Micromat 1575 User manual

MICROMAT
PCB DRILLING SYSTEM
USER MANUAL
MICROMAT INTERNATIONAL,
SANDERS LODGE,
WELLINGBOROUGH ROAD,
RUSHDEN,
NORTHANTS,
NN10 6BQ
ENGLAND
Tel: [phone] Intnl : [phone]
Fax: [phone] Intnl : [phone]

Micromat PC 2
MICROMAT
PCB DRILLING SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Micromat World of Drilling. If you are an existing Micromat user you
will already be aware of the advanced features and concepts of the Micromat control
system.
The Model 1575 takes those features a step further in usability. This screen based
control system provides an unequalled clarity of comprehension and with direct CAD
disk compatibility there should be no circuit boards that you cannot process.
The disk input facilities can handle all formats of CAD drill data and include a graphic
positioning system to handle those awkward files.
The system equipped with a fast, efficient, drill path optimiser to further enhance your
productivity.
Routing profiles can be programmed very quickly and will show a considerable time
saving over conventional sawing or pin routing methods, especially in the case of small
irregular shapes.
The Micromat controller can be programmed either manually, or by loading the drill
data directly from disk. Drilling and routing programs are saved on floppy disk or can
be transferred to a central computer system via a Local Area Network.
As with any computer-controlled machine, the Micromat will only do what the operator
tells it to do, so in order to obtain the best results it's operation must be fully understood
by the operator.
The following instructions should be read carefully, using the machine for reference,
until the procedures become familiar. It is not necessary to actually drill anything to
become aware of the machine's capabilities since use of the CHECK mode allows
programs to be entered and visually inspected with the built in TV system. This not
only provides a valuable training aid, but also a necessary testing facility for any entered
programs prior to actual drilling or routing operations.
The Auto Tool Change version offers improved output and accuracy since the boards do
not have to be removed between runs of different drill sizes.

Micromat PC 3
ROUTINE SERVICING
The only basic attention required by the Micromat is that it is kept clean and free from
dust and grease.
The swarf extraction unit should be emptied at least daily and the filter bags well shaken
to avoid dust clogging and subsequent overheating and destruction of the motor. The
motor brushes should be inspected monthly and replaced if required.
The X and Y axis bearings are accessible beneath the blinds and should be inspected
regularly, wiped with lint free cloth and lightly oiled.
The spindle should have its collet completely removed daily and any traces of dust
cleaned from it and its housing. A build up of dust will cause off-centre rotation, poor
quality holes and a rapid destruction of the spindle bearings and probably defective or
failed tool changing on the auto tool change machines. When replacing the collet
ensure that the keyway on the collet engages with the pin in its housing.
From time to time, check that all connectors are secure and that connecting cables are
not frayed in any way.

Micromat PC 4
INSTALLATION
The drill mechanics should be securely mounted on a flat, rigid surface in order to
maintain the machine's accuracy.
Electrical supplies should be from a direct connection to the main power source of the
building with no other equipment of any kind connected to the same line.
A good electrical ground connection must be made to the machine both to reduce
electric shock hazard and to help prevent electrical disturbances from affecting the
operation of the machine.
In some areas it may be necessary to use a power supply filter / regulator unit to prevent
power line interference.
Although the Micromat will operate under a wide variety of conditions it should not be
subjected to extremes of temperature as this will obviously affect its accuracy.
Temperature changes will also affect the size of any laminate being used. Normal
operation should be at or about 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).
PC CONNECTIONS

Micromat PC 5
INTERCONNECTIONS

Micromat PC 6
GETTING STARTED
Check that the system has been connected in accordance with the appropriate
interconnections diagram. Make sure that there are no floppy disks in drive A or B and
then switch on power to both the machine and the control system. The control system
will perform some self-test procedures and information will appear on the screen while
this takes place. Please don't press any keys at this point. After a few moments, the
Micromat Welcome screen will be shown and a number will countdown from 10 to 1
while the control system is loaded and configured.
The complete start-up procedure will take about two minutes and at the end of the
process the screen will display "Press any key to continue".
Press any key to continue and the MENU screen will be shown.

