CompUGuide: Programmable Mode

The Programmable Mode allows the user to plan and execute a job. The user enters a list of commands that make up the job, either directly or from a file. Once the command list is in CompUGuide each command is executed in the planned order, the user driving the machine themselves confident in the knowledge all steps will be performed in the planned order. Best of all these command lists can be saved and reused or altered for new versions.

Direct Mode

In direct mode the commands are entered directly into the display box on screen, the text area on the right in the picture above. Each line in the display consists of one command. Once all the commands have been entered in they are ready to be executed. Simply press the Start button when you're ready and the first command will run, use the Step button to move through the command list or the Stop button to stop executing the remaining commands.

Example:

Indirect Mode

In indirect mode the commands are loaded into CompUGuide from a file, usually one file contains the commands needed to perform a specific job. This allows you to build up a library of virtual jigs that you can call on when needed.

The easiest way to create a CompUGuide file is to save commands that have been entered by using Direct Mode. Once the commands have been entered click on the Save button.

Alternatively you can create a CompUGuide file from scratch. It must have a .ROD extension but apart from that is just a text file which can be written using either Notepad or any other simple text writing utility. Beware when using text writers with more functionality, such as formatting, as these include extra hidden characters which are not valid for CompUGuide.

Example:

Once you have a CompUGuide file then you can easily load it into CompUGuide by clicking the Load button and selecting the file containing the command list. The commands are loaded into the display box just as if you'd entered them using Direct Mode.

Using CAD to create a CompUGuide file

It is very convenient to use a CAD (computer aided drawing) program to generate data for use in programmable mode. The plot file saved by a CAD package is a useful way of storing the XY dimensions of the diagram you have drawn. The CompUGuide utility program PLOT2ROD converts the plot file into a CompUGuide formated file.

If your CAD package saves its data in a plot file in ABSolute units, which will contain dimensions in PAs you can converted it to relative dimensions (PRs) by the CompUGuide utility program RELATIVE.

CompUGuide Commands

The following commands are available in both modes: Location, Screen, Centre, Mid-Point, Bolt Holes, Gear Teeth, REM

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Location Command

This command sets the Target point, the position you wish to move to.

To move from 0,0 to 0,10 the Location command y10 is entered.
When using this command the Target point will be displayed in the X, Y, Z and R fields on the screen. These values can be negative as the Target point may be in either direction from the current location.

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Screen Command: S

This command is normally used to prompt the user to perform an action and requires the user to press the Enter button to continue.

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Centre Command: C

This command guides the cutter to the centre of a bore or spigot, think Chapter rings of long case clocks or rear sprockets on motorbikes.

To use the centre command:

1. Place a dowel in the chuck to allow a true location on the perimeter.
2. The screen message prompts "Set cutter to first point on perimeter";
   Set the dowel, driving X and Y, against the perimeter, using a feeler, and when correctly placed click the OK button.
3. The screen prompts "Move to second point on perimeter";
   Move the dowel, driving X and Y, to another point on the perimeter and when correctly placed click the OK button.
4. The screen prompts "Move to third point on perimeter";
   Move the dowel, driving X and Y, to another point on the perimeter and when correctly placed click the OK button.
5. The PC computes the centre from the current position and provides ordinates to guide the user to the centre by driving the X and Y axes until the X and Y entries on the display are at zero.

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Mid Point Command: M

This command guides the cutter to the centre of two limits.

Typically these could be the vise jaws when drilling through a horizontally clamped bar on centre or for centreing between two angular features on work in a dividing head.

To use the Mid Point command:

1. Place a dowel in the chuck to allow a true location on the perimeter.
2. The screens prompts "Set to first limit";
   Move the dowel, driving X and Y, so it touches the first edge and click the OK button.
3. The screen prompts "Set to final limit";
   Move the dowel, driving X and Y, so it touches the other edge and click the OK button.
4. The PC computes the centre from the current position and provides 'guide ordinates' to guide the user to the centre by driving the X and Y axes to display zero.

The parameters are: the axis to be used in centring; x, y, z or r.

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Bolt Hole Command: B

This command guides the cutter to a pattern of equi-spaced holes arranged in circular fashion around a centre.

This command allows the user to set the drill on the centre of a pattern of equispaced holes arranged around a circle. The user then Steps around the drilling ordinates by following the on-screen XY displays and driving down to zero. The final move takes the cutter back to the centre of the pitch circle.

The parameters are:

• p - the pitch circle diameter
• h - the number of holes
• a - the offset angle.

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Gear Teeth Command: G

This command calculates the angular increment per tooth and using a Rodent Rules rotary encoder displays the target to be driven to zero. Can be used to cut gears in the lathe using a worm/wheel dividing attachment on the Bull wheel.
Note: errors are not cumulative.

The parameters are:

• t - the number of teeth

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Reminder Command: REM

This command allows the insertion of reminder text into the list. Its most useful as a description of what the command list does but can be used throughout the list.