BASIC UTILITYOPERATIONS

USER’S GUIDE

Gibbs and Associates323 Science Drive

Moorpark, CA 93021

June 10, 2005

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Use of the computer software and the user documentation has been provided pursuant to a Gibbs and Associates licensing agreement.

© 2005 Gibbs and Associates. All rights reserved. The Gibbs logo, GibbsCAM, GibbsCAM logo, Virtual Gibbs, Gibbs SFP, MTM, SolidSurfacer, and “Powerfully Simple. Simply Powerful.” are either trademark(s) or registered trademark(s) of Gibbs and Associates in the United States and/or other countries. Windows Vista and the Windows logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Acknowledgements:

Written by: Will. Gaffga.

Thanks to Bill Gibbs and Jeff Myers for their input and assistance.

Printed in the United States of America

Basic Utility Operations User’s Guide

B a s i c U t i l i t y O p e r a t i o n s U s e r ’ s G u i d e

ABOUTThe Basic Utility Operations are an addition to the Lathe and Mill/Turn modules. This function allows users of these modulesto easily generate Bar Feed, Tailstock and Part Catcher commands. This function requires a custom post processor. The actualfunctions that can be programmed with Basic Utility Operations depend upon your needs and input to the Gibbs and AssociatesPost department. Each post and accompanying template will be different depending upon the machine associated with the post.

INSTALLATIONYou should have received a package or e-mail that contains a new, custom post processor and template file. These items are tobe unzipped to the GibbsCAM application folder. The items unzipped include a folder called “Posts” and a folder called “UtilityTemplates”. The Posts folder may be moved to a preferred directory but Utility Templates must reside in the GibbsCAMapplication folder.

INTERFACE AND USEWhen GibbsCAM is re-launched after installing the Utility Templates folder, the systemis capable of producing posts that support Basic Utility Operations in Lathe and Mill/Turn parts. When a Lathe or Mill/Turn part is being created the CAM palette will nowinclude the Basic Utility Operation tile. Simply drag the tile to a position in the Processlist.

Some Basic Utility operations require tools, others don’t. This is determined by yourmachine’s configuration and is set in the template. If a tool is required you will not beable to generate the operation until there is a tool assigned to the process. Any type andsize of tool may be used, what is important is what position number you wish to use.Simply drag a tool to the process tile.

A tool is required

No tool required

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Basic Utility Operations User’s Guide

The interface is a single dialog with a pull-down menu and a list. The Basicutility Operation’s options in the pull-down menu depend upon yourmachine’s capabilities and are set when the post and template are made.Simply select the type of operation you wish to generate. Any variablessuch as positions and speeds will appear in the list below the menu. TheValue for menu of the Items can be edited to set the position. speed and/ortime of the operation. Please note that some items are hard-coded in thetemplate and may not be editable.

Once you have set the Values simply click Do It in the CAM palette. Thisgenerates a Basic Utility Operation. Each operation type has a custom iconconsisting of up to four letters, identifying the type of operation beingprogrammed.

Once the operation is generated you can use the accompanying post processor to generate loads, unloads, etc. in your Latheand/or Mill/Turn parts.

! Please note that programs must include at least one “real” operation (roughing, contouring, drilling, etc.). The system will not generate a program that only contains Utility Operations.

Load Spindle - Bar Feed

Load Spindle -Automatic

Unload Spindle - Manual

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