Text version of the page

MDS - PROGRAMMABLE SHAPE MACHINE

The MDS Programmable Shape Machine is a two-axismachine that runs on a track and carries a torch on a motorized cross-arm. It can be used for flame or plasma cutting, or welding, of a variety of shapes which are programmed and stored in memory.The machine has storage capacity in memory for 20different programmed shapes. All programming is done with the provided handheld terminal. The termi- nal can be plugged into the connector on the rear of themachine or unplugged at any time. The terminal is notneeded to run the machine once programmed.Shapes and patterns are built up using segments. Todo this, select the type of segment you want and determine what quadrant it is in – type it into the terminal. Any given shape can have up to 50 seg- ments. Other functions such as weld/oxygen, on/off, time delay, or repeat a shape a number of times, also count as one segment each, if used.

Handheld Terminal Functions:

The programming operation is selected by pressing keys A, B, C, D, or E.A: ALL SEGMENTS; data entry for new shape consists of total number ofsegments and data for each segment. B: PROGRAM SEGMENT; press B on terminal to re-program a singlesegment. This is useful if there is an error in data for just one segment, sothat the whole shape does not have to be re-entered. C: CHANGE SHAPE NUMBER; press C on terminal to change thecurrent shape number. The program switches to the new number in memory,and to whatever shape is stored there. D: DISPLAY SHAPE DATA; press D to display the data for the currentshape. The terminal display shows a total number of segments, and data for each segment one by one each time you press enter. E: END OF SEGMENT SLOWDOWN; press E to set value of decelera-tion for the shape, when the machine approaches the end of each segment. This is useful when the shape has sharp corners to prevent overshoot. 99 ismaximum slowdown, is no slowdown. The different types of segments that can be loaded into the machine are as follows:
Clockwise 90CounterClockwise 90X or Y AxisClockwisePartial ArcsCounterClockwisePartial ArcsInclinedLines Other functions besides the moves shown above are:Weld Contact/Solenoid On/Off, Pause, Delay, Repeat another shape, Full ellipse, and Rapid Traverse. 2