Despatch Focal Point User Manual

INSPIRED INNOVATION

u F

ocal Point™ Process Control System

A PC-based process control, data acquisition
and reporting system for composite curing

Despatch composite curing ovens are now available with Focal Point™, a
PC-based process control system. Focal Point™ fully controls the curing
process and documents all process information, providing traceability
and validation of part quality.

Focal Point™ oers precise process control with lead-lag temperature control
and an advanced recipe editor for programming temperature and vacuum
proles, and for controlling fans and dampers. During the curing cycle,
run status and all process values can be monitored from the display panel.
Focal Point also allows manual override of recipes to control thermocouple
selection, temperature and vacuum set-points, and alarm deviation limits.

Focal Point™ utilizes remote I/O architecture to create a platform that can
be easily customized for a wide range of applications. Remote modules,
such as part thermocouples and vacuum or compressed air sub-systems,
can be added to the platform and can communicate with the oven PLC
through Ethernet connection.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE:

u PC-based system with Ethernet

communication

u Modular design utilizes remote I/O

for optional thermocouple, vacuum
and compressed air sub-systems

u All relevant process data is saved on

system PC and can be accessed from
plant computer system

u Standard and customized reporting

capability to validate process

u Vacuum system can be monitored

and controlled from display

Focal Point™ soware logs all process
data in a spreadsheet or database, which
can be accessed by a plant computer
system. Data can be organized into one
of Focal Point’s standard reports or any
custom report format.

Focal Point™ allows you to fully
control, document and archive
your process to ensure parts are
cured to specification.

Minneapolis • shanghai • Berlin • singapore • hsinchu

Features and capaBilities

u Profile recipe entry and storage

u Recipe override to modify temperature and

vacuum set-points, ramp rates and alarm limits

u Controlled ramp rates from 1°F/min to 10°F/min

u High-limit control turns off heater if

temperature exceeds user-defined limits

u Alarm history saved on PC

u Four levels of password security to

control access to screens and functions

u Configurable alarm set-points

u System can communicate with other Despatch

ovens equipped with Focal Point™

u Manual oven and vacuum control

for maintenance

u Step-by-step startup procedure to

initiate curing cycle

u Part thermocouples and vacuum transducers

can be quickly enabled, disabled, certified or
calibrated from the display

u Large, 17” touchscreen display

u Graphical indicators show status of heater,

fans, dampers and vacuum pump

u Batch information can be entered using

bar code scanner

service and technical support

service parts: 1-800-473-7373
international service/main: 1-952-469-8230
service fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

© 2012 Despatch Industries. All rights reserved. Despatch is a registered trademark of Despatch Industries in the U.S. and other countries. Focal Point 2-12

gloBal headquarters

phone: 1-888-DESPATCH (1-888-337-7282)
international/main: 1-952-469-5424
fax: [phone]

[e-mail]
www.despatch.com

8860 207th Street West
Minneapolis, MN 55044 USA