DELEM DA-66T operation manual for CNC Press brake machine (Important passwords)

⒈ The control unit

The control looks as follows:

The precise outfit of your control may vary.

Operation of the control is mainly done over the touchscreen. A description of the functions and available touch controls is given in the next sections of this manual, aside of the description of the specific functions.

Beside the touch controls the front of the control consists of an emergency stop, the handwheel and the start and stop buttons.

Special function keys, which can be mounted in the top panel of the control, have their specific description parallel to this user manual and will be supplied by the machine manufacturer. This user manual focuses on the control software and related machine functions.

⒉Front control elements

The front panel, beside display, consists of the following control elements:

⒊ USB connectors

⒋Operation and programming modes

The DA-Touch control's main screen looks as follows:

Depending on the navigation button which is active, the screen will differ. The above main screen will appear having the Products function active.

Just by tapping the various modes, the specific mode will be selected.

The structure of the main screen is as follows:

Title panel

In the top the title panel is always shown. In this area you can find logo information, which product is loaded, the active bend, selected subdirectory and (when activated) the service row. Also machine indicators can be found here.

Information panel

In the information panel all functions and visualisation related to the selected modus are displayed and can be found.

Command panel

The command panel is part of the Information panel and is the location where the controls related to the Information panel can be found. 

Navigation panel

The Navigation panel is the area where all the major modes can be found. This area is always visible. The controls, large buttons with icons, can be used to directly switch from one mode to the other.

Explanation of the main modes / navigation buttons

⒌Getting started

⑴ Introduction

In order to obtain a bend program for a product, the control offers the possibility to create a product drawing and calculate a valid bend sequence for the product. With this information, a product program is generated.

This is done with the following steps:

① Go to the Products mode in the navigation panel and start a new product by tapping New Product.

② Enter the product properties and start to draw a 2D product profile in the Drawing mode.

③ Check the tooling, modify or make a new set-up in the Tool Setup mode.

④ Use the Bend Sequence mode to determine the bend sequence by calculating it or manually modifying it upon your own idea's.

⑤ When required modify the numerical CNC program via the Program mode.

⑥ Tap Auto and press the Start button in order to produce the programmed product.

⑵Preparations

Before product programming can be started, the following preparations must be made.

• The correct material properties must have been programmed in the Materials library. You can find this on the Materials page in the Settings mode.

• The correct tools must be programmed in the Tool Library. Tools are necessary to create a CNC program. You can find the libraries for the different types of tools in the Machine mode.

⑶ Create a drawing

The control offers the functionality to create a drawing of the intended product. With this drawing application, tap Drawing in the navigation panel, a 2D profile or 3D product drawing is created. At this stage, there is no calculation of bends or dimensions: any profile or drawing can be created.

Sketching

The product as well as tool shape Sketching can be done by tapping on the screen in the different directions the drawing must have. The application will follow the tapping with drawing a line between the indicated points. The last point of the design will show always a big red dot. 

When the drawing dot is on the screen you can hold your finger on this position and move the finger across the screen to move the connected line in another required direction or make the line length longer. This method is the so-called 'Dragging' facility. The length and angle value will be visible on the screen and can be adjusted to be exact or close to the requested value.

Value Setting

Once the product or tool is drawn in the Sketching method the exact values of line lengths and angles can be optimized by the Value setting method. Just tap 2 times on the value of the line length or angle to change and the keyboard will pop-up.

Zoom Function

By pinching the screen with two fingers simultaeously one can zoom in and out on the drawing, tool or machine visualisation. By spreading fingers the system will zoom-in, by bringing fingers nearer to each other the system will zoom-out. 

Fit-To-Screen

In the command icons on the side of the screen you will find a Fit-To-Screen function. This can be used when the drawing size is not clear in picture. Just tap once and the complete drawing will be sized to fit the drawing screen.

