cybelec CYCAD User Guide

CYCAD

User Guide

CYBELEC SA Tel. ++ 41 24 447 02 00 RUE DES UTTINS 27 Fax ++ 41 24 447 02 01 CH - 1400 YVERDON-LES-BAINS E-Mail: info@cybelec.ch SWITZERLAND V-DOC-CYCAD3-EN

Information in this document is subject to change without notice, and does not represent a commitment on the part of CYBELEC SA. The software described in this document is furnished under

a license agreement or nondisclosure agreement. The software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license or nondisclosure agreement.

Important:

This notice explains normal and standard programming operations for the numerical control. In view of the fact that numerical controls can be equipped with configurable functions by the press manufacturer for his own specific purposes, please refer to the manufacturer-supplied complementary instructions regarding the programming of these functions.

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AFETY AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

The operator must be trained for working with the

machine on which the numerical control is installed.

Improper use of the numerical control can cause heavy damage on equipment and/or injuries to people.

Modification of machine parameters can cause important material damage or lead to irregular product quality.

The rear panel may only be removed by a qualified

technician (danger of electrocution).

Do not expose the numerical control to excessive humidity so as to avoid any risk of electrocution and any deterioration of the equipment.

Make sure the numerical control is disconnected

from the mains power before carrying out any cleaning. Do not use liquids based on alcohol or ammoniac.

In case of malfunction of the numerical control, call a

technician.

Do not expose the numerical control to direct sun

rays or any other heat source.

Do not place the numerical control in the

neighbourhood of magnetic equipment such as transformers, motors or devices which generate interference (welding machines, etc.)

Replace fan filters at regular intervals so as to avoid

overheating.

SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS PAGE I

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PAGE II PC 1200 / CYCAD

21.03.2003 V. 3.1

SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS............................................................................I

ABOUT THIS MANUAL ....................................................................................................................3

CYBELEC License Agreement and Copyright 3

INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................5

Working Method ..................................................................................................................6

Conversion of "untreated" CAD files 6

Conversion of "prepared" Files 7

CAD DRAWING CONVENTIONS....................................................................................................9

Generalities..........................................................................................................................9

The "OUTLINE" level ...........................................................................................................10

Product Outline 10

Internal Cuts 10

Parameters 10

The "Bends" Level ...............................................................................................................12

The "Sections" Level............................................................................................................13

Supported entities................................................................................................................14

LIMITATIONS...................................................................................................................................15

SETTING PARAMETERS FOR CYCAD / PC1200 OPTION...........................................................17

Activating the CYCAD Option 17

Configuration of Peripherals 17

Configuration of the CAD Interface Page 18

DEFINITION OF CYCAD ICONS .....................................................................................................21

Levels 23

USING CYCAD.................................................................................................................................25

General Procedure 25

Importing a CAD File ...........................................................................................................26

Simplification 29

Exporting a File in DXF or IGES Format .............................................................................30

Example Files ......................................................................................................................31

Use of the Sample Disquette 32

CYCAD3_EN.DOC

CONTENTS PAGE 1

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS ...................................................................................................... 33

Order of Sections ................................................................................................................ 33

Bending Lines ..................................................................................................................... 33

Open Outline....................................................................................................................... 34

Crossing Bends................................................................................................................... 34

Superposed Lines ............................................................................................................... 35

Not recognized Level .......................................................................................................... 36

Not converted Elements ..................................................................................................... 36

CAD INTERFACE Page not available ................................................................................ 37

INDEX.............................................................................................................................................. 39

PAGE 2 PC 1200 / CYCAD

BOUT THIS MANUAL

This manual describes the CYCAD option which allows the PC1200 to read and convert DXF and IGES files for use on PC1200.

This manual addresses operators having a working knowledge on CAD systems. It is necessessary for these persons to also be familiar with the PC1200 software, to know how to create products with this software and to have read the PC1200 user guide.

This manual can evolve, it is you, the operators, who can help us to help you more. If you have any remarks concerning this manual, please write to us at:

CYBELEC S.A. Dpt Communication Rue des Uttins 27

CH-1401 Yverdon-les-Bains

Fax +41 24 447 02 01

E-Mail: info@cybelec.ch

CYBELEC L

This manual is subject to the License Agreement and Copyright mentioned in the PC1200 User Guide.

ICENSE AGREEMENT AND COPYRIGHT

ABOUT THIS MANUAL PAGE 3

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PAGE 4 PC 1200 / CYCAD

NTRODUCTION

The CYCAD option offers conversion possibilities between DXF or IGES files generated by a CAD programme such as Autocad, CADKey, HiCad etc and files accepted by the numerical controls DNC 80/800/900/1200 from CYBELEC (in both directions).

The DXF (IGES) file describes the product in its entirety so that after conversion the DNC will be able to fully exploit that product. Use of the CYCAD conversion program, in conjunction with a CAD program, will bring about the following gains:

! You can use an existing drawing directly on a DNC, without having to

re-programme the product.

! It is possible to include such attributes as holes and circles on the

drawing - a feature not supported by the DNC.

! You can employ all the familiar CAD techniques to develop your

drawing.

! Carrying out modifications on a drawing will be easier than on the

DNC. For example, you can re-shape the product even after the bends have been defined.

Examples Several example files in the DXF and DWG formats are available on the

CYCAD diskette. Should this diskette be missing, do not hesitate to request it from our After Sales Service. Allow yourself some time to open these files with your CAD system and with PC1200 / CYCAD. In each example, one or several particular cases are shown in detail. You will find the names of the example files in the sections where each particular case is mentioned.

