Configure machines: Multitorch data

The configuration of the multitorch of the selected machine appears in the present window.

Torch capabilities

Each torch may have different capabilities for cut, mark or for machine chamfers or notches. In this dialogue, the use can choose the capabilities of each torch:

In the example, the first can be used for all kinds of machine, but the second or the third will only be used for normal cut.

Torches on axis Y

Depending on each machine, the torches can be placed on X axis (by default), or in Y axis. It is important to specify to system which kind of torches placement the machine uses.

Control torch

Establishes which is the reference torch. The CNC program will be built for this torch, the rest will follow his movements.

The axis configured on the previous parameter will display the options properly here:

Minimal distance between torches

This is the minimum distance allowed for the torches to be placed one near other.

Clicking on this button will show a torch placement dialogue with the following parameters:

The reference torch is the one with motor, the rest of them depends on this. This number sets the index of this master torch.

The reference torch is placed fixed in the carriage, can't be moved along it. The system should know the position of this reference torch with this value.

The rest of the torches can be placed along the carriage but with limits. The nearest to the reference torch must be placed at least at the distance given here. The distance is referred to the zero point of the torch.

The maximal position along the carriage where the farther torch to the reference torch can be placed.

The distance is referred to the zero point of the torch.

The carriage can be placed in different positions always between a physical limits. This value is the m a x i m u m l e n g t h w h i c h t h e z e r o o f t h e c a r r i a g e c a n b e m o v e d t o n e g a t i v e d i r e c t i o n .

The distance the zero of the carriage can be moved to positive direction.

This value is the distance between the zero point of the seet and the zero point of the carriage. If the reference torch is placed in the middle of the carriage, and the sheet is placed in the work zone, this is the distance between the reference torch and the zero point of the sheet.

System will decide depending on the carriage limits which torches to use for machining problematic contours.

The part will be machined always with the same torch (interior and exterior contours).

See the example of working with these parameters (annex I)

View configuration in "Do all"

The multitorch configuration can be shown each time the user clicks on "Do All" option in the nesting module, which makes the nesting and machining process automatically for all jobs depending on the configurations of Automatic Nesting and Automatic Machining. This dialogue can be shown using Sheets - Multitorch too.

In the dialogue the list of torches along with the capabilities and distances of each one:

The capabilities of each torch is shown with icons:

Also, from here the number of actived torches to use should be configured. If the icon near the number is with red color , the system will use that torch. The user can inactive torches clicking on this icon knowing that the reference torch can't be disabled, then the icon will change appearing on black color:

Automatic distances

If enabled, the system will calculate the optimal distances between torches for the related nesting, then, in the report will output them.

Disabled, the user can manually enter the distances. For making it easier, and if the distance is fixed between torches, the Equal distances button can be pressed after input one value, resulting on automatically filled the rest of values:

Work with fixed number of torches

With this checkbox active, the system will make the nesting trying to use always all the active torches at the same time.

For example, if the system is configured with three torches and using automatic distances, the nesting and machinin will be different depending on the configuration of this parameter:

In the first case, the system finds the optimization of the multitorch feature, it works always with all the actived torches, in this case with the three torches. The bigger part doesn’t appear because the quantity is only two, not three as the torches.

The second case explains the possibility of doing a nesting using the multitorch feature as far as possible, and then the machine will stop for disabling any torch. It uses first the three torchs, then two torchs, and if there were any other part, only one torch also will be used.

With other example the possibilities of this feature will be explained.

Now the quantity of the smaller part is very high, but we don’t want only to use the sheet for that part, we want to use the sheet to cut the two bigger parts.

The multitorch is configured with three torches, and working with the fixed number of torches. When doing the automatic nesting, we obtain this:

Now, we increase the quantity of the bigger part in two more, and disable one of the torches. With the Delete tool, we clear the right middle of the sheet:

Disabling one of the torches, and clicking on "Do all" again, here is the result: