This chapter will outline the options available for editing and manipulating cycles created and logged into the tree in Kipware® conversational. We will be using KipwareT® as an example but KipwareM® operates in an identical manner.
The toolbar is labeled operation options.
The first icon from the left, LOAD AN OPERATION, allows the user to load previously created cycle operations into the tree. These loaded operations can be edited and manipulated the same as any other cycle once loaded into the tree.
The EDIT AN OPERATION option will re-open an operation cycle back into it’s appropriate conversational menu. Highlight the cycle in the tree and select the edit an operation button. The current parameters for the operation will be displayed in the conversational menu. Users can alter or edit any data for the cycle and when the create program button is selected, the cycle data and G code for the cycle will be updated to reflect any changes made.
The OPEN G CODE IN EDITOR option will open the G code for the selected cycle in the Kipware® editor. Highlight the desired cycle in the tree and select the open G code in editor button. Users should be careful when using this option as the conversational menu and the G code created are separate outputs, although contained in the same file. Manual changes made to any G code will not be reflected in the conversational menu. If you make a manual change to the G code, and then re-open the cycle in the conversational menu, the manual G code changes will not be reflected. This option is only available for experienced programmers who wish to manipulate the G code auto created by Kipware® for advanced purposes.
The RE-ORDER OPERATIONS option allows users to move operation cycles in a reordering operation. Highlight the cycle in the tree and select the re-order option. Enter the position number where to move the cycle, then press continue. However, remember that the order of operations is not the actual machining process. The actual machining process will be determined in the main program creation when created cycles are linked to tools as the order of operations is created.
Use the COPY AN OPERATION option to copy one operation cycle to a new operation cycle. Highlight the desired operation in the list then select the copy an operation button. Give the new operation a name and press continue. The new operation will be created and placed in the tree and will contain the identical data as the original operation. This new cycle can be re-opened in the corresponding conversational menu and any changes can be made to update the copied operation with the desired parameters.
The REMOVE A CYCLE option will remove the cycle operation from the tree. Highlight the desired operation and select the delete an operation button. This will not cause the operation to be deleted from the disk, it will only remove the operation from the tree. To permanently delete an operation from disk, use the option available when the load an operation window is displayed. Be aware that any previous programs that contained the operation to be deleted will be effected.
There are two PLOTTING OPTIONS also available in this tool bar. Users can select to plot either a single operation as highlighted in the tree, or plot all the operations contained in the tree. Either selection will cause the appropriate cycle or cycles G code to be auto loaded into KipwareTP® for plotting.
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