Panning

With simultaneous touching of two fingers and draging them over the screen (sliding in the same direction) one can pan the object in 3D view. In 2D a single finger will also enable panning.

Rotating

In 3D, rotating the product, tool or machine visualisation, can be done with a single finger sliding over the screern.

More information about this can be found in chapter 3.

⑷ Determine bend sequence

When the product drawing is completed, the control offers Tool setup mode to program the exact tool set-up as it is organised on the machine. After this you can select the Bend Sequence mode to determine and simulate the required bend sequence. 

In the Bend Sequence mode, the control shows the product, the machine and the tools. In this menu the bend sequence can be programmed and checked visually. When a bend sequence has been determined, the CNC program can be generated. More information about this can be found in chapters 4 and 5.

⑸Numerical program

The Program menu gives access to the numerical program and values of the active product. 

There are two possibilities to create a CNC program:

• enter a numerical program, started via Products mode, tap New Program, step by step;

• generate the program from the graphical bend simulation started via the Products mode, tap New Product, via the Drawing mode. (see: Drawing mode; product drawing).

If the program is entered by hand, there is no collision check. All program values must be entered manually. The program depends on operator experience. If the program is generated from a graphical bend sequence, the program can be visualised during production. A generated program can be edited according to operation needs.

More information about this can be found in chapter 6.

⑹The Auto menu and Manual menu, production modes

A product program can be executed via the Auto mode. In Automatic mode, a complete program can be executed bend after bend. In the Auto mode the Step mode can be selected to have each bend started separately.

The Manual mode of the control is an independent production mode. In this mode, one bend can be programmed and executed. It is typically used to test the behaviour of the bend system.

More information about this can be found in chapters 7 and 8.

⑺Back-up data, external storage

Both product and tool files can be stored externally. Depending on the configuration, these files can be stored on a network or on a USB stick. This facilitates a back-up of important data and the possibility to exchange files between Delem controls.

More information about this can be found in chapter 9.

⒍Programming aids

⑴Help text

This control is equipped with an on-line Help function. When the Help-button in the navigation panel is pressed context sensitive help will be provided.

To activate a help window for a parameter tap the Help button in the navigation panel.

A pop-up window appears with information on the active parameter.

This Help window contains the same information as the Operation manual.

The help window can be used as follows:

You can scroll through the text sliding one finger in the desired direction. By tapping on the lower or upper part of the screen Previous Page / Next Page can be used to browse through the help text.

The Index function helps to jump to the table of contents. Hyperlinks in the table help to directly navigate to the desired topic.

Tap End to close the Help window.

⑵Listbox functionality

Several parameters on the control have a limited number of possible values. When selecting such a parameter, by tapping the parameter line on the screen, the list of options will open up near the position where you tapped the line, and the desired value can be selected.

⑶Filter, live search

In some modes a list of entities is offered (products, tools, materials, etc.). An example of such a menu is the Products mode (product selection). To search a particular product or tool, the filter function can be used. Press the command button Filter, type a part of the ID in the enter field. Automatically, the list is limited to those items that contain the typed part.

⑷ Navigation

Within some modes, the program screens are divided into tabs.

⑸Text input and editing

The cursor can be used to enter a specific value or text within an existing input. Just tap at the desired position to do so. The cursor will appear and input will be added there.E.g. in Edit notes, where multiple lines can be entered Enter is used for linefeed. Cut, Copy and Paste are offered on the keyboard for editing convenience. Undo and Redo can also be used within this editor.

⑹Typing alphanumeric characters vs. special characters

Both alphanumeric characters and special characters can be used throughout the control. A full on-screen alphanumerical keyboard will pop up when required. When editing a field which is pure numeric, the alphanumeric characters will be "greyed-out" and only the numerical keypad can be used. For fields which enable to use alphanumerical 

strings, the keyboard is completely available. Special characters as ? % - can be found using the special character button on the left-lower side of the keyboard.

