ALFAMATIC Visual Point User manual

Jun. 7, 2013
Visual Point
Version 1.60
User manual

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1Introduction.............................................................................................................................3
1.1 Control theory................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 OPERATING ABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT ...................................................................... 3
1.3 Start position ..................................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Absolute or relative positions .......................................................................................................... 5
2Implementation of VISUAL POINT........................................................................................6
3HOW TO BEGIN ....................................................................................................................7
3.1 INTRODUCTION FOR THE USE OF VISUAL POINT............................................................. 7
3.2 ENTERING OF A VALUE.............................................................................................................. 8
3.3 THE WORK...................................................................................................................................... 8
3.4 GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO THE INSTRUMENT................................................................ 8
3.5 REJECTED PIECES MANAGMENT ........................................................................................... 9
4MENU DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................10
4.1 MEASUREMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 10
4.2 SELECT WORK ............................................................................................................................ 12
4.3 EDIT WORK .................................................................................................................................. 12
4.4 GRAPH SETUP .............................................................................................................................. 14
4.5 PRINT.............................................................................................................................................. 14
4.6 GOOD .............................................................................................................................................. 15
4.7 REJECTED..................................................................................................................................... 15
4.8 COONTRAST................................................................................................................................. 15
4.9 CONFIGURATION ....................................................................................................................... 15
5WORK PARAMETER...........................................................................................................18
5.1 STOP VALUES............................................................................................................................... 18
5.2 Check point ..................................................................................................................................... 18
5.3 Limits ............................................................................................................................................... 19
6Configuration ........................................................................................................................21
6.1 Ethernet connection........................................................................................................................ 22
7Calibration ............................................................................................................................23
7.1 Force transducer calibration ......................................................................................................... 23
7.2 Position transducer calibration ..................................................................................................... 23
7.3 Encoder calibration ........................................................................................................................ 24
7.4 Potenziometer calibration.............................................................................................................. 24

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1 Introduction
The VISUAL POINT is a device that allows for a 100% quality check of the production process.
It is connected with a power transformer, actuators and display (light display or acoustic signals).
Esistono due versioni di VISUAL POINT: per montaggio esterno con contenitore (Picture 1); per
montaggio a pannello (Picture 2).
The interface for the user is the operating front which consists of a display and a membrane
keyboard.
Picture 1
Picture 2
1.1 Control theory
While working on a sample pieces there are data on the position of the cylinder and the force
exerted by it. You can draw the graph: position-force that is characteristic of work done.
If more operations are performed on similar pieces their position-forced curves will also be similar.
If, on the contrary, one of the pieces will be different from the sample, the curve will deviate from
the sample curve. It is as intuitive control of the curve can ensure consistent quality of
workmanship
1.2 OPERATING ABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT
The VISUAL POINT features various operation possibilities. The set process check occurs on the
basis of checkpoints and limits. All operation parameters are saved in an internal, not regenerative
memory. Up to 32 different settings can be saved. Every setting is called work (see paragraph 3.2).
A change to the checkpoints (section 5.2) allows the measurement and control of the force at a
certain position of the set path. The force must lie between the minimum and maximum value.
The following maximum value (paragraph 5.3) can apply: Minimum force, maximum force,
minimal set path and maximum set path; these control the maximum values achieved during the
force and set path operation. Should the maximum force achieved not lie above the minimum force
or exceed the maximum force, then the part is rejected. And if the maximum set path achieved does
not lie above the minimum set path or exceeds the maximum set path, the part is likewise rejected.
There are two other limits: the initial position minimum and initial position maximum, if the initial
position (see paragraph 1.3) is less than the minimum or is higher than the maximum the piece is
discarded
The part is only regarded as good if the forces contain a positive result at the checkpoints as well as
at the limits.
The VISUAL POINT carries out the control of the cylinder retraction, as soon as the operation is
shut down (see section 5.1). This retraction can occur if a certain force or if a certain set path is