Micromat PC 7
MENU SCREEN
This is the central point of the control system and any of the three screens through
which the system is controlled may be accessed from here. All the functions of the
Micromat control system are accessed through either the Program, Run or Files screen,
making the system simple to learn and easy to remember.
To select a function use the up and down arrow keys located at the lower right hand
side of the keyboard to move the green highlight to the required selection button, then
press Enter.
An alternate method is to press the character key corresponding to the underlined
character shown on the selection button.
i.e. Pfor PROGRAM Rfor RUN or Ffor FILES
If ever you are unsure about what you may do, on-screen help is available at all times
and is accessed by pressing the F1 key at the top of the keyboard.
We recommend that you follow the rest of this manual as a tutorial and ask you to
remember that this is a screen based system and all you need to know will be shown on
the screen in front of you. So please take the time to LOOK at the screens and READ
the information they contain. It will save you a lot of time and frustration!

Micromat PC 8
THE PROGRAM SCREEN
Select Program from the Menu screen by using the Up and Down arrow keys to move
the highlight to the required function and press Enter. Alternatively just press the
underlined character of the function. i.e. P for PROGRAM.
The Program screen is used to manually enter or edit a drilling or routing program and
to check the accuracy of data which may have been loaded from floppy disk.
The screen consists of the TV camera picture, a function menu panel to the right and an
information panel below. The TV picture contains a round target display to allow
accurate positioning. The size and colour of the target is operator adjustable to suit
individual preferences.
The menu functions are operated directly from the keyboard by pressing the key shown
in the menu. Function keys described as 'F1' to 'F10' are those keys at the top of the
keyboard and labelled as such, you should not press F followed by numbers.
An underscored red character on the screen indicates that pressing this key will begin a
function. In most cases, beginning a function will put a GREEN highlight on the screen
and the function can be exited without changing any settings by simply pressing Esc.
Whenever a GREEN function highlight is on the screen, pressing F1 (HELP), will give
assistance with that particular function.
The 'current command' is the command (HOLE etc.) which has been reached by using
the Single Step and Back Step controls, is shown on the TV screen and whose Tool
number and Command are shown on the Reference display line.
General help is available at the basic screen level to remind you of the available
functions.

Micromat PC 9

Micromat PC 10
FUNCTIONS AND COMMANDS
Please unfold and refer to the Program screen in the illustration section of this manual.
The list on the right of the screen contains the following functions:
HELP - F1
HELP - F1HELP - F1
HELP - F1
Press F1 to display short help messages related to the screen or any GREEN
highlighted function. Help is available for each screen and for any item which is
highlighted GREEN.
Press Enter or Esc to remove the help message from the screen.
FILES - F2
FILES - F2FILES - F2
FILES - F2
Pressing F2 loads the Files screen to allow you to LOAD or SAVE a data file.
When you leave the Files screen you will return to Program.
See FILES SCREEN.
STROKE - F3
STROKE - F3STROKE - F3
STROKE - F3
Each press of F3 starts the spindle, waits for the spindle speed to wind up and then
operates the drill head through one complete drill stroke to enable drill depth and feed
rate to be checked.
HOME - F4
HOME - F4HOME - F4
HOME - F4
Pressing F4 drives both axes of the machine to their HOME (datum zero) position and
sets the ABSOLUTE X and Y position displays to zero. The REFERENCE displays
will retain any offset information that may have been programmed. See X and Y.
RESET - F5
RESET - F5RESET - F5
RESET - F5
A RESET command sets the system to the FIRST command of the program and sends
the machine to its HOME position. Both the ABSOLUTE and REFERENCE position
displays are set to ZERO. Any offset information that may have been programmed is
also set to Zero.

Micromat PC 11
RUN - F6
RUN - F6RUN - F6
RUN - F6
Allows access to the RUN screen to drill or rout a board. See RUN SCREEN.
Pressing F6 will show a GREEN highlight with the question RUN?
Pressing Esc will exit the function and return to Program
Press Enter to go to the RUN screen.
HOLD - F7
HOLD - F7HOLD - F7
HOLD - F7
Pressing F7 temporarily stops the movement of the Check function. A second press
resumes movement.
CHECK - F8
CHECK - F8CHECK - F8
CHECK - F8
F8 starts the Check function moves the TV camera through a drill program to show
where the commands are positioned. This function is especially useful for viewing the
results of a step-and-repeat program ( i.e. a program using RPT and/or OPEN and
CLOSE bracket commands ). Each position will be held for a short time. HOLD, F7
will temporarily stop movement - Esc will exit the function.
EXPAND -- F9
EXPAND -- F9EXPAND -- F9
EXPAND -- F9
This function removes all REPEAT and OPEN and CLOSE commands from the
program and converts it to individual holes or routing commands.
Pressing F9 will show a GREEN highlight with the question EXPAND?
Pressing Esc will exit the function.
If Cis pressed, then the system will calculate and display two numbers. The first is the
number of commands in the Step-and-Repeat program, the second is the number of
commands had the data been entered individually for each position and for drilling
programs shows the total number of holes to be drilled. The program will NOT be
converted
If Enter is pressed in response to the EXPAND? then all REPEAT and BRACKET
commands will be removed from the program and it will be converted to individual
holes or routing commands. The two numbers displayed after conversion correspond to
the number of commands in the Step-and-Repeat program and the actual number of
commands in the new, expanded program.