⑺Calculator

The CNC control is providing a “desktop calculator” available for the operator. At the top of the screen the calculator icon can be used to switch to calculator functionality. The keyboard area provides calculator functions which can be used autonomously. Standard 

functions (add, subtract, multiply and devide) including percentage, square root, square and memory functions are available.

⑻Network

The CNC control is equipped with a network interface. The network function offers the operators the possibility to import product files directly from the network directories or to export the finished product files to the required network directory.

⑼ Key lock function

To prevent for changes to products or programs, the keylock function offers the possibility to lock the control.

⑽OEM function panel

Depending on machine manufacturers implementation, the upper right corner of the screen can be used for special indicators.

To access functions related to those indicators, the OEM function panel can be opened by tapping this corner of the screen.

⑾Software versions

The version of the software in your control is displayed at the System Information tab in the Machine menu.

⒈ Introduction

⑴ The main view

In Products mode an overview is given of the program library on the control. In this mode a product program can be selected (loaded). After that a program can be modified or executed. Each item in the list consists of a thumbnail of the graphical product (for numerical programs a symbol is shown), its Product ID, the Product Description, the Number of bends in the product, what kind of product it is (Type) and the Date it was last used or modified. The Type indication 

of the product shows following types of products:

P-- the product has a CNC program, there is no drawing

-2D the product consists of a 2D drawing, there is no CNC program

P2D the product has a 2D drawing and a CNC program

-3D the product consists of a 3D drawing, there is no CNC program

P3D the product has a 3D drawing and a CNC program

⑵ Product selection

To select a product a single tap will do. The product will be selected and loaded into the memory. From here production can be started by tapping Auto. Also navigation can start through the Products Drawing (if existing), it's Tool Setup, the Bend Sequence and also into the numerical Program of the product.

⑶New Product, starting a new graphical product

To start a new graphical product tap New Product. 

After New Product is chosen, the programming of a new product starts with its general details like Product ID, Thickness and Material.

⑷New Program, starting a numerical program

To start a new numerical program tap New Program. 

After New Program is chosen, the programming starts with its general details like e.g. Product ID, Thickness and Material. The shown general tab is next to the successive tabs which are ready for programming the first bend.

⑸ Views

To view the products as a simple list, or completely graphical the View function can be used. By tapping View one of the three view modes can be selected.

⑹Edit, Copying and Deleting a product or program

To delete a product in the Products mode select a product by tapping it. It will be selected. After that tap Edit and use Delete. To finally delete it confirm the question. To delete all products and programs at ones, tap Delete All.

To copy a product select a product or program and tap Edit and use Copy. After this the name of the product can be programmed and the copy will be done. The product will appear in the same directory. The copied product will be an exact copy including tool setup and bend 

sequence if available.

⑺ Product Lock/Unlock

The product Lock/Unlock function provides a simple method to prevent accidental changes to finished programs or products. In this way products which have been tuned and found to be good cannot be changed unless the product is unlocked.

When tapping on Edit the Lock Product / Unlock Product feature can be switched for each product or program.

⑻ Filter function

To make finding products easier the filter function enables live searches through-out the Products mode. 

When tapping Filter, the filter screen will show. By typing the desired filter string, optionally devided by spaces, the live search will start. 

Optionally a different view can be selected. Also the specific property on which the filter is applied can be changed by using Selection. 

Selections can be done on Product ID, Product Description, Type or Date. You can either enter a complete name or number or only a part of it. If you enter part of a name and this part occurs in several product names, the control will show all product names that contain that part. It is also possible to enter a combination of name and number.

See also section 1.6.2 about Filtering and 'Live search'.

⑼ Change directory
To change to a different product directory, or to add a new product directory, tap Change Directory. When an obsolete directory must be removed, select the directory and tap Remove Directory. When a desired directory is reached, tap Select to jump back to the Products screen which will show all products in the directory. The active local directory name is displayed in the header.