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reached. Both force and set path shut-down values can be entered at the same time, in which case
the first value achieved retracts the cylinder. By pressing of the RESET button on the keyboard,
the possibility of an immediate retraction of the pressing ram (annulment of the process) exists.
1.3 Start position
The VISUAL POINT is able to detect the position in which the press touches the workpiece. This is
known as start position and corresponds to the approaching stroke. To survey the start position,
the load cell is used: when the force measured by the load cell exceeds the value of zero force
(paragraph 4.3.4) is measured the start position.
The accuracy of the start position depends on the speed of the cylinder and especially on the type of
workpiece. For example, in the operations of shrinking the two pieces have rounded corners, so the
starting position varies with the bevel and strength that is used to in the first place a piece of work.
Note:
The VISUAL POINT used with manual presses is capable of measuring the start position during
the descent of the stem.

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1.4 Absolute or relative positions
The position of the cylinder is detected by a transducer. The positions measured by the transducer
are called absolute positions. The positions measured from piece contact are called relative
positions. The VISUAL POINT can use absolute or relative positions (see Figure 3).
Figure 3
1.4.1 Check point on the stop position
The position of the checkpoint may be related to the final of the pressfit.
In practice, if I enable the option to use check points on stop, the positions of measuring forces are
calculated by working backward from the quota that has been driven to stop.
For example, if I point a controlling stake in a check point equal to 1 mm, the instrument will
measure and monitor at the end of processing, strength 1mm before the final installment of the
production.

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2 Implementation of VISUAL POINT
For installation of VISUAL POINT on the machine refer to the specific manual.
The VISUAL POINT is available in two versions: with box and for panel mounting.
The version with the box can be mounted inside a power supply to operate without electrical panel.

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3 HOW TO BEGIN
This chapter serves as quick instruction for the immediate use of VISUAL POINT. A short
functional description of the instrument is followed by a chapter that accompanies you through the
execution of a few tests. To follow this guide you need to get some pieces to assemble the evidence
into practice.
Note:
The stop of the press is controlled by VISUAL POINT.
Should the value of a parameter with zero be entered, then this will not be used by the
instrument.
The configuration and taring values cannot be coincidently changed without entering the
configuration password (see chapter Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata trovata.)
A password can be also generated in order to prevent a change in the working parameters (see
chapter Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata trovata.)
3.1 INTRODUCTION FOR THE USE OF VISUAL POINT
To turn the instrument on, there is a switch at the back of the instrument. When it is switched on,
the axes of the force stroke graphic appear on the display. Above the graphic there are three fields
which contain the part numbers and the names of the selected work. Below the graphic, there are
two framed fields which contain the measured force value as well as the value measured by the
travel measuring system of the force sensor in actual time.
In the graphic, the curve is only captured if it is within the full scale value of the axes. Of course
these values can be altered.
When the ENTER button is pressed, a menu window that contains an item list will appear on
the display. An item on this list is highlighted by a black bar; with the arrow buttons upwards and
downwards , the bar is able to be moved and it will run through all the items on the menu.
To execute a command of one of the highlighted items, the ENTER button must be pressed.

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If you leave the menu or change a value that you would like to cancel, you can simply press the
RESET button. The item ‘exit’ is also included in the sub-menus and allows you to return to
the previous menu where the function is identical to pressing the RESET button.
In order to display the graphic and the curve momentarily without exiting the menu, the RESET
button must be pressed for a few seconds.
3.2 ENTERING OF A VALUE
A value can be entered if the figure to be changed is displayed in a window, with the description
and the number to be changed. A digit of the value to be changed is highlighted on the cursor by a
small black rectangle:
The value can be changed by using the keyboard, which must always be accepted by pressing the
ENTER . The arrow keys have the following functions during value input:
increases the digit highlighted by the cursor (in the representation one becomes two).
decreases the digit highlighted by the cursor (in the representation one becomes zero).
moves the cursor to the left (in the representation the cursor moves to the +symbol).
moves the cursor to the right (in the representation the cursor moves to the right, to the zero).
To change the sign of the value, move the cursor to the sign and press the or .
For a momentary display of the graphic and the curve without exiting the menu, press the RESET
for a few seconds.
3.3 THE WORK
The VISUAL POINT has the capacity to save 32 different work settings. Each setting is called
work and a name can be assigned to every work as a description. The choice of work to be
performed takes place via the appropriate sub menu. In order to add a work, change a name or
selection see the menu Select work. In order to change or eliminate a work in progress, see the
menu select work. Every work has various parameters, as described in Chapter 5.
3.4 GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO THE INSTRUMENT
In order to perform tests with the VISUAL POINT, one can proceed as follows: after turning the
instrument on, press the ENTER button to go to the menu. Run through the menu items by pressing
the buttons until the edit work item, which contains all the settings of the work in process
is reached. Now in the edit work menu, with the help of the arrow keys , move up to the

