Creating and Editing Routines

Creating and Editing Routines: Overview

This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for creating and editing routines. It does not give detailed information on routine or dimension parameters.

Creating a Routine

To create a routine, perform the following steps:

Name the routine.
Specify routine and dimension parameters in the Routine Editor
Save the routine.

Naming the Routine

The names of routines and gage data files are crucial in AutoComp’s ability to detect and load routines, so before attempting to create a routine it is important to read the"AutoComp Functionality" which explains how AutoComp uses routine names.

In the Main Window toolbar, press Create Routine.
Type the routine name and press OK.
Enter all routine parameter information in this tab, and then go to the Dimension Parameters tab and enter all necessary information there.

Using the Routine Editor

The Routine Editor is used to enter dimension and routine parameter data in inactive routines. The Routine Editor has two tabs: a Routine Parameters tab and a Dimension Parameters tab.

This section describes both tabs of the Routine Editor.

Note: Dimensions in an active routine can be edited in the Detail Chart.

Editing Routine Parameters

Routine parameters are also called “global” parameters because they affect all dimensions in a given routine (unlike dimension parameters, which only affect specific dimensions).

If editing an existing routine, the values entered in the Routine Parameters tab of the Routine Editor will override system configuration variables and previously entered values for the routine.

This section outlines the routine parameters and explains the control buttons.

To go to the Routine Editor's Routine Parameters tab:

If creating a new routine, as soon as the routine is named the Routine Editor appears. (see below).
If editing an existing routine, press the Edit Routines button on the Main Window tool bar and select the routine from the Select Routine window.

AutoComp Routine Editor, Routine Parameters Tab

Routine Parameters

The Routine Editor's Routine Parameters allow:

Specifying the Variable Path/Subsystem
Specifying the AutoLoad Routine Value (only available on controls allowing ethernet read/write access to variables)
Selecting Units (inch or millimeter) of all gage readings for the routine
Setting Cpk: AutoComp calculates Cpk and stores it in a run data file and displays it in the live Data Grid
Setting the AutoComp Cycle Notification variables
Setting the Gage Required Counter variables.
Setting the flyer percent value in increments of .1 and in the range of 0-200%.
The Routine Parameters tab will alert the user that a 'save dimension' is needed if the 'save routine' command button is disabled.

Note: For an existing routine, the values entered will override the system configuration values and the values previously entered for the routine.

Routine Parameters Control Buttons

The Routine Editor's Routine Parameters tab includes the following control buttons:

Select Part View Picture: Part View is an AutoComp operation mode that allows viewing gage data in the context of an actual picture of the part. When using Part View, load a picture of the part into AutoComp. Use this button to browse to the file to be used in Part View for the routine. It must be a .jpg file. The file is then displayed in the button:

Select Part View Picture Button with Image Selected

The button can still be pressed with the picture in it to browse again to a different .jpg file.

Save Routine: The Save Routine button saves all edits to the routine (including edits made in the Dimension Parameters tab) and closes the Routine Editor.
Cancel All Edits: The Cancel All Edits button aborts all edits to the routine and closes the Routine Editor.
- Important: Even saved dimensional edits are aborted.

Editing Dimension Parameters

A dimension is the definition of one measurement of a part. All measurements that require tool compensation for the part should be defined in a routine. Dimensions can also be defined as no compensation where the data is just stored with all the historical data for the cycle. This section describes the Dimension Parameters tab, where dimensions are edited in routines that are not active.

In the Routine Editor, select the Dimension Parameters tab (shown below), to program dimension parameters.

AutoComp Routine Editor, Dimension Parameters Tab

Use the Previous Dim button and the Next Dim button to display the dimension to edit.

Dimension Parameters Control Buttons

With the exception of the Rename field, the Routine Editor's dimension parameters control buttons are on the right side of the Dimension Parameters tab.