⑽Network product selection

When a networkdirectory has been mounted in the control this mounted directory can be found under Network. Network is available next to the Product directory when using change directory. The name of the mounted drive indicates availability for product selection and 

storage. 

The network directories can be navigated thru in the directory browser. Directries can be selected, added and removed and products can be selected. When a desired directory is reached, tap Select to jump back to the Products screen which will show all products in the 

directory. The network directory is now the active local directory. Its name is displayed in the header of the screen.

⒉The DXF import option

An alternative for drawing the desired product in the control, the control can also import an externally generated CAD-system output file. This chapter will explain the use of the DXF converter to import DXF files and its functionality. (This functionality is optionally available in the DA-66T for 2D products only)

The DXF import option is started with the command button above New Product. Import DXF 

opens a file selection browser to select the DXF file.

⑴Product drawing dimensions

Projection dimensions

In this situation all product sides and bend lines have the length of the resulting product. The drawing does not represent the real size of the sheet that must be bent, but is merely a representation of how the sheet is to be organised into bends and surfaces. When such a drawing is loaded and converted, the converter will construct a product drawing with exactly the same sizes as are present in the original drawing. Later on additional information is added about material, sheet thickness and product dimensions. It is left to the control to create a CNC program with proper axes positions that will result in a product as intended.

In this example, the length in the original DXF drawing may simply be 100, separated by a bendline. The resulting product will consist of two sides, each with a length of 50.The dimensions are defined as outside dimensions.

Cutting dimensions

In this case the DXF drawing represents the exact sheet, as it is cut and will be used to bend a product of. When the DXF converter is set to convert cutting dimensions, based on material and thickness of the sheet, bend allowance information is required during the conversion process. If this information is not present the converter will ask for it. 

The converter will use these dimensions and a bend-allowance table to construct a 3D product drawing with projection dimensions. When the product is used in the control, the same bend allowance table should be used to create a CNC program that can process a sheet as shown in the original DXF drawing.

⑵ Bendlines and Layer selection with Line assignment

For a proper conversion, the assignment of specific product properties to lines in the DXF is important. 

Depending on the content of the DXF, the bendlines, contour and additional text information can be assigned layer by layer. In case layer selection is set off, the bendlines are being searched for automatically.

Product information

Beside the actual product drawing a DXF drawing can contain other information, such as manufacturer name, dimension lines, product description etc. If this information is organised in other layers than the product drawing then this information can be filtered out by selecting 

only certain layers for conversion. Otherwise, it possible to remove unnecessary information in the converter program before conversion of the drawing is started. 

Layer selection

Depending on the DXF import settings, which can be entered from the mainscreen, layer selection can be set on or off. In case of layer selection on, the layer property list visualisation can be switched. The buttons in the left top corner enable this choice. Following paragraphs describe the difference between Layer selection switched on and Layer selection switched off.

⑶Conversion

When the assignments have been set properly, conversion can be executed by tapping the 

Convert button. 

The conversion preview will be shown when there are warnings or errors. During conversion the DXF drawing is represented by lines like contour line, bend line and inside contour lines. Colors indicate the property for the line conversion.The lines of the product drawing will have different colours after the conversion. Every colour has its own 

meaning:

• Blue: Contour line, this line is a part of the outer contour of the product.

• Red: Bend line, this line is a bending.

• Green: Inside contour, this line is a part of the inner contour of the product.

• Black: Assigned texts will be shown in black.

⑷Converting cutting dimensions, with bend allowance info

At the last stage of converting a DXF with cutting dimensions, the bend allowance which has been used during unfolding, needs to be reused in the conversion.

Therefore the conversion of cutting dimensions will always use the bend allowance table of the control and it will check if for all bends bend allowance information is available. In case there is just one set of bend allowance parameters available for each bend, this will be 

used. The bend allowance pop-up will show the angles from the product with the found bend allowance. If more entries in the table can be valid, one needs to select the appropriate bend allowance line. The prefered and calculated radius can be helpfull in this selection.

