Xilog Plus User S Manual BEST
Janvier Bender
N.B. DXF files imported in Xilog Plus can be saved both in PGM format and in XXL format: in this case just select one of the two from the SAVE AS box (see the manual by the Xilog Plus editor Importing a DXF file). WARNING. Each file must have its own name which must be different from other same types of files contained in the same folder. If, for example, the PGM folder already contains a file called DOOR.PGM and the file is saved as DOOR.PGM the old file could be cancelled by the new one! To save a file, click on FILE/SAVE or FILE/SAVE AS from the menu. The difference between these two commands is:
2.1 What is Xilog Plus The Xilog Plus software of the SCM Group is dedicated to managing bore-milling machines with numeric control. It is made up of two software packages that can either be installed together or separately: the Programs Editor and the Machine Panel. The Programs Editor is dedicated to creating and changing programs containing instructions that control the function and behavior of the machine and its parts. It can also be installed on a normal office PC. Other editors suitable for creating programs can be used in its place. With Machine Panel it is possible to run programs created by the editor. It also enables semi-automatic and/or manual management of machine movements. It is installed on the PC hosted in the electrical cabinet. 2.2 The Language The machine controlled by Xilog Plus carried out the work by interpreting instructions contained in the programs. The instructions generally contain information on the operation to be carried out and a series of parameters that specify the manner in which the work must be performed. The first thing to get to know is the system for orienting the boring milling machine used by Xilog Plus in the work space, which makes it possible to instruct the machine where to move the milling heads. This system takes into consideration three directions that go straight across the work surface: the length, the width an the depth. The three directions are indicated with three letters, according to the Cartesian axis system: X (for the length, left-right direction); Y (for the width, front-back direction); Z (for the depth, up-down direction).
It should be noted that, in this example, depth coordinate Z is indicated by a negative number. N.B. The position of the axis origin and the manner of use of the Z coordinate can vary depending on the type of machine used. See specific information in the Xilog Plus manuals. In the previous example, the milling head will complete four distinct movements:
3.1 The Work Phases Using Xilog Plus means organizing the work into a series of phases. In general, a work cycle includes: 1) Turning on and calibrating the machine. After the machine has been switched on and the systems loaded, the operator must proceed with calibrating the machine, which automatically prepares it to run the programs. This phase is only carried out once, unless the power is switched off from the entire machine, in this case calibration must be repeated after the machine is switched on again. ! see: Machine Panel manual 2) Creating a tooling file. Once calibration is performed, it is necessary to tell the machine which tools have been loaded and their characteristics. This operation is called tooling. The tooling can be stored and used again various times. ! see: Xilog Plus editor manual 3) Creating a program. The program is a list of working instructions written with an editor (either the Xilog Plus editor or another editor) and stored in a file. ! see: Xilog Plus editor manual 4) Program Test. Before working on the piece, it is highly recommended that a complete program simulation be performed to check for any errors or irregular machine behavior (for example, collision of tools with surface or erroneous tool movements over the piece). ! see: Machine Panel manual 5) Actual program implementation. Once the test is passed, proceed with actual program implementation by once again verifying that the first work was correct. ! see: Machine Panel manual 3.2 A Concrete Example: Making a Door Now that we have had an overview of the phases in which the work generally takes place, lets examine a concrete example in greater detail: the preparation of a door. N.B. The following examples of machine programming are purely indicative and only serve to clarify the methods for use for Xilog Plus software and making them more understandable. Our scope is to produce a door. The first thing to do will be to find a drawing of the door with all the measurements. Lets suppose therefore, that we have the drawing shown below:
In the previous paragraph we saw, with the example of the door, all the phases of a complete production cycle, from the creation of a program to its execution on the machine. Often there is a need to produce various products, each of which requires the creation of an appropriate program. In this case, instead of implementing each different program separately, with Xilog Plus it is possible to create a list that includes them all: in this manner it will be sufficient to have the machine run the list to automatically obtain the implementation, in series, of all the programs. These lists of different program are called program mix. The program mix is a type of Xilog Plus program but, unlike a normal program, the mix contains only one type of instruction which serves to recall the programs to be carried out: when we create a mix therefore, we must simply tell Xilog Plus, using the appropriate command, which programs are to be included in the list. ! see: Xilog Plus editor manual 3.4 Saving Time: Optimizing the Programs When Xilog Plus has to carry out various work (for example, in case of a mix), moving tools over the work surface can be repetitive and time wasting. To remedy this inconvenience a program can be optimized. Program optimization reorders tool movements so that work is carried out in as little time as possible and the need to stop the machine to change tools is reduced to a minimum. Optimizing a program with Xilog Plus is very simple: just select the optimization command and indicate that type of optimization desired, Xilog Plus will carry it out automatically, without further intervention by the user. ! see: Xilog Plus editor manual 3.5 Personalizing the Program: Parametric Programming Supposing we created a program, HOLES. PGM, to make four holes in the corners of a rectangular panel that measures 600 millimeters long and 400 millimeters wide. The holes are all at a distance of 50 millimeters from the panel edges.
! see: Xilog Plus editor manual 3.6 Adding Our Personal Instructions to Xilog Plus: the Macros The instructions for a Xilog Plus program (for example, the XBR instruction that allows boring) appear to the user as simple commands: a XBR instruction, entered into a program with the relative parameter, is in fact sufficient to have a hole made by the bore-milling machine which for this purpose will perform a series of movements. Actually, the XBR instruction is a real parametric program transformed into an instruction: in other words, the XBR instruction is a macro. In Xilog Plus the term macro indicates parametric programs that are transformed into instructions. When Xilog Plus is installed it appears already equipped with a set of instructions for boring, milling, etc. These instructions can easily be entered into a program by clicking on the icon that represents them, collected together in the instructions toolbar.
Xilog Plus allows the user to create his own macro. For example, we an transform the parametric program into a macro to make the four holes mentioned above. For this purpose, it will be necessary to also create an image in bitmap format to be associated with the program. Once the procedure for conversion into macro is completed, the image which we associated
with the hole work program will also appear on the instructions toolbar, and it will be possible to use the program with a simple click, just like any other instruction. ! see: Xilog Plus editor manual
dd2b598166