MACHINEMATE
Manuals, Documents and
Downloads
A number of
MACHINEMATE
manuals, applications
and programs are available
for viewing or download.
Here are several shortcuts
to the section of interest:
Manuals
Documents
PLC Application Templates
PLC Printer Configuration
Files
Visual Basic Example
Adobe Document Information
All of the .pdf documents
are presented in the
Adobe pdf file format.
If you do not have the
Adobe Acrobat Reader,
the software is free
to download at
www.adobe.com.
For each document, it
is advised that you
right-click on the link
and select ‘Save
Target As…’ so that
the file is downloaded
to your PC for more
convenient access. An
approximate size (rounded
up to nearest 10 KB)
is included for each
file to allow an estimate
of the download time
(that will depend on
the speed of your internet
connection).
Manuals
The following list is
the set of manuals for
the control that is
available on-line. A
printed copy of each
is also available for
purchase from
MACHINEMATE
INC.
A complete set is also
available as a package,
either as printed documents
or on a CD (which includes
a copy of the Adobe
Acrobat Reader).
·
Hardware manual (6.9MB)
·
Machine Parameter manual
(1.1MB)
·
NC Programming manual
(3.2MB)
·
Operator manual (3.1MB)
·
Software manual – PLC
interfaces (1.4MB)
·
Software manual – PLC
programming tool (1.1MB)
·
Software manual – Visualizer
(400KB) (this small
manual when printed
is included within the
bound PLC Programming
manual)
·
Start up manual (4.0MB)
These documents are
available electronically
to current integrators
or to qualified potential
customers. They are
the same as the printed
documents – but by having
the pdf copy you have
immediate access to
the information you
need and, at your convenience,
you may print the number
that your company requires.
MACHINEMATE
INC
wants to provide efficient
support for its customers
– not to depend on the
printing and delivery
of its documents. The
bound documents can
be purchased but there
is no restriction for
a customer to print
their own copies.
To obtain access to
these documents, please
provide the necessary
company and contact
information.
-
If you use Microsoft
Outlook, a template
is provided to expedite
the
information request.
Click on the link
to start the email
in Outlook. After
the form is completed,
click on the Send
button in Outlook.
-
If Microsoft Outlook
is not your email
package, then please
copy the
text template
information into
your email package
before sending it.
If you click on
the text link, you
should get a window
with the text file
contents (probably
your browser but
it could be Notepad).
The suggested next
step is to select
all the text (Ctrl-A
in IE or Notepad),
copy it to the clipboard
(usually Ctrl-C)
and then paste it
into the body of
your email (usually
Ctrl-V) in another
window. If your
internet browser
does not immediately
provide a viewer
for the text file,
then please copy
the text file to
your PC (right click
on the link and
select ‘Save
Target As…’
so that the file
is downloaded to
a directory that
you select. After
the download is
done, double-clicking
on the file should
bring up the contents
(probably Notepad;
if you get a dialog
to assign a program
to the .txt extension,
specify Notepad
from the list) and
proceed as directed
above.
-
If you do not use
Outlook this procedure
is awkward. This
site will be upgraded
soon to handle an
online form with
a ‘submit’ button
to handle this process
more efficiently.
Upon the reception of
the completed form via
email, the access to
the set of on-line documents
will be returned to
you. If you wish to
purchase a printed copy
of a manual, please
contact us at the number
at the bottom of this
web page.
Documents
An installation checklist
document (in pdf), that
relates the individual
manuals to the respective
tasks for an installation
and startup, is available
to read or download.
A document that describes
the mechanical details
for the Windows 2000
models (eCNC, L2, LW)
is also available in
the pdf format. This
20-page document contains
the dimensions and weights
for the respective CNC
models (both their front
panel and industrial
PC) as well as the dimensions
for the IO modules and
the main accessories
(MTBP, Auxiliary Panel,
MPG pendant).
Several other documents
that are also presented
as links on the home
page are provided in
the pdf format.
The single sheet
(ledger size) five-panel
color brochure of the
main
MACHINEMATE
INC
products is also available
to read or download.
The older single sheet
(legal size) four-panel
color brochure of the
main
MACHINEMATE
INC
products is also available
to read or download.
The 72-page
product guide (670KB),
for the L2 and eCNC
models, is available
to read or download.
The two-page overviews
of the basic controls
are also available to
read or download.
The six-page brochure
of all the
MACHINEMATE
INC
products is also available
to read or download.
Brochures for the
MACHINEMATE
INC
accessories are also
available to read or
download.
The INFOMATE
newsletters are also
available to read or
download. Please go
to the list of
newsletters with links
to the
individual
newsletters.
