to the machining step selected. Once a machining step has been 
selected using the Program Steps soft key, the display will appear as 
shown here. The program steps display windows are described in the 
following table.
1Current program steps.
2Dialogue for a new milling step (e.g. Circle Pocket)
3Dialogue field graphic assistant. Graphic changes per input field 
illustrating information required.
4Soft keys.  
5Program name. If an asterisk appears at the end of the name, it is 
indicating that the program has not been saved since its last edit.
Soft keys that have a small arrow in the lower right hand 
corner indicates that additional soft keys are available 
when the key is selected. Soft keys that have up arrow in 
the top left hand corner indicates that a popup menu is 
available when selected. 
						

							825 Program Overview
5.1 Programming Introduction
Program mode soft keys
When the DRO/PGM key is selected from DRO mode, the MILLPWRG2 
screen changes to PGM mode, and the program default screen is 
displayed. 
When the MILLPWRG2 is set to program mode, types of 
milling functions specific to the hard key selected become 
available as soft keys.
KeysFunction
Program Functions opens additional soft keys to 
Load, Save, Clear, or Copy a program along with 
several other functions listed on the following page.
Step Functions opens additional soft keys for 
modifying the program steps (e.g. reverse path, 
delete steps, ect.).
Program Steps opens additional soft keys for 
programming, or modifying an existing program by 
adding addition milling functions (e.g. add a pocket, 
mill a circle, etc.).
Clear Program will unload the current program when 
the Yes soft key is selected. The program is not 
saved. If any changes were made, they are lost.
Shutdown will shut down the MILLPWR
G2 system.  
Only then can power be turned off.
Save/Discard opens a popup menu which provides 
the choice to either save the changes made to the 
program, or discard the changes by returning the 
program to its original state.
Run Options opens additional soft keys for running a 
program (e.g. dry run,  etc.).
Once Clear Program is used the program cannot be 
recovered. 
						

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5.1 Programming Introduction
Program functions
Program functions soft keys
The Program Functions soft key provides access to the following soft 
keys for saving, clearing, or loading an existing program to either edit 
or run.
Soft keyFunction
The Load soft key will load the selected program.  If 
a program is currently loaded, a prompt will be 
displayed asking for confirmation to clear the loaded 
program. If a program is currently loaded, it must be 
saved prior to pressing this key.
The Save soft key will save the currently loaded 
program, or the program can be saved under a new 
program name.
The Program Type soft key opens a popup Menu 
providing the choices which type of programs to 
display in the folder listing; MILLPWR
G2 programs, 
G-code programs, DXF drawings, All programs or All 
files.
The Function soft key opens a popup Menu 
providing the choices to Cut, Copy, Paste, Merge, 
Rename, or Delete any program that is listed in the 
folder.  It does not need to be the currently loaded 
program.
The Select soft key allows the operator to select 
one or more programs from the current folder, or 
select all the programs.  Select the Clear option to 
un-select the current selected program(s). This 
allows features within the Function soft key to be 
done on the selected group of programs.
The Change Window soft key toggles the cursor  
between the folder list window (1), folder tree 
window (2) (if displayed) and program list 
window (3).
The Folder View soft key opens the folder tree 
window to access all folders, and sub folders. Use 
the Change Window soft key to navigate to the 
available windows.
Press the  Exit soft key to return to the Program 
Function screen. 
						

							845 Program Overview
5.1 Programming Introduction
Pressing the Select soft key feature opens a popup 
menu that provides these three choices:
The Select feature will select one or more programs. Highlight each 
program to be selected, and choose Select for each program 
highlighted.
The Select All feature will select all programs in the folder.
The Clear feature will un-select one or more programs that have 
been highlighted.  Clear does not delete a program, it will only 
un-select it.
Having a program, or programs selected, use the Function soft key to 
continue on taking the appropriate action required.
The Function soft key provides several choices that 
can be executed for the action taken after using the 
Select soft key feature:
The selected program(s) can be Cut from the current folder, then 
moved to another folder using the Paste feature.
In the same fashion, using the Copy feature, the selected 
program(s) can be copied to the same folder, or to a different folder 
using the Paste feature.
Use the Merge feature to paste the contents from the selected 
program to the currently loaded program at the current cursor 
location.  This feature is only available for MILLPWR
G2 (.MPT) 
programs. Once this function is executed, it will exit the program 
functions, and return to program view.
Use the Rename feature to rename the selected program. Only one 
program at a time can be selected to use this feature. 
						

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5.1 Programming Introduction
Choosing the Delete feature will delete one or more programs 
selected. The message bar will be displayed showing the first 
selected program asking for confirmation to delete it. Four soft keys 
are displayed for deleting options.
Yes will delete the current program displayed in the message bar.
Cancel will cancel out of the current operation. Cancel will not 
restore any prior deletions that had been made.
All will delete all the selected programs by automatically 
answering yes to confirm deletion of each program.
No will cancel the deletion of the current program in the message 
bar.
Located in the upper right folder display area are two soft keys 
Forward (+), Backward (-). These keys can be accessed directly 
when using a mouse. Direct console access is accomplished by 
using the Plus, and Minus keys on the console keypad. The keys are 
used to facilitate navigation among folders in the console, network 
and USB memory devices.
Pressing the Minus key always takes you back to the previous folder 
location. Pressing the Plus key takes you to the next folder in the 
history. Plus is only available if Minus has been used.
 Any program that is deleted can not be recovered.
The MILLPWRG2 will save 20 history steps.  The 21st 
history step will replace the 1st history step.
 Edits to a program that have not been saved are lost. 
						