⑸DXF Settings

In the DXF converter settings the conversion parameters can be configured. It is possible to store multiple settingsfiles for specific drawing types. Save as and load functions are available.

⒈General product properties

To start a new product drawing, choose New Product in the product library

⑴Add Notes

When Edit Notes has been pressed, a new window appears in which you can edit the text about the current product. The possible characters are displayed on the keyboard.

To attach a PDF file to the note tap Attach PDF. Via the directory browser a PDF file can be selected and will be incorporated in the product file.

When solely a PDF file is attached without a textual note, the PDF will be shown instantaneously when the user presses the Notes indicator in Auto mode.

⒉ 2D product drawing

⑴ Introduction

After entering the general product data the drawing screen appears.

In the upper information row you will find the information about product ID, product description, inside/outside dimensions selection and actual product directory.

Now you can create the profile of the product. It is possible by using your fingers to tap and create quickly the product in 'sketch' mode. After that the real product dimensions and corresponding values can be entered by using the keyboard. It is also possible to directly enter the angle of the bend followed by the length of that side by using the keyboard and the Enter button. The properties are prompted in the input bar of the screen on the keyboard panel. This procedure continues until the product has the desired profile. 

The product data can be changed by selecting Product Properties. The properties of the product angles and lines can be changed by selecting Properties.

⒊ Line properties

⑴ Introduction

When the cursor is on one of the product lines it is possible to change the properties of that line by selecting Properties.

⑵ Projection

Inside the window with line properties, the following projection properties can be programmed:

Horizontal projection

The horizontal distance a line must measure, regardless of its angle value.

Vertical projection

The vertical distance a line must measure, regardless of its angle value.

⑶Precision selection

When the drawing cursor is on a line segment, you can select the level of precision for this line. Enter the properties and go to the parameter Precision.

Precision

Select the level of precision for a line.

Normal: Achieve normal accuracy for this segment.

High: At bend sequence computation the back gauge stop position will be chosen to get the highest possible precision for this line interval.

Closing dimension: At bend sequence computation the back gauge stop position will be chosen to get the resulting tolerances in this line interval.

⒋ Bend properties
⑴ Air bend

Drawing a product graphically is simply programming the line length, angle value, next line length, etc. till the product has its required shape. The bends in the product have their standard or specific properties. The bend properties can be set by selecting the bend and selecting Properties.

⑵Large radius: Bumping

If a tool with large radius is not available, the bumping method can be chosen. With this method, a large radius in a product is obtained by a series of slight bends in succession.

⑶ Hem bends

When creating the required profile of the product with a hem bend it is possible to first prepare a flange with a prebend angle, place the cursor on the bend and select Properties. The bend properties can be programmed in the pop-up window.

It is also possible to create a hem bend by placing the cursor on the flange end where the hem bend is required and select properties. In this way the pop-up window will appear with an extra parameter to fill-out.

⒌Surface or bend line marker

With the marker function a specific surface or bendline can be marked improving the recognition specific of sides and bendlines.

⒈ Introduction

When a tool configuration is available, the bend simulation can be started to determine a bend sequence for the active product. The bend sequence determination is started by tapping the navigation button Bend Sequence.

The bendsequence determination can be realised by automatic calculation starting with the bent product. It is also possible determining the sequence manually starting with the flat product, not using the automatic calculation.

In the bendsequence screen the product appears between the tools in a possible last bend position. When starting the simulation, the product is shown in its final state. In order to obtain a bend sequence, the product must be unfolded from the last bend to the first. This can be done with the available function keys.

When it is prefered to start with a unfolded product to manually chose the bendsequence, this can be chosen under the command button Bend Sequence.

⑴View select

Within the consequence screen views can be switched upon required choice.The view functions are located opposite of the command buttons in the main screen.

