AutoComp Quick Guide

From Knowledge Base


Setup and Configuration

Overview

A/C can manage tool life and dimensional variation of a part process based on measurements it receives, either via CMM reports (.txt or .csv files) or handheld digital gages, through a network connection with the machine control.

Comps can be written to tool wear offsets or to variables (ie. Common or Macro variables)

System Configuration Interface

The PC that will be running A/C can be directly wired to the machine control via ethernet or it can communicate with the control on the Local Area Network.  If using the LAN, the PC must be on the same subnet as the machine’s static IP address.

CNC System Button

  1. Select the control type
  2. Enter the IPV4  IP address of the machine control
  3. Apply
    1. (Okuma controls need correct server installed. Along with Mitsubishi, Brother, Hass, Mazak, Siemens, and Heidenhain. )

Routine Path

Directory where the A/C routines will be stored.

Typically, C:\Caron Engineering\CEI_AutoComp\PartRoutines

Run Data Main Path

Directory where the Run Data (measurement data for a given Part Routine) is stored

Typically C:\Caron Engineering\CEI_AutoComp\RunData

Comp Files Path (within the gage converters interface)

Directory where the data files will need to land for AutoComp to read them.  Once A/C has read the measurement data file, it will automatically move it to the Comped Files directory.

Typically C:\Caron Engineering\CEI_AutoComp\CompFiles and C:\Caron Engineering\CEI_AutoComp\CompedFiles respectively.

System Global Parameters

Comp on Reject:

  • If Unchecked, NO COMPENSATION for ANY dimension will be sent if any single dimension is out of tolerance.  Read: If the part is bad for any reason, no dimension will be comp’d.
  • If Checked, comps will be sent for any dimension that needs it EXCEPT dimensions that are Out of Tolerance.  See below to comp for dimensions that are Out of Tolerance(aka Rejected Dimensions).

Comp on Rejected Dimensions:

  • If Checked (in conjunction with Comp On Reject being Checked), dimensions that measure Out of Tolerance will be comp’d.
  • If Unchecked (in conjunction with Comp On Reject being Checked), dimensions that measure Out of Tolerance will not be comp’d.

Comp After Wear:

If Unchecked, NO COMPENSATION will be sent for a dimension that has exceeded its Wear Limit.

AutoComp has the ability to track Tool Wear.  The Wear Limit is defined as a cumulative compensation value applied to a tool in the Dimension Parameters within the Routine, ie .015”.

Clear Offset on Tool Change:

If Checked, the CNC offset will be cleared when the A/C tool life is reset. (Fanuc Focas, DNC2, and Okuma P controls)

Expire Tool on Wear Limit:

If Checked, the CNC Tool Life Management – Tool Expired flag is set when a dimension has exceeded its wear limit. Currently used with Okuma P and Fanuc Focas controls with Tool Life Management.

Wear Offset Compensation:

If Checked, compensation values are written to the tool wear offsets.

If Unchecked, compensation values are written to the tool offsets.

Dimension Limits Deviation:

If Checked, tolerance and compensation values are entered as deviations for the Nominal in the Routine Editor.

If Unchecked, they’re entered as actual values.

Offset Display as Deviation:

If Checked, gage values are displayed as deviations from the nominal in the Run Screen.

In Unchecked, the actual values are displayed as received from the gage.

Load Routine Variable/Load Routine Path:

Where A/C has access to read/write variables to the control, these fields tell A/C which variable and path to poll from.  This works in conjunction with the AutoLoad Routine Value setting in the Routine Parameters tab for a given routine.

AutoLoad Routine Value:

  • If the Load Routine Variable’s value matches the Routine Editor’s AutoLoad Routine Value, then the routine will be loaded if:
    • It is not already loaded.
    • It is not being edited.  It will load as soon as the editor is closed.
    • The currently loaded routine is not mid-cycle or waiting for critical measurements for the cycle to complete.  It will load as soon as the cycle completes.
  • Note: AutoLoading can also be accomplished via the CMM report name.  If the name of the report matches the routine name, it will autoload when the file is dropped into the Comp Files directory.

AutoComp Cycle Notifications:

A/C allows the user to pass macro variables to a control when completing a cycle, compensating a dimension, and exceeding the wear limit on a tool.

Gage Converters:

Gage converters are the translator for AutoComp to read incoming text (.txt) or comma separated values (.csv) files.  They tell AutoComp where the data is in the file (Row Number and Column number) and which dimension(s) to apply the data to based on the currently loaded routine.

When using gage converters with a CMM report, you need to know what column of data holds the measurement output, and what row(aka line number) the data is in.  For example, if a report line reads, (Dim Name Nominal  Plus Tolerance  Minus Tolerance  Measurement)

Dim2     1.500     .005     -.005     1.501

Select ACConverter_Delimited

Column Number 5

Delimited by a Space

You’ll need to identify the line number or “Row Number” and input that in the Dimension details while editing the AC Routine.


If the report reads, (Dim Name  Measurement  Plus Tolerance  Minus Tolerance  Nominal)

Dim2,1.501,.005,-.005,1.500

Select ACConverter_Delimited

Column Number 2

Delimited by a Comma


The CMM Report needs to be named the same as the Routine Name followed by square brackets containing the Gage Converter name.