							865 Program Overview
5.1 Programming Introduction
View hard key
Once a program is opened, first select how the part should be 
displayed in the graphics window. Pressing the VIEW key opens the 
display dialogue for View Setup to set the viewing graphic  options of 
the program. Pressing the View key again, or pressing the CANCEL key 
will turn the VIEW key display off. 
See Program drawing view on page 80”.
All drop down menus are accessed by pressing the RIGHT ARROW key 
to open the menu.  Selection is made by pressing the UP or DOWN ARROW 
keys. To use the selection high lighted, press the LEFT ARROW key.
The following describes the View Setup dialogue soft keys and drop 
down menu options available. 
View Setup
Simulation ViewSelection of 2D Line, 3D Line, or 3D Solid 
view for the graphic display may be done 
by using either the soft keys or selecting 
from the drop down menu. 
The default is 2D Line View. 
For proper simulation of the 3D Solid view 
make sure that tools are defined in the 
program and have a non-zero tool 
diameter. 
The 2D and 3D Line views will show a drill 
marker corresponding to the diameter of 
the tool.
Adjust viewThese three buttons allow you to adjust the 
graphic display.
Cursor to the appropriate button: Pan, 
Rotate, or Zoom then press the ENTER key. 
Use the Arrow keys to either zoom, pan or 
rotate the display.
Press ENTER or CANCEL to exit this mode and 
return to the view dialogue. 
						

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5.1 Programming Introduction
FeaturesFeatures can be turned on and off and are 
graphical representations of the following:
 Tool Path is the path the tool will take as it
moves to cut the part.
 Rapids are the tool movements that are set 
at a rapid feed rate.
 Contour is the geometry of the
programmed contour.
 M
arkers are the zero point marker,
 
reference point markers, drill marker 
cross-hairs, and lines of  reflection.
Display Grid Display Grid is available when viewing a
part graphic. A grid can be turned on as an
overlay to the part graphic.
 The grid spacing can be set using the
Spacing field and is relative to the actual
part size.
 The grid can be turned on and off.
Simulation Speed The simulation speed can be changed to any  of the following values:
Full: Simulates the program as fast as
possible.
 10X: Simulates the program at ten times
the programmed feed rate.
 Actual: Simulates the program at the
programmed feed rate.
 ½X: Simulates the program at half the
programmed feed rate.
Machining a part in PGM mode will show the soft keys to 
easily select between 2D Line, 3D Line and 3D Solid 
without having to open the View Setup dialogue.
View Setup 
						

							885 Program Overview
5.1 Programming Introduction
Step functions soft keys
The Step Functions soft key provides access to the following soft 
keys for assistance with programing steps, and modifying or arranging 
the programs steps.
Soft keyFunction
The Explode soft key will explode a program step 
e.g. such as a bolt circle converting it from a radius 
and number of holes equally spaced to individual 
coordinates for each hole. See Explode on page 
190 for additional information.
The Reverse Step soft key will reverse the tool path 
of the selected step so that it will be followed in the 
reverse order.
The Reverse Path soft key will reverse the tool path 
selected of all the steps so that it will be followed in 
the reverse order.
The purpose of the  Shift/Rotate Steps feature is 
to transpose a range of steps from one location to 
another on the actual work piece within a program.
The Change Steps soft key opens a dialogue that will 
allow the operator to select a range of steps that can 
be modified for the Z axis, Offset, and Feed Rate.
The Delete Steps soft key opens a dialogue that will 
allow the operator to select a range of steps, or a 
step to be deleted.
The Copy / Move Steps soft key opens a dialogue 
that will allow the operator to select a range of steps 
to either be copied, or moved else where in the 
program. 
						

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5.1 Programming Introduction
Program steps soft keys
The Program Steps soft key accesses the soft keys listed in the table 
below. Each soft key (except for the Tool key) provides additional 
selections on a popup menu. This allows to further define the milling 
action to be programmed.
Soft keyFunction
The Tool soft key opens a tool dialogue to enter the 
size and type of tool to be used for the following 
step(s).
The Position/Milling soft key opens a popup menu 
to further define the milling operation e.g. Position/
Drill, Line, Arc, Blend (Arc), Blend (Chamfer), and 
Contour.
The Custom Pocket soft key opens a popup menu to 
further define the milling operation e.g. Custom 
Pocket, Island, Pilot Drill, Rough Mill, Bottom Finish, 
and Side Finish.
The Hole Pattern soft key opens a popup menu to 
further define the milling operation e.g. Row of 
Holes, Rectangle Frame, Rectangle Array, and Bolt 
Circle.
The Rectangle soft key opens a popup menu to 
further define the type of milling operation e.g. 
Pocket, Frame, Face, and Slot.
The Circle soft key opens a popup menu to further 
define a milling operation e.g. Pocket, Frame, Ring, 
Helix, and Slot.
The Repeat, Rotate ... soft key opens a popup 
menu to further define a milling operation e.g. 
Repeat, Rotate, or Mirror
The Other Steps soft key opens a popup menu to 
further define the type of milling operation 
e.g. Engrave Line, Engrave Arc, Comment, Auxiliary 
Function, Dwell, or Reference Point. 
						

							905 Program Overview
5.1 Programming Introduction
Clear program soft key
This soft key provides a quick method to clear the current loaded 
program. It does not provide an option to save before exiting. Its 
function is meant to quickly clear a program (e.g. once it has been run 
and is no longer needed), so that a new program can be loaded, or a 
blank program is available, or return to DRO mode without having a 
program loaded. If the program has been edited the operator is asked 
to confirm the Clear operation. Save  program changes before using 
Clear. All changes are lost and cannot be recovered.
Press the Clear Program  soft key to close the 
program.
Save/discard soft key
Save/Discard soft key opens a popup menu which provides the choice 
to either save the changes made to a program, or discard the changes 
by returning the program to its original state.
Press the Save/Discard  soft key and select from the 
popup menu to either save the program, or discard 
the changes made to the program.