⑵ Bend selector

Within the bendsequence screen bends can be selected and navigated thru with the bend selector. In the top of the screen the number of bends is indicated with preliminary bend selectors. After completing the bend sequence, these are all colored, active and show a turn indicator.

From then bends can be tapped to easily to select the desired bend data. In the bend selector the turn indicator will be displayed showing green, yellow or red colors to indicate the level of complying the assignments of the bend sequence.

⒉ Unbend product

In order to generate a CNC-program the bend sequence must be known. There are two ways to achieve this:

• Press the function key Compute. The control will automatically compute the quickest possible bend sequence for this product.

• Press the function key Unbend repeatedly, until the product is completely unbent.

When the product is completely unbent, press the function Bend sequence and Save to generate and save the CNC-program.

It is possible that no bend sequence has been found for various reasons:

• The installed tools are not correct. Return to the tool configuration menu to change the tool configuration.

• The assignments are incorrect. Return to the assignments menu to modify the assignments.

• A collision has been detected during unbending. It is possible to manually adjust the bend sequence with the available functions. This is explained in the following sections.

⒊ Manual selection of bends

Normally the control proposes the next (un)bend in a sequence. This is computed by the control depending on the programmed assignments and of course the product shape and applied tools. For various reasons it can be necessary to choose another bend line for the bend sequence. The bend sequence can be changed/determined through the function Manual Selection. When the function Manual Selection has been choosen, a new window is opened.

Functions

Unbend

Unbend the currently shown bend or start searching for the next feasible bend to unfold.

Bend

Bend the product in the simulation screen or switch to the next bend step

Shift Front

Shift the product to the front.

Shift Back

Shift the product to the back.

Swap

Turn the product between the tools (back to front).

Cancel

Leave the current screen without saving changes.

⑴Shift product

In the bend simulation menu, the control computes the next possible bend to unbend. The product is placed between the tools, where there is no collision with the tools or the machine. In case you want to shift the product under the tool set (which is mounted), you can move the product by selecting the function Shift product. A new window appears.

⑵Shift gauge

The control automatically computes at each bend the X axes, R axes and Z axes positions. It takes into account the values of the option assignments and searches for a solution without collision of the fingers with the product. In order to be able to choose alternative positions, you can move the fingers manually.

When the product is unbent, select Shift Gauge. A pop up window displays the backgauge fingers with one finger highlighted.

⒋Assignments

⑴ Introduction

The Assignments are parameters with which the bend sequence computation is controlled.The assignments screen is opened from the tool configuration screen with the function key Assignm.

Automatic bend sequence computation works with several conditions in order to find an optimum between a minimum production time, handling possibilities without product/machine and product/tool collision. In order to find one of the optimums you must program several computation parameters with which the bend sequence can be computed. Some of these parameters are machine-related and some are related to product accuracy, handling possibilities and turn times.

⑵Assignments - general

Optimisation degree

Range 1-5.

The number of alternatives to be computed for each bend must be entered here.

The higher this number the more alternatives are to be examined by the control, so the longer the computing time will be:

1 - lowest optimisation, fastest computation

2 - low optimisation, fast computation

3 - medium optimisation, medium computation

4 - high optimisation, slow computation

5 - highest optimisation, slowest computation

Front extend ratio

Range 0.01 - 1.0.

This is the ratio of the minimum allowable length of your product which extends in front of the press to the total blank length of the product. You must have a minimum length of your product in front of the press to be able to handle the product.

⑶Assignments - Backgauge possibilities

⒈Introduction

To edit an existing CNC program, select a product in the Products overview and select the navigation button Program. When starting a new program, select New Program and after giving in the main product properties, the system will automatically switch to Program.

In both cases, a screen as shown above should appear. Programming and changing data is done in the same way for both modes.

Functions

Copy product

Copy the current product. When pressed, you must enter a new product ID for the copy program.

Change directory

Choose another location (directory) on the local disk to store the current product. The product is automatically copied to the new location.