Top of the Document
PLC Application
Templates
Start Up Applications
– for a real machine
In the Start Up Manual,
an example for the PLC
application is provided,
including a template
for both the basic axis
control (two axes are
shown, for either analog
drives or SERCOS drives)
and the mechanism for
handling the part program
codes in the PLC (like
the M-codes – which
can vary based on the
particular application).
With just this simple
application, the CNC
will be able to home,
jog, and run part programs.
This application is
saved as a .zip file,
so please right-click
on the link and select
‘Save Target As…’
to save the file to
an appropriate directory.
The application is thoroughly
described in the Start
Up Manual.
·
PLC Start Up Application
(ST) (.zip: 54KB)
The above project is
done in Structured Text
(one of the five IEC-1131
languages). Ladder Diagram
(another IEC-1131 language)
is the other standard
language provided with
the soft PLC. If Ladder
Diagram is preferred
for the project, then
select the following
package instead:
·
PLC Start Up Application
(LD) (.zip: 54KB).
The other three IEC-1131
standard languages (Function
Block, Instruction List
and Sequential Flow
Chart) are available
as options for the soft
PLC. The soft PLC can
handle modules using
any of the five different
IEC-1131 programming
languages.
These application templates
were updated on April
16, 2003.
Start Up Applications
– for simulation (e.g.,
Dry CNC on a lap top)
As mentioned above at
Dry CNC,
MACHINEMATE
INC
can provide a version
of the control software
as a CNC simulation
and the PLC development
software package. The
above PLC start up application,
with a few simple modifications
to run without the drives
and I/O, can also be
used to provide the
template for the PLC
in this simulation and
development environment.
With just this simple
application, the CNC
will be able to run
part programs (in a
test environment), enabling
the development and
test of the PLC application
without the actual machine
(i.e., at least the
logic for the processing
of the M-codes but without
I/O activity). This
application is saved
as a .zip file, so please
right-click on the link
and select ‘Save
Target As…’ to save
the file to an appropriate
directory. The application
is essentially the same
as the one thoroughly
described in the Start
Up Manual. Projects
are available for both
the Structured Text
and Ladder Diagram IEC-1131
languages.
·
PLC Start Up Application
- Simulation/Development
- ST (.zip: 54KB)
·
PLC Start Up Application
- Simulation/Development
- LD (.zip: 54KB).
These application templates
were updated on April
16, 2003.
The above PLC start
up application is rather
simple (a template to
build on). With a little
additional PLC programming,
tool management can
be supported in the
application also. The
basic application (above)
supports axis motions,
spindle commands, tool
diameter and tool length
compensations and this
one (below) also supports
tool exchanges (M06)
and tool management
(i.e., tool movement
in/out of spindle, tool
wear, etc.). This application
is saved as a .zip file,
so please right-click
on the link and select
‘Save Target As…’
to save the file to
an appropriate directory.
The application is essentially
the same as the one
thoroughly described
in the Start Up Manual
with the additional
program unit for tool
management. Projects
are available for both
the ST and LD languages;
each project includes
a module for fixed location
tooling (spindle tool
is returned to its fixed
pocket location) and
a module for variable
location tooling (spindle
tool is swapped with
next tool). Each zip
also includes an example
text file that can load
a tool table with several
tools. Note that this
tool management module
for simulation is a
template that can be
readily adapted to an
actual machine application.
·
PLC Start Up Application
with Tool Management
- Simulation/Development
- ST (.zip: 63KB)
·
PLC Start Up Application
with Tool Management
- Simulation/Development
- LD (.zip: 72KB).
These application templates
were updated on June
2, 2004.
MTBP and MPG Applications
MACHINEMATE
INC
also sells a Machine
Tool Builder’s Panel
(MTBP) for an operator
station and a Handheld
Operator’s Station with
a handwheel (otherwise
called an MPG, manual
pulse generator). The
MTBP has a number of
general purpose push
buttons; each can be
custom engraved to suit
the application. The
MPG has two general
purpose push buttons;
typically one is to
enable the handwheel
or they are the jog
plus and jog minus functions.
To make the implementation
of these hardware items
easier, an example PLC
application has been
prepared for the MTBP.
Each application is
saved as a .zip file,
so please right-click
on the link and select
‘Save Target As…’
to save the file to
an appropriate directory.
Projects are available
for both the ST and
LD languages.
·
PLC Start Up Application
with MTBP - ST (.zip:
62KB)
·
PLC Start Up Application
with MTBP - LD (.zip:
61KB)
These application templates
were updated on April
16, 2003.
The following file has
just the MTBP code modules
(in ST and LD). The
export module is provided
that can be imported
into another PLC application.