INTRODUCTION PAGE 5

ORKING METHOD

1. You design the product on your CAD system, according to the

2. You save it to a DXF (IGES) format file.

3. You start the PC1200 software program. In the INTERFACE CAD

4. You may now modify the product by means of the PC1200 functions,

You can also convert an existing file (.DAT file) into a DXF (IGES) file that can be used with a CAD program.

The drawing conventions for the DXF (IGES) file are strictly the same for both conversion directions.

The CYCAD option allows two different working approaches: conversion of "untreated" CAD files and conversion of "prepared" CAD files. These two possibilities with their advantages and inconvients are summarized hereafter.

conventions explained below.

page, you read, modify and convert the DXF (IGES) file to the "CYBELEC" format.

add missing information if necessary, test the feasibility of the product and then transfer it to the numerical control.

ONVERSION OF "UNTREATED

CYCAD is capable of reading "untreated" DXF files, i.e. files that have been converted in the state in which they have been created in the CAD system, without the conventions described hereunder being applied.

From the CAD INTERFACE page of the PC1200 software, the program filters certain unwanted information and displays the contents of the CAD file which will need to be "purified" and in which it will be necessary to select the elements needed by PC1200 (see Use of CYCAD section, page 25).

Existing CAD files The advantage is that existing DXF or IGES files can be converted without

having to any work on them at CAD level. This is particularly convenient when the files have been generated on a system which is not available in the company.

However, such a file must be a 2D file, for CYCAD does not recognize 3D files. Furthermore, the file must contain at least the outline of the product and respect a certain number of limitations described in the CAD Drawing Conventions section, page 9.

" CAD

FILES

PAGE 6 PC 1200 / CYCAD

ONVERSION OF "PREPARED

If the drawing conventions have been respected during creation of the products on the CAD system, the CYCAD converter is able to automatically insert the information at the correct locations (see CAD Drawing Conventions, page 9).

Conversion speed Preparation of the CAD file may seem a bit long because the drawing

conventions must be respected, but the conversion is greatly facilitated. The operator will need to spend much less time (if any) in the CAD INTERFACE page of PC1200, and the product can be "taken over" by PC1200 much faster.

" F

ILES

INTRODUCTION PAGE 7

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PAGE 8 PC 1200 / CYCAD

CAD D

RAWING CONVENTIONS

The drawing is organized into various levels, of which just three are relevant to CYCAD.

! The first pre-defined level describes the overall shape of the product,

with general data on it. This is called OUTLINE.

! The second pre-defined level defines the bends and associated data.

This is called BENDS.

! The third (optional) pre-defined level contains section and order of

bending data, together with support details. This is called SECTIONS.

You may use the other levels for your own needs. The conversion program simply ignores the levels which are not needed. It is recommended to assign particular colors or line types to the various levels. An example file treated this way can be found on the CYCAD diskette. The file names are EX_CY.DWG (for AutoCAD) and EX_CY.DXF.

At this stage it is helpful to remember that the notion of sectioning a product is not critical when designing it. It is not necessary to indicate section positions, since they are generated automatically by the conversion programme. If however the section location becomes important (eg. in determining the support position) you can in fact indicate it.

Hint CYCAD is capable of exporting products created on PC1200 in the DXF or

IGES format. It is thus easy for you to create yourself example DXF or IGES files respecting the CYCAD conventions and export a product with DXF or IGES format to look at them in your CAD system. See Exporting a File in DXF or IGES Format, page 30.

ENERALITIES

Texts:

The character type (font) and the size of the characters is unimportant. When the position of the text is relevant, the lower left corner of the text is taken into account.

CAD DRAWING CONVENTIONS PAGE 9

"OUTLINE"

LEVEL

The text CYCAD : OUTLINE (in upper case characters) must be present for the level to be correctly identified.

RODUCT OUTLINE

The product shape must be defined as a series of lines and connected arcs. The outline of the product must be entirely closed (no open ends). The shape will correspond to that drawn on the PRODUCT FLAT page of PC1200.

Arcs In the moment of conversion, the arcs are converted into a series of segments.

The number of segments corresponding to an arc can be specified by the user, as indicated in the Setting Parameters for CYCAD / PC1200 Option section, page 17.

The order in which the lines and arcs are drawn is unimportant; they must be simply end-to-end in the sense that each "summit" on the drawing must correspond to the junction of two lines/arcs. The total of these lines/arcs must not exceed 300 before conversion.

NTERNAL CUTS

You may draw cut-outs inside of the product outline in the same way as the outline, by means of lines and connected arcs. The external outline as well as the cuts must be closed shapes. It is, of course, necessary to take into account the max. number of segments (300).

An example of internal cuts can be found in the EXAMPLE1.DXF file. You can convert this file and see the result in PC1200.

If the the internal cut-outs are not really necessary for the comprehension or for the recognition of the drawing, and if they are not to be "worked on" (bend within the internal cut), it is recommended to put them into a nonCYCAD layer so that they will not appear in the product destined to PC1200.

ARAMETERS

Optionally, it is also possible on the Outline level to indicate various PC1200 parameters. You may specify just those values useful to you and omit the others. Each parameter is defined by an independent text, and the position of the text is unimportant. To define a parameter, write the corresponding keyword, the character = preceded and followed by a space and its value, which can either be a number or a text, according to the parameters.

PAGE 10 PC 1200 / CYCAD

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