Edit notes

Opens a window enabling viewing and editing of notes about the current product. See more on Edit Notes further in this paragraph.

⒉ Bend parameters

The parameters of every bend are listed on one page and can be scrolled thru. Below the specific bend paramaters are explained.

The product ID and product description are displayed in the top row on the screen.

Tools

Punch

The name (ID) of the selected punch. Tap to modify or select from the punch library.

Die

The name (ID) of the selected die. Tap to modify or select from the die library.

Punch adapter

The name (ID) of the selected punch adapter. Tap to modify or select from the punch adapter library. Whether an adapter can be programmed depends on the parameter Use punch adapter in the Machine mode.

Die adapter

The name (ID) of the selected die adapter. Tap to modify or select from the die adapter library. Whether an adapter can be programmed depends on the parameter Use die adapter in the Machine mode.

Program the desired tool ID or press the tool to get an overview of the available tools in the library. Press the function Turn Punch or Turn Die to change the orientation of the tool (i.e. to turn the tool around).

Turn Punch / Turn Die

Turn around the applied tool (back to front). Only available if the cursor is placed on a tool parameter.

⒊Bend functions

Auxiliary functions of the bending can be programmed scrolling down the bend parameters page.

Mute

Sequence point at which the Y-axis is switched from fast closing speed to pressing speed. The value programmed here is the distance of the mute point above the sheet. By default, the mute value from the programmed die is used.Whether or not this parameter is present depends on machine settings.

Parallelism

Difference of left- and right hand side cylinder (Y1 and Y2). When positive, right hand side lower. When negative, right hand side higher. The programmed value is active below the clamping point.

⒋Special edit remarks

After changing program data the control will not automatically calculate:

1 Force

2 Decompression

3 Crowning device setting

4 Z-axis position offset

5 X-axis position correction

Parameters 1 through 4 are only automatically recalculated if the parameter Auto Computations Edit (see the Settings mode) has been enabled.

Parameter 5 is only automatically recalculated if the parameter Active Bend Allowance Table (see the Settings mode) has been activated. Corrections on the X-axis position can be edited with the parameter Corr.X (per bend) and G-corr.X (for all the bends of the active program) in the Automatic mode.

There is one exception: 

When the parameter Bend Method is changed the Force and Decompression will be adjusted automatically.

⒈ Introduction

In auto mode with the active program, production can be started. After entering Auto, the Start button can be pressed and production can begin.

The automatic mode executes the program automatically bend by bend after pushing the Start button. When selecting a different product in Products mode, which is in the library and has already been used for production, one can immediately switch to Auto and start production. Every time after a different bending program is selected you must check your tools and tool positions in your machine. This is also indicated with a 'check tools' warning message when you enter the automatic mode.

In the header of the Auto mode screen the selected product is displayed along with the product description. At the top of the screen the bend selector shows the available bends in the program. By tapping the prefered bend the bend can be selected. The start button can be pressed to start from this bend. The details of the selected bend are shown in the available views.

⑴ Auto mode, parameter explanation

Following is a list of the available parameters in Auto mode.

⑵View modes

The auto mode screen is offering a diversity of views which, depending on ones production methode, can be chosen. When selecting auto mode for the first time, the main screen will appear. On the right side of the screen the available view modes can be selected.

Following view modes are available:

⒊Notes
The notes which can be added to a product or program can be viewed in Automatic mode.With the presence of the notes indicator its indicated that notes are added to this product and by tapping the indicator these will be shown.

Notes can be added generally to a product or program but also to specific bends. Within the notes also PDF documents can have been included. The PDF button will open de document.

⒋Bumping correction

In case of a selected bumping bend a general correction for a bumping bend can be entered. This function can be activated when the cursor is on the parameter for angle correction ('corr. α1/α2'). It is only available if a product is loaded that contains a bumping bend. With Bumping Corr. a new window appears in which the correction can be entered.