·
PLC MTBP Application
- ST and LD (.zip: 5KB)
These application templates
were updated on March
6, 2003.
To make an MPG implementation
easier, an example PLC
application has been
prepared also for the
MPG pendant. This application
is saved as a .zip file,
so please right-click
on the link and select
‘Save Target As…’
to save the file to
an appropriate directory.
The zip contains two
files: one export file
for the MPG code in
each of the ST and LD
languages.
·
PLC MPG Handwheel Application
– both ST and LD (.zip:
5KB) (one push button
enables the handwheel)
·
PLC MPG Jog Application
– both ST and LD (.zip:
4KB) (the two push buttons
are for jog plus and
jog minus)
These application templates
were updated on March
6, 2003.
The following file has
all the MTBP and MPG
code modules in one
PLC project (in ST and
LD). This one download gets
a number of the separate
examples (for the MTBP
and MPG) just described.
·
PLC MTBP and MPG Application
- ST and LD (.zip:
160KB)
These application templates
were updated on
September
12, 2006.
Miscellaneous Applications
To make some applications
easier, several other
templates have been
created.
One PLC template has
been prepared as a simple
example for simple coolant
control by M-codes.
Another PLC template
has been prepared as
an example for remote
program control, including
1) the PLC loading a
part program from a
disk file, 2) the PLC
running a part program
directly from a disk
file and 3) the PLC
changing operating modes
between manual, automatic-sequential
block and automatic-single
block. Another PLC template
has been prepared as
a simple example for
handling a rapid override
switch (note: the MachineMate’s
MTBP does not have this
switch). These three
templates are saved
in a single .zip file,
so please right-click
on the link and select
‘Save Target As…’
to save the file to
an appropriate directory.
The zip contains three
files: 1) one export
file for the coolant
control code with one
module in each of the
ST and LD languages,
2) one export file for
the remote program control
code with one module
in each of the ST and
LD languages and 3)
one export file for
the rapid override switch
code with one module
in each of the ST and
LD languages.
·
PLC Miscellaneous Applications
– both ST and LD (.zip:
80KB)
These application templates
were updated on April
16, 2003, but one of
its readme.txt files
was updated on November
17, 2004.
One PLC template has
been prepared as a simple
example for the PLC
writing a disk file
(actually a part program)
and the PLC reading
a fixed record text
file. These modules
are within one PLC project,
in a single .zip file,
so please right-click
on the link and select
‘Save Target As…’
to save the file to
an appropriate directory.
The zip includes examples
of the two files being
processed. The project
has the two examples
in each of the ST and
LD languages.
·
PLC File Example Applications
– both ST and LD (.zip:
62KB)
These application templates
were updated on April
16, 2003.
Top of the Document
PLC Printout
Configuration Files
When printing projects
in Ladder Diagram, the
default printer configuration
file might result in
networks spanning two
pages with the ‘portrait’
layout. Example printer
configuration files
for either the portrait
or landscape layouts
are
available. Unzip
the two files to the
‘iec1131\IEC1131 Engl’
folder in the ‘C:\Program
Files’ path to the IEC
programming tool. For
the PLC project, select
File, Printer Setup
and Browse to navigate
for the selection of
the appropriate configuration
file. By having both
configuration files
available, it is easy
to alternate between
the two layouts for
any projects.
Top of the Document
Visual
Basic Example
The CNC’s integrated
soft PLC comes with a DDE
Server among its standard
features. This enables
any third party software
package that supports
a DDE Client to exchange data
with the CNC using this
standard software interface
technology. A number
of GUI packages support
this DDE interface.
Microsoft Visual Basic
6 also supports this
DDE software interface
and VB has been used
for developing an operator
interface. A simple
VB6 project can illustrate
how VB code accesses
read-only or read-write
variables in the CNC.
This VB example is
available for reference
as its single window
is far too simple for
a real application.
No PLC code is provided
with this VB example
since nothing
special is needed
because the VB
example can
reference any
variable in whatever
PLC code is active.
Some PC-based CNCs on
the market require the
development of the operator
interface, using tools
such as Visual Basic.
Our CNC is provided
as a package, with the
industrial PC and the
operator front panel,
complete with the CNC
and the integrated soft
PLC. This CNC package
requires no screen development
since the complete operator
interface is already
provided. If custom
screen overlays are
required, we offer an
optional product called
the MM Visualizer, which
is a screen development
package requiring no
software programming,
just drag/drop/select/enter
activities with the
tool’s various menus
and lists. The MM Visualizer
also uses the DDE technology
for its interface to
the CNC data.
This built-in interface
using the DDE standard
technology enables a
number of options for
a customer that requires
special screens or overlays.
This example was updated
on December 20,
2005.
Top of the Document
