CompUGuide: 4-Axes DRO System

CompUGuide displays, in full screen on your PC, the positions of up to four axes (X, Y, Z and R) with any mix of linear or rotary movement.

CompUGuide can also guide you to a specified point providing:

1. Virtual Drill Jig capability
2. Bore centreing
3. Guidance to successive centres around a pitch circle

CompUGuide operates in two modes, simple and programmable.

In simple mode CompUGuide performs as a digital DRO displaying the values read in from your scales on your PC screen.

In programmable mode CompUGuide will guide you through a planned job. You can take the time to plan a job in advance, entering each co-ordinate that requires action, drilling a hole or changing the drill bit, into CompUGuide before running the sequence and being guided though each step.

CompUGuide consists of:

• CompUGuide Software (including utility programs)
• CompUGuide circuit with COM cable
• 9v AC Power Supply Unit

Simple Mode

CompUGuide at its very simplest is a digital DRO that uses the screen of your PC to provide a clear and easy to read display of the current position of all axes. The main benefit of having the display a distance away from the work itself is that the display remains clear of swarf, suds and the job in progress ensuring that you can always see where you are at a glance.

If you use linear scales the CompUGuide circuit connects any capacitive type scales (Chinese imports) to your PC COM port. Using a USB to serial converter the circuit can be connected to the USB port. One of the great advantages of CompUGuide coupled with linear scales is that the interface powers the scales and so the small 'watch' batteries can be removed. Since the scales do not need to be seen or maintained they are much easier to mount out of harms way.

If you are using Rodent Rules rotary encoders, these plug straight into the COM port of your PC.

To Use:

1. Install the CompUGuide software.
2. Connect your scales
   • Linear Scales: connect the manufacturers extension leads into the interface box and the CompUGuide lead into the COM port of your PC.
   • Rodent Rules Encoders: connect the serial mouse cable into the COM port of your PC
3. Start the CompUGuide software.
4. Position your machine to the point where you wish to start (usually bottom left)
5. Initialise the datum.
6. Drive the x-axis. The X co-ordinate on the screen reflects the movement.
7. Drive the y-axis. The Y co-ordinate on the screen reflects the movement.

Programmable Mode

CompUGuide can be more useful in programmable mode if you perform repeatable tasks or want to get to specific pre-plannable points on one job i.e. could be used as a drill jig.

CompUGuide can store as many co-ordinates as you require and you can add prompts between steps to remind yourself where you've got to and any action you need to take at that point i.e. change the drill bit.

To Use:

1. Setup CompUGuide in simple mode.
2. Type in a command directly to the display box or Load a CompUGuide file.
3. Initialise the datums
4. Press the Start button, the XY co-ordinates are now displayed
5. Move X until the display reads 0 - the X axis is now at the pre-selected point
6. Move Y until the display reads 0 - the Y axis is now at the pre-selected point
7. Perform the action to be done at this location
8. Press Step to get the next location
9. Repeat from 5 to 8 as required.

In programmable mode the following functions are available:

• Centre: Guides the cutter to the centre of a bore or spigot.
• Bolt Holes: Guides the cutter to a pattern of equi-spaced holes arranged in circular fashion around a centre.
• Mid Point: Guides the cutter to the centre of two limits.
• Gear Teeth: Calculates the angular increment per tooth. Note: Requires a rotary encoder.

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