Micromat PC 12
MOVE - F10
MOVE - F10MOVE - F10
MOVE - F10
This function moves the current command to a new location. All subsequent commands
will be moved by the same amount.
Pressing F10 will show a GREEN highlight with the question MOVE?
Pressing Esc will exit the function.
Use Single Step or Back Step to view the earliest command to be moved. If this is the
first command of the program then ALL the program will be repositioned.
Use the joystick and position the command at its new location.
Press Enter and the program will be moved.
S-STEP >
S-STEP >S-STEP >
S-STEP > (Single-Step)
Allows a program to be checked by advancing one set of coordinates at a time and
moving the target to those coordinates. The X and Y position, Tool number and
Command are displayed on screen.
The system will not Single Step past an END command.
The Right Arrow key moves to the last command in the program.
B-STEP <
B-STEP <B-STEP <
B-STEP < (Back-Step)
As for Single Step but each press steps backwards one command through the program.
When the start of the program is reached the bleeper will sound six times.
The Left Arrow key moves to the first command in the program.
Immediately after using either the Single-Step or the Back-Step function, the machine
will be showing the "Current Command".
The Tool Number and Command are shown in the Reference display line and the actual
coordinates are displayed in the Absolute window.
EXIT - Esc
EXIT - EscEXIT - Esc
EXIT - Esc
The Esc key offers a return to the Menu screen. Press Enter to Exit to the MENU screen
or Esc once again to cancel the command and return to Program.

Micromat PC 13
I
IIIncr X ncr Xncr X
ncr X and I
IIIncr Y ncr Yncr Y
ncr Y (INCREMENT)
These functions are used in conjunction with the four INCR buttons located round the
joystick. Each button will move the corresponding axis by a distance equal to the value
displayed in the 'Incr X' or 'Incr Y' window. A single press will move the target in the
corresponding direction. If, after the move, the button is held down until a bleep is
heard, the new coordinates, together with the current Tool number and Command will
be entered into memory. If the button is still held down, after another short delay, the
target will continue to move in the same increments and each position will be entered
into memory until the control is released. A row of commands can be entered along the
machine's axes.
Pressing Iwill show a GREEN highlight in the Incr display
Pressing Esc will exit the function.
Pressing the Up and Down arrow keys will change the increment value through 9
different pre-programmed, useful values and one user programmable value.
Press Enter to accept the selected value.
To set the user programmable value the required value must first be shown in the X or
Y Reference window See Reference.
Press Ito show a GREEN highlight in the Incr display then press Xor Yand the
Reference value for X or Y will be transferred to the relevant Incr display.
Then press Enter. The user programmable value is now selectable along with all the
other values which can be accessed by using the Up and Down arrow keys as above.
The value will be saved and restored the next time the system is switched on.

Micromat PC 14
S
SS
SIL
ILIL
IL (SINGLE-IN-LINE)
This function is used to simplify the programming of rows of holes (or any other
command) where a row is required on a constant pitch. The spacing can be any value
since the operator fixes the extreme positions of the row and sets the number of
positions in the row.
Program the first position of a row, then, using the joystick and/or Incr buttons, move
the target to the last position and press S.
Pressing Swill show a GREEN highlight with the question SIL?
Pressing Esc will exit the function.
The total number of positions in the row will be highlighted.
This number is based on the dimension shown as Gap, Press Enter to accept the
number or use the Up and Down arrow keys to change the value and then press Enter.
The target will move to each position and the row will be entered into the program as
individual commands.
If the spacing is not known ( i.e. not 2.54mm ) then after programming the first position
in the row, move the target to the second position and press G. Then move to the last
position and press Sand continue as above.
W
WW
W( Workheight )
Pressing Wallows changes in the Spindle Workheight reference position.
Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change the Workheight reference position.
Press Enter or Esc to save the new value.
The Workheight reference position is the distance above the lower Z axis limit at which
the Z feed rate becomes controllable by the settings on the Run screen.
The total Z axis movement is the sum of the Workheight reference position and the
Clearance above this point.
P
PP
P( Position, Size and Colour of the TV Target )
Pressing Pallows changes to the position, size and colour of the TV Target.
Press Pto show a GREEN highlight Picture Position
Esc will cancel the function.
Use the arrow keys to change the POSITION of the target.
Press Cto set the target to the centre of the screen.

