Techno LCX units are available with an on-borad control unit, but are most commonly driven by a personal computer.  The computer may and often is supplied by the user, or a preconfigured P.C. may be purchased from Techno.  In either case, the Techno Interface program (outlined below) is included with all units.

Customers that are new to automation find the Techno CNC Interface easy to learn and operate. Most are up and running in less than one day. They find the intuitive single-screen design and functions easy to use and remember. The jogging buttons, speed controls and run displays are all visible on the main page.

INTERFACE PROGRAM VIDEO

Customers soon discover that just because the Techno CNC Interface is easy to use does not mean that it is not a comprehensive CNC program. Several impressive features include:

• Toolpath preview with viewing tools and adjustable screen

• Built-in editor for shop floor modifications

• Machine feed rate & spindle override control

• Continuous and step jogging functionality to fine tune positional locations

• Mechanical homing location controls (at any corner of the machine)

• No DNC link required

• Ability to plot and compare toolpath position relative to actual motion to verify positional feedback

• Allows for up to 10 fixture offsets

• X/Y axes orientation swapping

• I/O machine diagnostics

• Skip function to return to program positions (in case of tool bit failure)

• Built-in basic nesting features • Interface password protection to safeguard system functions

• Production logging & reporting Techno also offers free updates, for the life of the machine

 

Computer Requirements (not included with machine purchase):
Pentium III / Celeron 600 Mhz, 128MB RAM or better with full PCI Slot to handle 6" long card.
 

Techno CNC Interface Main Menu

The Techno CNC Interface Main Menu is extremely user-friendly. There are but two primary functions through which all the controls are used. One function involves JOGGING (Outlined in Red)  and the other FILE EXECUTION (Outlined in Blue)

Jogging the machine is synonymous with moving the machine‘s axes. All of the Main Menu‘s jogging functions either actively jog the machine or set up parameters and controls to jog the machine. In the lower portion of the Main Menu (shown left) are all the jog controls of one sort or another. Also, see the Position Counters in the top right quadrant of the Main Menu. These counters will give a constant numerical position of where you jog any axis.

File execution refers to the retrieval, manipulation and actual running of a GCODE file. In this Main Menu you can: view the file‘s toolpath, edit code, set speeds and parameters and start, pause and resume a file run. The upper portion of the Main Menu allows you do perform all these tasks and more.

The Main Menu‘s upper right quadrant features an Axes Positional Display. This function is useful in both Jogging and File Execution operations. While jogging, you can track the distance of travel for your axes, and while running a file, the Positional Display shows the actual travel of the axes in motion.

Jogging Functions

Notice the square buttons with the black arrows on them. Each of those buttons will move an axis in the direction designated by the letter and value adjacent to it (i.e. Y+). If the Continuous radio button is selected, you can hold down a jog button and the axis will move ”continually‘. If you have Step selected, the axis will only move one step-size at a time. The Jog Step scroll bar sets incremental travel size. The Jog Speed scroll bar sets the speed at which the axes will travel.

Notice the Positional Display Counters during jogging. The travel values will go into negative numbers as well as positive numbers. The A-axis represents the availability for a fourth axis.

The column of four buttons (Home, Zero, Goto, and Tool) all allow you to perform shortcuts operations. Submenus appear on top of the Main Menu when you select these buttons.

The Home button moves an axis or all axes to a specified distance away from the axis‘ limit switch (also known as Machine Home).

The Zero button allows you to set an axis or all axes‘ position counters to zero.

The Goto button allows you to move an axis or all axes to a specified location.

The Tool button brings up a Toolchange Operations window that allows you, through a series of sub menus, to manipulate any aspect of a toolchange application.

 

 


File Execution Functions

 

In any File Execution, the first step is to get a file. The File button opens a window that allows you to search your PC to retrieve a file.

Once you have your file, if you want to edit the code, use the Edit/Step button. If you want to Preview the file‘s toolpath, use the Preview button. And before you can even use the Start, Pause or Stop a program run, the file must always be preprocessed, using the Preprocess button. Notice how the Progress Bar displays the status of the preprocess function (in a completion percentage) as well as the percentage and current GCODE commands of a file being run.

The Cut & Plunge Speed scroll bars are file execution parameters. Use them to adjust the speed at which the axes (X, Y = Cut; Z = Plunge) travel during a cutting command. The Spindle & Coolant radio buttons are another set of controls for file execution. Use there settings according to your program requirements.

The Setup button brings up the Setup Window and its various tabbed panes within it. From here you can set File execution parameters ranging from Feedrates to Machine orientation




 

Geometrics     200 Martin Lane    Elk Grove Village, IL  60007

847-338-0524