When the general correction of an angle is altered, all individual corrections are recalculated. When any of the individual corrections is altered, the general correction is recalculated.

Bumping corrections can be programmed independently for both sides, α1 and α2. When the general correction α1 is changed, it is automatically copied to α2 and as a result, all separate corrections for α2 are recalculated. To change correction values of α2, use correction α2 or one of the separate corrections of α2.

⒈ Introduction

The Settings mode of the control, which can be found in the navigation panel, gives access to all kind of settings which influence the programming of new products and programs.Default values and specific constraints can be set.

The settings are divided across several tabs logically organizing the different subjects. In the following sections the available tabs and detailed settings are discussed.

Navigation through the tabs can be done by just tapping them and selecting the required item to adjust. Since there can be more tabs than the screen can show in one view, dragging the tabs in horizontal direction enables to view and select all available tabs.

⒉General

Select the required tab and tap the parameter to be changed. When parameters have a numerical or alphanumerical value, the keyboard will appear to enter the desired value. When the setting or parameter can be selected from a list, the list will appear and selection can be 

done by tapping. Longer lists allow scrolling vertically to check the available items.

⒊Materials

In this tab, materials with their properties can be programmed. Existing materials can be edited, new materials can be added or existing materials deleted. A maximum of 99 materials can be programmed on the control.

⒋Backup / restore

This tab offers the possibilities to backup and restore products, tools as well as settings and tables. When products or tools originate from older control models, both for products and tools an import function can also be found here.Tools and products can be backupped and restored according to the following procedures. The procedures for saving or reading data are similar for all types of backup media: e.g. network or USB stick.

⒌Program settings

Angle correction database

Parameter to enable the database with angle corrections.

Angle corrections are entered in production mode (Auto mode). These corrections are stored in the product program. 

The Angle correction database enables the possibility to store these corrections in a database. In this way corrections that have once been entered for certain bends remain available for future use in other products.With this setting enabled, the control checks during production whether corrections for similar bends are present in the database. If corrections for certain bends are available, then they will be offered. On other occasions, corrections can be interpolated and offered.The correction database is adjusted by entering new corrections during production. 

When the database is enabled with this parameter, all new-entered corrections are stored in the database.

When searching for similar bends, the control searches for bends that have the same properties as the active bend. The following properties of a bend are compared:

• Material properties

• Thickness

• Die opening

• Die radius

• Punch radius

• Angle

⒍Default values

⒎Computation settings

⒏Production settings

Stock count mode

Setting for the stock counter in production mode, to have the stock counter (product counter) count up or down.

When down counting is selected, the stock counter in production mode is decremented after each product cycle. When the counter has reached zero, the control is stopped. On the next start action, the stock counting value is reset to its original value.

When up counting is selected, the counter is incremented after each product cycle.Down counting can be useful if a pre-planned quota must be produced. Up counting could be used to give a report on production progress.

⒐Production time calculation

The parameters on this page are used to calculate the production time for a product in the bend sequence computation process . This production time depends on the positioning speed of the axes and the product handling times. The positioning speed is depending on machine settings.

Manual handling, turning of a product takes production time. This time depends upon the length and width of your product.

For a relative small product (in Z-direction) a top-bottom turn can be done quickly.

But a relative small product which is long (in X-direction) needs some longer time to turn from front to back or in a combination turn.

The turn time can be set in a table in seconds. For this purpose there are 4 length intervals (3 boundaries) each with a specific turn time depending on the type of turn. Like the turn times you also can set the length limit boundaries.

⒑Time settings

Display time

Display date and time on the title panel, time only or no time at all.

Time format

Display the time in 24 hours or 12 hours format.

Date format

Display the date in dd-mm-yyyy, mm-dd-yyyy or yyyy-mm-dd format.

Adjust time

To adjust the date and time. Adjusting the date and time will also adjust the date and time of the Windows operating system.