Micromat PC 15
Use the Plus and Minus keys to change the SIZE of the target.
Press Sto set default size.
Use the 0to 9number keys to change the COLOUR of the target.
Press Mfor a multi-colour target.
Press Gto change the target between large and small graphic blocks.
Press Enter to accept the selections.
Press Fto change the Focus height of the camera.
F
FF
F( Set Focus height of the TV Camera )
Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change the Focus position.
Press Enter to save the new Focus position.
or Esc to exit without saving.
INSERT
INSERTINSERT
INSERT
Pressing Ins will alternately toggle the Insert mode On or Off. When Insert is ON,
entered commands will be inserted into the program immediately before the current
command which was reached by using Single Step and Back Step and was indicated by
the target position.
When Insert is OFF, freshly entered commands will overwrite any existing data.
DELETE
DELETEDELETE
DELETE
A single press will delete the current command from the program. After the delete, the
TV target will move to the next command in the program. If you make a mistake and
wish to restore the command, press O(oops!) and the last command you deleted will be
recovered. This only works for the very last delete! Delete twice and you can only
restore the last one. If you don't want to delete, don't press the button!

Micromat PC 16
Below the TV picture are two windows marked Absolute and Reference.
Absolute:
Absolute:Absolute:
Absolute:
The Absolute display line shows
a/ The X and Y coordinates with reference to HOME ( machine zero )
b/ The active Tool number
c/ The active Command
This is the information, which is entered into the program by pressing the Spacebar
a/
The X and Y coordinates are changed whenever the Joystick and/or the Incr buttons are
used to move the TV Target.
b/
The active Tool number is set by pressing T
TT
T
( note that the T in Tool is underlined )
The active Tool number will have a GREEN highlight.
Use the Up and Down arrow keys to select the required Tool number from 0 to 15
Press Enter to accept the Tool selection.
c/
The active Command is set by pressing C
CC
C
( note that the C in Command is underlined )
The active Command will have a GREEN highlight.
Use the Up and Down arrow keys to select the required Command from the following
list
HOLE, DOWN, CTR CW, CTR CCW, UP, REPEAT, OPEN, CLOSE
Press Enter to accept the Command selection.
Reference:
Reference:Reference:
Reference:
The Reference display line shows X and Y coordinates and Tool number and Command
information.
The Tool and Command part of the display line shows the Tool number and Command
of each position when Single Step and Back Step are used. When a Tool number and
Command are displayed they are those of the Current Command. The Tool number and
Command are also displayed for a short time whenever a command is entered with the
Spacebar.

Micromat PC 17
The Reference display X and Y coordinates can be set to Zero, or any other number, at
any position on the table. This can be used to provide a reference point for the transfer
of information from drawings. It is a reference only, the programmed coordinates are
always those shown in the Absolute display.
To change the X or Y Reference display ( the X and Y are underlined )
Press X
XX
X or Y
YY
Y to show a GREEN highlight on the X or Y Reference display
Press Esc to exit the function and leave the X or Y Reference display as it was.
Press Enter and the display will be set to Zero
or
Use Up and Down arrow keys to change the numbers to the right of the decimal point
Use Left and Right arrow keys to change the numbers to the left of the point.
Press Enter to accept the number
JOYSTICK
JOYSTICKJOYSTICK
JOYSTICK
This is used to move the TV target to the position on the circuit board to be drilled or
routed. It should always be used to move away from any YELLOW bars at the side of
the TV Picture to avoid driving the table to any of it's limit positions. YELLOW bars
indicate that the table is within 6mm of its limits, a RED bar indicates limit. If the table
is driven into its limit then all motion will stop and HOME must be pressed to enable
further movement.