RoutineName[Gage Converter Name].txt or .csv

RS232 Configuration

  • Configure MicroRidge Transmitters/Receiver with Mobile Collect Setup
  • Create Gages
  • Create Measurements

Mobile Collect Extended Setup

Find Base Unit

Note the status in bottom of window: Found a Base unit on COMM7 @9600 – N – 8 – 1 (example Comm port)

**Recommend color matched marking on the USB port the receiver is plugged into and on the male USB connection**

Connect Mobile Transmitter to the Base: Hold the Setup button (closest to the wire) and press the Read button (other button)

Note Module ID: 0383FE(example ID)

You may update the Module Label and Description to match the inspection tool.  The Module ID must remain as it is.

Creating Gages

To start, right click the CEI_RS232Gage system tray icon (gray box with yellow crossing bars)

Choose the “Configuration” option

Creating a Measurement and Creating a Collection.

Click the “Add Gage” button to begin creating a gage.

An onscreen keyboard will appear and prompt the user to assign a name for the gage, do so and then press “OK”

For the MicroRidge Wireless system, the name of the Gage MUST MATCH the name of the TRANSMITTER RemoteID as defined in the GageWay Software. Generally this is UM followed by a 4 digit number. The Gageway Wireless software must also have been configured to send the RemoteID AFTER the measurement on the global channel.

After naming the gage, select from the list which type of gage is being used.

After choosing the gage manufacturer, choose the RS232 Port the gage is using on the PC.

  • If using MicroRidge USB Receivers, this will change if the Receiver is moved to a different USB port.
  • To maintain hardware communication, it is best to assign one USB port(label it/color match it with the MicroRidge receiver).

The Comm settings should load automatically once a gage manufacturer is selected. Double check this box to ensure they are the correct settings.

If they are incorrect, click inside the box to reassign the values. An onscreen keypad will appear. Enter in the new settings. For reference, the top bar of the keypad displays the correct format for doing so.

Creating Measurements

  • Select the gage to add a measurement to using the drop down bar under the “Gage” label
  • Click the “Add Measurement” button
  • Assign a name. It is not necessary but is easier to use the same measurement name as the associated dimension in the routine.
  • Next is to choose an option in the “Measurement Data Select” window. There are three choices
  • Manual – Choosing this option forces the user to select which measurement was just taken after each press of the “Send Data” button on the transmitter. A window will appear with a list of the measurements that have been created for that gage and the user is prompted to pick which measurement to use.
  • By Range – This option allows the user to define a range of values that the measurement data could fall between. When data from the associated gage is transmitted and falls within the range, the application assumes this is the correct measurement and sends the data to data to the folder selected in the Data File Path. If ranges happen to overlap, a window will appear and allow the user to choose which dimension was just measured (similar to the manual option).
  • For the example, Click the button for “By Range”, then in the Range boxes, enter the minimum (4.9) and maximum (5.1) values for this measurement. This is an example of a part with a nominal diameter of 5.0” and a tolerance of 0.1”.
  • ***By File*** – This option is for a future version of the CEI_RS232Gage application
  • Next is to decide when the data will be output to the folder chosen in the “Data File Path” box
  • Unique File – This means that only 1 measurement is being taken with this gage. Once the measurement is transmitted using the “Send Data” button on the gage, the file is created in the desired folder.
  • Member of Collection – By choosing this option, multiple measurements can be taken with 1 gage/transmitter. The file will not be created until all measurements of a collection have been taken and transmitted. The following section describes how to create collections.
  • Note that if you are using ‘Name File By AutoComp’, you can skip this step, as the folder is determined by the AutoComp Gage Converter selected when you assign a Data File name (in the next step) by Routine[Gage Converter].
  • For a standard installation the is C:\Program Files\CaronEngineering\CEI_AutoComp\CompFiles
  • Next is to assign the Data File Name, there are two options to do this
  • AutoComp Routine[Gage] – This option will allow the user to pick a file name based on an AutoComp routine and gage converter that have already been created.
  • If the AutoComp path is not listed next to the button, press the “AutoComp Path” to tell the application where the AutoComp main folder is located.  
  • Then when selecting the “AutoComp Routine[Gage]” option and clicking in the  box underneath, the user is given a list of routines and then a list of gage converters to select from.
  • User Defined – This option means the user will need to specify the naming convention of the file. The convention is “RoutineName[GageConverter]”.
  • The name of the routine associated to this measurement is used first followed by the name of the gage converter enclosed in brackets.
  • An example would be “Part321[QSPART]” where the user wants routine Part321 to load and the file is found using gage converter QSPART.
  • Next, select a “Historical Data File Path”. This is optional and can be left blank.
  • By assigning a file path, a .txt file is created and written to every time the transmit button is pressed. This file can later be imported into an excel spreadsheet by the user if desired.
  • Select a “Measurement Select File”.  This is optional and can be left blank.
  • This will be used in a future release with the “By File” option.
  • With all gages and measurements defined, save the data.
  • Click on the Complete/Cancel Tab in the top right.
  • There are two options to choose from to close the window:
  • Cancel All Edits – By pressing this button, no changes will be saved.
  • Save All and Exit – By pressing this button all changes will be saved.
Retrieved from "https://kb.wolframmfg.com/index.php?title=AutoComp_Quick_Guide&oldid=168"