Gridding

Enter Setup Information
To begin, select either the sheet size or put the number of parts you desire to put on a sheet. During this process, web or spacing between parts may be defined, and trim strips and borders can be adjusted. Double hit checking and starting quadrant information is also prepared.

View Sheet of Parts
After completing the setup information, a graphic representation of the sheet will be displayed. The parts, hits or contour cycles, workholders, time, tool path distance, and any workholder interference will be displayed on the screen in different colors.

Avoid Workholders
There are many different methods for dealing with workholder interference. The safety zone bars indicate the locations where the workholders cannot be placed safely and which hits or contour cycles should be held and punched after a reposition. The software will warn you if a hit or contour cycle is in a safety zone area. The gridding/multiples routine can perform an automatic workholder dodge where the sheet is repositioned a short distance and the hits or contour cycles that were causing the interference are performed. The sheet then moves back to the original position and the programming is continued.

Optimize Tool Paths
Tool Path Optimization includes many options ranging from a simple starting position for each new station to more specific options such as rotating an auto-index tool around a part or completing an angle before rotating.

Repositioning Options
The sheet can be repositioned automatically or manually. When you are repositioning manually, the sheet is attached to your cursor and you can position it at the location you desire. If any limits such as maximum distance for reposition are surpassed, SMP/IS will give you a warning and allow you to relocate them. It will place your hold down pads in a proper location.

Flip/Rotate Capability
Flipping and rotating a sheet is as easy as pushing one button. A machine stop and a message will appear on the controller giving your machine tool operator the appropriate information.

Variety of Options
Many other features are available, including dummy moves, trap doors, user functions, shorter work clamps, and shear registration slots.