Micromat PC 18
PROGRAM BACKUP
Working drill and rout programs are saved on floppy disks in the Files screen.
We strongly recommend that you keep just one job on each disk to avoid confusion over
the correct file to be used.
Disks are not expensive and can easily be copied for safety. More importantly, they can
be kept in a file with the rest of the paperwork for each job so you can find them when
you need them.
There are many hi-tech solutions for downloading data from here, there and
everywhere. These solutions can probably be made to work in a hi-tech environment
with hi-tech equipment and hi-tech staff on hi-tech salaries . . . . . so just use floppy
disks.
The Micromat has another program backup system and its use is intended to solve the
problems of power failures and other inadvertent shut downs which may cause loss of
data.
The backup process is mostly transparent to the operator in that the data is transferred to
non-volatile storage whenever a program is loaded from disk or a job is programmed
manually.
In the case of manual program entry, the system will make a backup whenever an END
command is programmed by pressing the Ekey.
A backup can be made whenever you may feel it necessary by simply pressing Shift B
i.e. holding down the Shift key and pressing the Bkey.
e.g. whenever you go for a break from entering a program, lunch, etc. etc.
AUTOMATIC RESTORE
With this backup system, each time the machine is switched on it will have in its
memory, restored from non-volatile storage, the last program that was being used,
whether you saved it to floppy disk or not.
Another great Micromat plus.

Micromat PC 19
PROGRAM COMMANDS EXPLAINED
SPACEBAR
SPACEBARSPACEBAR
SPACEBAR
The Spacebar is the main program data entry key. Each time the Spacebar is pressed,
the information in the Absolute display line, that is the XY coordinates, the Tool
number and the Command, will be entered into the program memory. A bleep
indicates that data has been entered.
Commands can be any one of:-
HOLE, DOWN, CTR CW, CTR CCW, UP, REPEAT, OPEN, CLOSE
and their operation is as described below.
Note that the coordinates and the Tool number are entered automatically with each
command.
All program data except the END command is entered using the Spacebar
To enter an END command simply press the Ekey and a single END command will be
added to the program data.
HOLE
HOLEHOLE
HOLE
Each position programmed as a HOLE will be drilled using the Tool number which is
programmed with the command.
DOWN
DOWNDOWN
DOWN
This command controls the position at which the routing cutter is to be fed into the
circuit board.
If followed immediately by an UP command, the cutter will be fed into the board and
then withdrawn, making a single hole the same diameter as the cutter.
If followed by further DOWN commands, with different coordinates, the machine will
cut in straight lines between each pair of DOWN coordinates.
DOWN may therefore be regarded as a "Down and stay Down" command until an UP is
programmed.
Arcs can be entered by just using the Down command to program three points around
the arc. The cutter will trace an arc through all three points starting with the first point,
moving through the second point and finishing at the third point.

Micromat PC 20
A three point arc is programmed by entering a Double Down command at the first point
to indicate the start of an arc, ( i.e. press the Spacebar TWICE ), followed by single
DOWN command near to the centre of the arc and a final DOWN at the end of the arc.
The arc will prove to be more accurate if the second point is chosen somewhere close to
the mid point of the arc. There is no limit to the size of the arc.
If the third point is programmed as a Double Down command, a second arc can be
joined to the first. This process can be continued to produce a series of consecutive
arcs.
CTR CW
CTR CWCTR CW
CTR CW (Centre Clockwise)
CTR CCW
CTR CCWCTR CCW
CTR CCW (Centre Counterclockwise)
The CTR CW (Centre Clockwise) and CTR CCW (Centre Counterclockwise)
commands are used to program the centre point of circles or part circles.
The command to be used depends upon the required direction of the cutter as it moves
round the circle or arc.
e.g. To program the machine to cut a full, or part, circle a total of four commands are
required:-
1) a DOWN command at the start point of the circle.
2) a CTRCW or CTRCCW command at the centre.
3) a second DOWN command at the point at which the circular cut is to finish ( the
same point as the first DOWN command for a complete circle ).
4) an UP command to withdraw the cutter from the board at the end of the cut.
UP
UPUP
UP
The UP command is used to enter the position for the cutter to withdraw from the board
at the end of a straight line cut. The coordinate information entered with the UP
command is irrelevant since the command is used only to lift the cutter, however, the
setting of the TOOL number IS important, since UP commands are used in conjunction
with previously entered DOWN commands using the same TOOL number.
NOTE:- DOWN and UP and DOWN and CTR commands for the same cut must be
programmed with the same TOOL number.