Rename: This button renames the current dimension.
MoveDimIndex Up/Down: The display order indicates the order in which dimensions will be displayed on the Run Screen. Use the MoveUp/MoveDown buttons to re-order the dimensions.
Duplicate Dimension: Use this button to create a duplicate of the current dimension with a different name. When Duplicate Dimension is pressed, the name of the current dimension is displayed in the DimensionName field followed by an under- score “__”. Rename the new dimension as desired.
New Dimension: Use this button to add a new dimension. l Delete Dimension: Use this button to delete the currently selected dimension.
Save Dimension: When finished editing parameters, press the Save Dimension button to confirm the edits before going on to another dimension.
Undo Dimension: The Undo Dimension button returns para- meter values to the last saved setting. Once the dimension has been saved, this button is unavailable.
Save Routine: The Save Routine button saves all edits to the routine and closes the Routine Editor.
Cancel All Edits: The Cancel All Edits button aborts all edits to the routine and closes the Routine Editor.
- Important: Even saved dimensional edits are aborted.
Save Routine As: This creates a duplicate of the routine by saving it to another name. The routine can now be edited as needed. The edits must be saved to save the routine as its new name.

To Edit Dimension Parameters in an Existing Routine

To edit dimensions in an existing routine that is not active, follow these steps:

Press Edit Routines in the Main Window toolbar.
Select the desired routine and press OK.
Click on the Dimension Parameters tab.
Select the dimension to edit by selecting the dimension from the drop-down list.
Enter general parameters for the dimension.
If desired, press the Tool Compensation check-box to enable tool compensation for the dimension. Otherwise skip to step 7
1. If tool compensation is enabled, new compensation parameters and machine parameters can be entered. The new values replace the old ones.
Press Save Dimension when finished entering parameter values.
Edit more dimensions by repeating steps 3-7.
After entering the final dimension, press Save Routine.

Adding a Dimension to an Existing Routine

A dimension is one set of measurements of a part that is tooled in a routine.

There are two ways to add a dimension to an existing routine:

Add an original dimension, entering all information manually.
Add a dimension by using the Duplicate Dimension control button and then editing it as needed.

Use the control buttons in the Dimension Parameters tab to add new dimensions.

To Add a New Dimension to an Existing Routine

New dimension can be added to an existing routine in the Routine Editor's Dimension Parameters tab using these steps:

In the Main Window tool bar, press Edit Routines.
Select the desired routine and press OK.
Go to the Routine Editor's Dimension Parameters tab.
Press the New Dimension control button.
Enter the name of the new dimension and press OK.
Enter general parameters for the new dimension
If desired, press the Tool Compensation check-box to enable tool compensation for the dimension. Otherwise skip to step 7. If tool compensation is enabled, new compensation para- meters and machine parameters can be entered.
Press Save Dimension when finished entering parameter values.
1. The dimension with its associated parameters is added to the routine. It is the last dimension in the routine’s list of dimensions. Use Move Up to change its order in the dimension list.
2. Press the Save Routine button in order for the dimension to be saved.

To Add a Dimension Using Duplicate Dimension

A new dimension can be added to a routine by duplicating the current dimension.

In the Main Window tool bar, press Edit Routines.
Select the desired routine and press OK.
Go to the Dimension Parameters tab.
In the Routine Editor's Dimension Parameters tab, press the Duplicate Dimension control button.
1. The name of the current dimension is displayed in the DimensionName field, followed by an underscore “__”. This dimension has all of the same values of the dimension it duplicates.
Rename the new dimension as desired. Edit the dimension as needed.
Press Save Dimension when finished entering parameter values.
1. The dimension with its associated parameters is added to the routine. It is the last dimension in the routine’s list of dimensions. Use Move Up if to change its order in the dimension list.
2. Press the Save Routine button in order for the dimension to be saved.

Using the Detail Chart

The Detail Chart allows editing a limited number of variables in an active routine. To edit an active routine:

In the routine’s Run Screen, press the View Details/View Grid/View Chart toggle button, so that the Detail Chart is displayed.
In the Detail Chart, press Edit Parameters. Values that can be edited appear in bold.
Press the desired fields to enter values.
Press Apply to apply the changes to the active routine.

Detail Chart, Showing Data Entry Keypad