creating a cycle time display timer Fusion PFH4800

[timo2le]

Hello,

We are starting a new job that is senisitve to cycle time. What I would like to do is provide a visible timer for the operators so they can look while they are running other machines and determine when they need to get back to the pallet load area for the constraint machine.

We have (4) horizontals in a row, and we want to make sure that the operators always know when the machine with the "longest" cycle is nearing completion, so they can have a part loaded. We only have (1) fixture per machine so we aren't taking advantage of the pallet changer.

What I'm thinking is: Somehow the machine stores the time for the "last" cycle. After the operator presses "cycle start", a timer starts counting "down" from the last stored value. As the value approaches "zero" the operator can look, and make sure they are moving toward that machine. I can imagine that "cycle start" starts the timer and a "pallet change" indicates the end of cycle.

There are many ways to alert the operator with an "output" (light, horn, digital display, etc.) and various "inputs" to start the timer, but I'm looking for some help if somebody has created a solution for a similar situation.

Thanks in advance.
Tim

[jimiscnc]

User Macro B will afford some solutions.

#3001 is the system timer

EIA PROGRAMMING:

put this at the beginning of your part program
#3001 = 0 (reset timer to 0)

put this at the end of your program
#500 = #3001
.......
.......
M30


When the machine stops cycle, your operator will go over and read the value stored in Macro Register #500 and that is your most current cycle time.

User Macro capability would allow more sophisticated programming and hook up of a light, but that stuff is far beyond what I know how to do! I only know it can be done, if you have an electrical/computer programming person available.


User Macro Capability exists, in part, to offer the machine builder to make solutions to situations similar to yours. programmingunlimited.com has a great user macro book, but it's more for programming than interfacing devices. There's other materials out there, also.

-jim

[christinandavid]

How can operator have a part loaded when you only have (1) fixture?

DP

[timo2le]

Thanks so much for taking the time to create such a detailed explanation. I will pass-it-on to the Programmers and see what they can do with it.



In regards to "how can you have a part loaded...". I should have said, "part loaded as soon as possible".