Track Spindle Load as Cycle Time

This example will show how to setup a Specific Cycle Time to track spindle load on a Fanuc control.

The first step will be to define the specific equipment statuses which is done on the Manage tab, Equipment Status, Cycle Statuses form.

Press the Add button to define a new specific status.  The Identifier can be any set of unique characters and will be used in the expressions.  The description is what will show in the charts and reports along with the assigned colors.

The next step will be connecting to the DataXchange Service which is done from the DataXchange tab and the Connect button.  For general information on the DataXchange Service refer to the DataXchange Service and DataXchange Interface help pages.

Once connected to the DX Service the expression can be created.

On the DataXchange tab press the Expression button and then Create Expressions to bring up the Expression Builder.  Press the Add button to create the new expression.

Select the desired Expression Group to help organize the expression.  If a group is not desired then select None.  If a new group is desired then select Expression Groups from the Modify button on the ribbon bar.  Provide the desired expression name and the optional expression summary. Click in the Expression window to enable the buttons in the ribbon bar and use the PCS Database and Focus variables to create the expression as shown below, or type directly in the Expression window.

When inserting the spindle load variable from the variable list the following will be inserted. [Focas.spindle_load_meter] {SPINDLE NUMBER}

Text in curly brackets indicates that additional information may be needed.  In this case the appropriate spindle number must be specified.  The actual spindle load must be baselined when cutting air to determine the threshold number to enter.

Click in the Result window and select Send Start Cycle to DX{} from the PCS Database variables.  The following will be entered into the Result window: [PCSDB.send_start_cycle] {CYCLE STATUS CODE}

In this case, replace the CYCLE STATUS CODE with the identifier created on the Manage, Equipment Status, Cycle Statuses page.

Create a second expression which will be used to end the cycle.  There are many ways to create the End expression, the following is one example.

([PCSDB.has_cycle_status_code]{102}) AND ([Focas.spindle_load_meter] {1} < 300)

Once the expression has been created it must be assigned to the desired equipment.  Select the equipment in the Equipment Tree, stop the Command if it is active, and then press the Expressions button in the ribbon bar and select Assign Expressions.

Select the newly created expression from the list.  The filter functionality can be used to narrow down the list.

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