6.1 PALLET POOL SCHEDULE TABLE

Pallet Pool - Operation

The CNC control tracks the pallets as they move from their shelf, to the ready position, to the machining area and then back. The Pallet Schedule Table (PST) is found within the current commands pages.

To access, press the [CURRENT COMMANDS] button and use the cursor arrows to navigate to Devices, then Pallet Schedule Table.

The PST screen contains information to assist the operator in loading/unloading pallets and allows the operator to specify part programs and pallet processing sequences.

 WARNING: It is not possible to leave an adjacent shelf empty to increase clearance for workholding. 

NOTE: Pallet exiting the machine work envelope may not return to the shelf it was taken from. The machine will go to the closest empty shelf starting with the shelf A / Load Station.

Pallets are loaded into the pallet pool on Load Station A in the reverse orientation as loading on a standard pallet changer machine. On a pallet pool the locating arrow on the pallet must point away from the operator as illustrated. Once the pallet is loaded in the Load Station A press [F3] while on the PST to put the Load Station pallet away.

Changing pallets with the Pallet Pool is done using the PST. Highlight a pallet shelf and press [ALTER] to load the pallet and associated program.

Run all the scheduled pallets by pressing [INSERT].

The program should have a M199 at the end of it to load the next schedule pallet and associated program when in Pallet Scheduler Mode. If running in MEMORY mode the M199 behaves like an M30.

The load order of the pallets is determined by the “Load Order” column in the PST. If you don’t wish to use Pallet Scheduler Mode to process your pallets you can still use the M50 Px command to load a specific pallet from inside your program.

To run the machine through all the scheduled pallets in Pallet Scheduler Mode call the first pallet into the machine. Press INSERT from the PST page. This will cause the M199 at the end of the program to behave like an M50 + M99. At the end of the program it will retrieve the next scheduled pallet and continue to run until all scheduled pallets are completed.

The Pallet Pool has a sub panel next to the load station, with an Emergency Stop button for safety, and a Part Ready button.

The Part Ready button is used to signal the lifter that the pallet in the load station is prepared and ready to enter the Pallet Pool. The load station door must be rotated closed for safety so that the lifter has access to the load station pallet.

Pallet Schedule Table

The Pallet Schedule Table incorporates a number of features to help the user with their routine.

Load Order and Pallet Status: These two features work together to show which pallet is currently in the machining area. Enter a number for the load order and press [ENTER] on the Pallet Status field to select the pallet status. The choices are: 0: Unscheduled, 1: Scheduled, 2: Missing and 3: Completed.

Comment: To add a user comment to a pallet, highlight the pallet number field and press [ENTER]. A box will appear, type in the desired comment and press [ENTER].

Pallet Usage: This feature gives the number of times the specific pallet has been loaded into the machining area. Press [ORIGIN] button to clear the value.

Program Number: This detail shows which program number has been assigned to the pallet. To select a program, highlight the Program Name field then press [ENTER] and navigate to the program.

Program Comment: This area displays the comments that are written in the part program. This can only be changed by editing the comments in the program.

Command Prompts:

[ENTER] The function changes depending where the highlighter is located. It is used to enter a user comment, set a value in the field and to view options for the field.

[ALTER] Load Pallet and Program. This will load the selected pallet into the machine and call the assigned program to memory.

[INSERT] Run loaded program. This will start the machine running in Pallet Scheduler Mode. The machine will continue to run all scheduled pallets in the PST until they are completed. For more information on Pallet Scheduler Mode refer to M199 Pallet / Part Load or Program Endin the M-code section.

[F2]Schedule Load Station pallet. This will set the status of the Load Station pallet to Scheduled.

[F3] Put away Load Station pallet. This will return the Load Station pallet to the pallet pool.

[F4] Get highlighted pallet. This will bring the selected pallet to the Load Station.

Using the Pallet Scheduling Table to Load Pallets

NOTE: The following images are that of a 16-station UMC pallet pool.

1

Load the pallets using the Pallet Schedule Table.

To reach the Pallet Schedule Table tab press [CURRENT COMMANDS] then go DEVICES > PALLET SCHEDULE TABLE. 

Schedule the pallets, to do this highlight the pallet status of the pallet [1] and press [F2] to schedule. Repeat this process for the remaining pallets.

NOTE: The pallets must be scheduled in order to physically load the pallets to the station. After all pallets have been loaded the user can unschedule the pallets as needed. Unscheduling a pallet will tell the Pallet Pool not to pick up that pallet.

2

To load the pallets on the machine first press E-STOP [1] then go to the Shelf tab on pallet number 1 [2]. Change pallet 1 to shelf R [3], this will open the loading station in the software of the machine. 

Next highlight the pallet 2 shelf tab [4] and change that to shelf A, this will move the location of pallet 2 to the load station [5]. 

Physically load a pallet onto the load station and press [F3] to put away the load station pallet 2 onto the empty shelf B. 

Continue this process for the rest of the shelves and once complete move pallet 1 back to shelf A. 

3

To load a program for a specific pallet go to the Program Name tab [1].

A pop up menu will appear which will ask where to load your program from. Choose the file location, select the program you wish to run for that pallet and press [ENTER].

4

The program name and program comment will appear in its respective tab [1]. Continue loading programs for all other pallets this applies to. 

Pressing [ALTER] [2] will load the pallet and program as the name describes.

Pressing [INSERT] [3] will run the program of the pallet in shelf R, the pallet status should also tell you what pallet number is loaded. 

5

To retrieve any given pallet choose the pallet number or the shelf [1], you should see the number of the pallet highlighted, press [F4] denoted as [2] and that should bring the highlighted pallet to the loading station or shelf A [3]. 

NOTE: If there is a pallet in the load station when this process is commanded the pallet in the loading station will be loaded to an empty shelf in the pallet pool in order to move the highlighted pallet ot position. 

6.2 PALLET POOL - RECOVERY

Pallet Pool Changer - Recovery

If the Pallet Pool or Pallet Changer cycles get interrupted you must enter [RECOVER] mode to correct or complete the cycle.

Press the [RECOVER] button and press 2 for Pallet Changer. The recovery page will display the input and output values.

Pallet Changer Recovery Display:

  1. APC Functions
  2. Pallet Pool Functions
  3. APC status 
  4. Pallet Pool Status
  5. Message Box 

Command Prompts:

[F1] APC Up. This will lift the pallet changer H-Frame if the pallet is not clamped.

[F2] Unclamp. This will unclamp the pallet in the machine from the receiver.

[F3] Air Blast. This will activate the air blast under the pallet to remove any chips or debris.

[F4] Attempt Auto Recovery. This will attempt to automatically correct or complete the pallet changer or pallet pool operation.

[ALTER] Raise Pallet Lifter. This will lift the pallet pool lifter assembly.

[INSERT] Return Pallet Slide Home. This will return the lifter to its home position.

[UNDO] Pallet Pool Slide to Shelf. This will slide the pallet pool lifter to the selected shelf location. Example: Press [A] then [UNDO] to slide the lifter to shelf position A.

[DELETE] Pallet Pool Rotate to Shelf. This will rotate the pallet pool lifter to the selected shelf location. Example: Press [A] then [DELETE] to rotate the lifter to shelf position A.

[ORIGIN] Attempt Auto Recovery. This will attempt to automatically correct or complete the pallet pool operation.

[+Z] Select Pallet Slide Axis. This will select the PS axis in handle jog mode.

[-Z] Select Pallet Rotate Axis. This will select the PR axis in handle jog mode.

[Q] Ext to Pallet Schedule Table. This 

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