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item stops; and press the ENTER button to reach in the sub menu which contains the setting of the
Fstop and the Sstop.
Point the item force Stop and press the ENTER button to change its value. Enter a value of force
below the maximum force of the press.
Once you modify the parameters, to exit the menu, select Exit or press the RESET button.
Now the press can be started; the press remains in operation until the Fstop entered is reached. In
order to stop the press before the reaching the Fstop, the RESET button can be pressed.
Should the pressing ram of the press have returned to the starting point, then the menu
Measurements can be selected in order to indicate the measured values.
In order to view the curve in the Stroke force graph, the beginning and ending chart must be entered
into the sub menu Graph setup which is in the main menu.
To choose which values we use to enter your measured values shown in the menu Measures: The
start position S.Zero shows the position of value measured when the piece has been touched, we
will use a position slightly less than this as the origin of the graph.
The peak position S.max indicates the maximum achieved position value, we will use a scale larger
of this value. The peak force F.max indicates the maximum force value reached, we will use a
scale of force larger of this value.
If we repeat the test on another similar piece we see the position-force curve. We can now improve
the display touching the values of the chart menu and then navigate to the definition of the work
parameters that determine whether the workpieces are good or rejected as explained in Chapter 5.
3.5 REJECTED PIECES MANAGMENT
Should, for various reasons, the part be rejected, then one can proceed to the Measurements menu
and view the individual reasons using the arrow keys .
When a piece is rejected the machine locks. To re-enable it, there are several options: if the
machine is equipped with a rejects basket should pass the piece through the sensor of the basket, if
there is also protection must first press RESET button to open it, then the piece must pass through
the sensor of the basket rejects, if the machine does not have these variants simply press RESET
or, if present, to re-enable the external switch.

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4 MENU DESCRIPTION
Note:
It is possible hiding items menu used infrequently by turning on the instrument while holding
pressed the RESET button. To restore the full menus do the same.
When pressing ENTER button, a menu window which contains a concept list appears on the
display.
An item on this list is highlighted by a black bar; with the arrow buttons upwards and downwards
, the bar is able to be moved and it will run through all the items on the menu. In order to
activate the command of the item highlighted by the bar, the ENTER button must be pressed.
The items which have a small triangle on the right are selected, access sub-menus when the
ENTER button is pressed.
Other items include a value measured by the instrument (for e.g. number of good/rejected parts).
Others indicate the value of an operation parameter, that the operator can change.
Items which include a rectangle on the left side are options which can be activated or deactivated
with the use of the ENTER button.
If you leave the menu or change a value that you would like to cancel, you can simply press the
RESET button. There is also the exit item in the menu which allows you to return to the
previous menu.
Note:
If the RESET button is pressed for two seconds, the graphic with the curve and the parameters
entered can be viewed and the menu is momentarily covered without leaving the actual
menu.
In the following sections, the menu items and their function descriptions are performed.
4.1 MEASUREMENTS
By selecting the item Measurements, you will arrive at a sub-menu which contains all the values
measured in the last press cycle.
In the following illustrations we have the process curve on the left and the VISUAL POINT
measurement values for the curve on the right: