Stations
Each machine can contain up to 6 Stations
Each station can contain 1 part to be processed
A station can be a collection of actuators in a machine dedicated to a singular or group process
The MotionRow is used in the station manual mode to group motions in a process order so that the process may be completed without automatic cycle for diagnostics and troubleshooting. This allows a machine or a station to be maintained without wasting valuable parts at great cost.
Each MotionRow is ordered to be pressed as a button down the left and side of the screen with numeric order (1,2,3,4,5,6). This allows the machine to advance into its most possible "Advanced" state. To return the station to its Home position (Returned, Safe) all the buttons on the right hand side are pressed (7,8,9,10,11,12)
The example shown above is in Station 1 and consists of a gantry loaded drill press with RFID tag reader. The example drills a hole into a part, and then returns to HOME
In the above example, the following is displayed from the station
- The gantry has loaded the part, but is not being asked to load another part
- The clamps for the workpiece are clamped, and the valve for the clamp is still TRUE
- The RFID tag on the part has been "Read OK" and no further reading is requested
- The Spindle has been requested to start, but there is no feedback from the spindle drive. The spindle drive is displaying 0 RPM
- The coolant pump is switched OFF and there is no coolant flow on the coolant flow sensor
- The drill quill is Raised with the Raise valve turned TRUE
From this information, it can be inferred there is a problem with the spindle drive not starting. At this point fault finding can continue(e.g. wiring, contactor broken, etc) while the workpiece has not been processed or affected.
Once the fault has been rectified, the station can still be tested in manual mode by pressing the "Start" button on the spindle. The station can then process the station in manual, semi-auto or automatic modes.
Each station has a home status. This is generally used to define all actuators in a returned position, however there are some exceptions, for example where a shotbolt is advanced to keep an assembly retained for safety reasons.
This is used for starting and stopping a sequence, e.g. only starting Auto Cycling from Home position, Returning all motions to the home position, and generally having a starting point for a sequence.