6.1 Lathe APL - Jogging

Lathe APL - Jogging

 

To jog the APL axes you need to make them visible in the Position screen. Axes Position Display.
  1. Press [Position].
  2. Press [ALTER]. 
  3. Select the AU, AW and AV[1] axis.
  4. Press [ALTER][2] to close the pop up window.
  5. To jog an APL axis. Press [AU], [AW] or [AV] and then [Handle Jog] .

 

6.2 Lathe APL - Setup

Lathe APL - Template

The Template page allows to setup the grid pattern and part information to run the APL.

Press [CURRENT COMMANDS], Devices, arrow down to Automatic Part Loader and navigate to Template.

  1. Part Type - Enter 0 for a Slug/Puck or 1 for a Bar.
  2. Number of Stacked Parts - Enter the number of stacked parts per pocket.
  3. Number of Rows- Enter the number of rows you want to use on the table.
  4. Numbers of Columns - Enter the number of columns you want to use on the table.
  5. Distance Between Rows - Enter the incremental distance between the rows.
  6. Distance Between Columns - Enter the incremental distance between the columns.
  7. Raw Stock Height - Enter the raw stock height.
    Note: This option is only available when the number of stacked parts is greater than one.
  8. Finish Part Height - Enter the finish part height.
    Note: This option is only available when the number of stacked parts is greater than one.

Lathe APL - Load Part

The Load Part page allows to setup APL Ram pick up and load position.

Press [CURRENT COMMANDS], Devices, arrow down to Automatic Part Loader and navigate to Load Part.

 Note: The door state and workholding state is commanded in the APL template. Do not command door or workholding states in the part program.

   

  1. Gripper 1 Clamp Type - Enter 0 for OD or 1 for ID clamping.
  2. Gripper 1 Clamp Delay - Enter the number of seconds to delay after the jaws have been commanded to move.
    For the next operations the following commands are available:
    • Press [Turret FWD] or [Turret REV] to index the tool changer.
    • Press [Insert] to move to above table.
    • Press [F2] to set the reference position.
    • Press [F3] to clamp/unclamp Gripper 1.
    • Press [F4] to rotate the gripper arm.
  3. Initial Pickup Location - This field is used to set the initial pickup location, follow the on screen instructions to set the values.
  4. Ready Location - This field is used to set the position of grippers, follow the on screen instructions to set the values. This location is dependent on the machine and the part. Follow the on screen instructions to set the values.
    Note: Jog APL to a location above the door, the RAM and part must clear door and turret.
  5. Safe Axes Location for Load - This field is used to set the Tool Changer and Axes to a safe location for the APL to load the part. Follow the on screen instructions to set the values.
    Note: Machines with Y-Axis we recommend to Jog the Y-Axis about 2” in the negative direction to get maximum clearance.

6. C-Axis Orient Position - This field is used to set the chuck orientation when loading a part. Follow the on screen instructions to set the values.

7. Chuck Load Location - This field is used to set the APL position to load the part into the chuck. Follow the on screen instructions to set the values.

8. Alignment - This field is used to set the gripper location to clear the clamped part. Follow the on screen instructions to set the values.

Lathe APL - Unload Part

The Unload Part page allows to setup APL Ram pick up and drop position.

Press [CURRENT COMMANDS], Devices, arrow down to Automatic Part Loader and navigate to Unload Part.

   

  1. Gripper 2 Clamp Type - Enter 0 for OD or 1 for ID clamping.
  2. Gripper 2 Clamp Delay - Enter the number of seconds to delay after the jaws have been commanded to move.
    For the next operations the following commands are available:
    • Press [Turret FWD] or [Turret REV] to index the tool changer.
    • Press [Insert] to move to above table.
    • Press [F2] to set the reference position.
    • Press [F3] to clamp/unclamp Gripper 1.
    • Press [F4] to rotate the gripper arm.
  3. Gripper Rotate Delay - Enter the number the seconds to delay after commanding the gripper to rotate.
  4. Chuck Pick Up Location - This field is used to set the APL positions to pick up the part. Follow the on screen instructions to set this field.
    Note: Jog APL to a location above the door, the RAM must clear door and turret.
  5. Alignment - This field is used to set the gripper location to clear the clamped part. Follow the on screen instructions to set the values.
  6. Gripper Swap Location - This field is used to position the APL Grippers to a safe swap location. Follow the on screen instructions to set this field.
    Note: For large parts see the APL specifications section for safe gripper swap location recommendations.

