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The main purpose of Router-CIM Automation Suite is to provide a CAD/CAM solution for both single part machining and also to automate the programming task for quantities of parts. Router-CIM Automation Suite offers both nested based manufacturing technology, used to automatically produce NC Code for parts that are produced or imported into the AutoCAD environment, as well as any other single part that can be parametrically defined, or produced as a drawing or DXF file.
Parametric macros that are defined using Router-CIM's Parametric Macro Builder can be automatically sized and either nested or cut singly, and also from different materials.
With Router-CIM Automation Suite, you can select macros, DXF files, and AutoCAD DWG files, associate a material and specify a quantity of them and Router-CIM Automation Suite will do the rest, automatically.
In Automation, typically, a job file is created that contains all the machining data necessary to perform the programming tasks. Each job contains the macro, drawing, or DXF filename, size, quantity, material, and other variables relevant to your cutting needs. Each part is analyzed, and a layer to knowledge association automatically creates the tooling paths. The part and tool paths are serialized and stored in the database as necessary. Once all parts are cut or cut and/or nested, then sorted NC Code is made. The parts or nests are printed, and external files, like a label file and also a machine schedule file are made.
Each job is stored in an independent folder for easy storage and retrieval. The locations of these folders can be specified either locally on your hard drive, a network drive, or even the machine tools drive if it is able to exist on the same network.
For new users of Router-CIM Automation Suite, there are a few concepts which need to be understood in order to use the product efficiently. These are:
| • | A basic understanding of the Microsoft Windows environment, and file handling with programs such as My Computer, or Windows Explorer. |
| • | A working knowledge of the AutoCAD environment. How to create and name layers, and assign geometry to those layers. |
| • | Some knowledge of the types of tools, cutting conditions, and materials you are likely to use on your parts. |
| • | Knowing the difference between the file types Router-CIM Automation Suite uses such as DWG, DXF, and SCN. |
| • | Understanding the Layer to Knowledge association feature in Router-CIM Automation Suite. |
If you will be using primarily macros for your part definitions, then a solid understanding of Router-CIM's Parametric Macro Builder and how to create a macro is truly necessary. This takes practice and is best done on paper first!
Also solid understanding of the variable types, Global, Dynamic, Tagged, and Local, and how to use them on individual parts or assemblies of parts will be of primary importance in a truly parametric macro. You should know how to incorporate the variables into formulas to define parts or part features.
