Hi Zak,
This was exactly the response I was trying to elicit!
My problem has been bad or non existent training from the get go.
By "the synax varying from machine to machine" I mean Z positive/negative, zero at front or rear of machine, xxl, pgm, or iso controls are machine specific. (Cyflex also has different code for borings I believe). I am no programmer, I am a simple CNC user, but I can tell you that good software companies such as Mozaik and Polyboard could not even get my machine to work, and Enroute and Cabinet Vision fumbled around a good deal before they got it right. Every one of these softwares has already posted to other SCM machines, so what was their problem?! I only realised the other week that my Xilog settings for mirroring in X/Y were set wrong from the get-go, and this was part of the trouble, because my CV post had to be flipped upside down to counteract the mirroring. Not sure if you get what I am saying, but most of this could have been avoided by a knowledgeable techi like yourself (I bought my machine new, and reached out to SCM when my dealer didn't know what to do. They helped out a little via Teamviewer but sent me back to the dealer for training, which they had not a clue about.)
Anyway, what I mean about having to go back to the office is this: If you want to download one solitary program to the machine, you are correct that it only takes 30 seconds to run the XXL file through WinXizo at the PC and download to the handheld console, get into Auto mode and press Start. But what if you want to run a list of 20 sheets for a kitchen and download them as a list (using a mix file) so as to avoid ping-ponging between the PC and the console and pressing all those buttons all the time?
You need to wait for WinXizo to do its job and that takes longer because there are more files (I admit a faster PC would help!).
OK, so, you finally have your list of 20 sheets downloaded on the console in .ISO and you are good to go. But what happens if:
1. You want to resurface the spoilboard after sheet 4 or 5?
2. You need to replace a bit?
3. You need to quickly cut something else in the middle of the list of files and then go back to cutting the kitchen?
4. Your program is interrupted mid cycle as I described before? The handheld console gives no indication of where exactly in the program it was interrupted.
In all the above cenarios you have to create a new mix file so you are able to download a list to the console, you have to wait for WinXizo to flip the XXLs to PGM and then again to ISO all over again (because if you changed a tool for example your .def tool file is different, or if you redo the SB the BX value changed and all your ISO files are wrong, as described.)
All this takes time, and in my setup I do not want to give my operator such complicated and delicate responsibility. His job is to lugg sheet wood.
Let me not mention the fact that if you dare download a program by a name longer than 25 characters, the control goes into spasm and requests "axis information." You have to reset it completely (I learnt that the hard way and waited 36 hours for SCM to correct it remotely via Teamviewer. My vendor had not the foggiest what I was talking about).
I know for a fact that none of this applies to Weeke/Homag. The MPR files are standard for all machines, and do not contain tool database info (such as tool length) or spoilboard info. This means I could process MPR files with any Weeke without knowing anything about the machine situation. There is no file handling when you get to the machine, just download and go.
This has been my experience, but I welcome someone such as yourself telling me; "Benjamin, the problem is not your machine, it's YOU!"
Can I suggest we touch base via email please, because if all my issues are solely because of ignorance, I would be more than happy to pay you for your time and help me see the light?!
Here's my email:
thekitchenconnection@gmail.com
Thanks in advance!