7. Table Drop Off Location - This field is used to set the part drop off location on the table. Follow the on screen instructions to set this field.

8. Air Dwell - Enter the number of seconds to turn on the spindle air blast after the part has been removed.
Note: This field will only show if the machine is equipped with the air blast option.
Note: If used, Gripper Swap Location will be disabled. The part grippers will rotate at the Ready Location. Ready Location is found in the Load Part Tab.

9. Chuck Rotation Speed - Enter the speed at which the spindle will turn during air blast.
Note: This field will only show if the machine is equipped with the air blast option.

10. Chuck Clamp Delay Time - Enter the dwell time before the APL gripper releases the part.

APL Mode - Save/Load/ New Job

The Run Job tab allows you to load/run and save a job. It also shows the current APL mode status.

This tab shows the current job that the APL is running.

Note: The Job file name will turn red if the job is not saved.

How to Save the current Job Once you have completed filling in the values on the Template, Load Bar and Load Part tabs.

  • Type in the desired job name on the input bar.
  • Press [F3]. Select the location where you want to save the file.
  • Press [Enter] to save the file.

Note: The job file is a XML file.

How to Load a Job To load a previous job:

  • Press [F4] to load a job.
  • Find and highlight the job XML file you wish to load.
  • Press [Enter] to load the file.

How to Start a New Job To start a new job:

  • Press [F2].
  • A popup window will show “Are you sure you want to clear?
  • Press [Y].

 Note: This will reset the values in the Template, Load Part, Unload Part etc. back to factory values.

   

  1. Current Job - The current APL job. 
  2. Current Part- This field can be updated so that the sequence will start at this point.
  3. Next Part - This counter shows the next part.
  4. Completed Parts - This counter shows the amount of completed parts. This field can be reset with [ORIGIN].
  5. Total Parts - This field can be changed. The sequence will run until total parts equals completed parts. This would allow of running of a partial table.
  6. Rapid Override - This shows the current rapid override status.
  7. Slow Rapid Distance - When the APL is this distance from picking up or dropping off a part (either from table or spindle) the speed will drop to the Slow Rapid Override setting.
  8. Slow Rapid Override - When the APL is the Slow rapid distance from picking up or dropping off a part (either from table or spindle) the speed will drop to this setting.
  9. Current State - This shows the APL current state.
  10. Press [Insert] to turn ON/OFF the APL Mode. When the machine is in APL Mode the control will load the next part when the machine executes an M299 code.
  11. The APL Mode overlay and APL Mode icon appear on the screen when the machine is in APL mode.

 Note: APL Mode is canceled when the power is cycle, you will need to turn it back on if you need to use it.

6.3 Lathe APL - Recovery

Lathe APL - Recovery

If the Automatic Part Loader cycles get interrupted you must enter [RECOVER] mode to correct or complete the cycle.

Press the [RECOVER] , the recovery page will display the Chuck, Gripper, status.

Automatic Part Loader Recovery Display:

  1. APL Functions 
  2. APL status 
  3. Message Box 

[F2] Clamp Raw Gripper. This will clamp the raw gripper.

[F3] Clamp Finish Gripper. This will clamp the finish gripper.

[F4] Clamp/Unclamp E-Vise. This will clamp/unclamp the E-Vise.

[Origin] Automatic Recovery. This will attempt to recover the APL automatically.

[Q] Exit Recovery. This will exit the APL recovery display.

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