Article From: 7/14/2009 Production Machining, Edited by: Lori Beckman, Managing Editor
Siemens Energy & Automation, Motion Control Business’ Cycle100 protocol function stores the dimensions of workpiece geometries measurement values as a table overview in a file. These data can be viewed directly on the control system, or read and edited as an ASCII file by any text editor or spreadsheet program. This protocol file is helpful for use with workpieces destined for further processing on another machine, such as a grinding machine, or for documentation purposes. The company states that, with this system, every preset value and actual value for a predetermined set of machining steps is logged and retrievable. And, no special protocol specifications need be taken into consideration when programming these measuring cycles. Creating a program for the protocol format or adding the format to the parts program is all that is required.
The maximum length of the log file is limited; however, if the system detects during writing that a data record is too long, another log file is automatically created. In this way, up to 9 subsequent logs can be stored in the control. And, the log cycles may be used independently of the measuring cycles. Output of the entire log can be done in various ways and the log can be exported completely from the part program. This allows further analysis of, for example, identical parts run on different machines.
