Making Associations

Making Associations

Associations are the links between the knowledges (imported into your drawing earlier) and the layers that are in each part drawing.  These associations will allow Router-CIM to cut your parts without the need for geoshaping and picking on each shape with a particular tool, cycle, and status setting.

The associations are held in a file known as the DOIT file.  This file can be any name, and has a .dat extension.  It is a simple text file, but there is a graphical interface in Router-CIM allowing you to interact with it on an easier basis.

To make the associations, you will first select the Sample2.dat file from the Control Panel.  There is a browse button to the right of the location where the DOIT file is displayed.

Select the Browse button and a window will appear, from which you can select a DOIT file.  Select the Sample2.dat file in the Rcim_work folder.

Select Open to continue.  Your choice will show in the path display on the Control Panel.

Now that the Sample2.dat file is selected, you can edit that file to add the associations to this file.  Select the DOIT Edit button on the Control Panel.

Once selecting this button, you will see the DOIT editor.  This is a list editor where the associations can be created.

In order to make the associations, you have to select an item in the list, then make the associations, and finally, add them to the list.  To continue, select the PATREC association in the list, it will turn blue.

In the Knowledge List at the bottom, Panel is the current knowledge.  Select the pull down arrow next to the word PANEL in the Knowledge List and the list of knowledges in the current drawing will appear.

Select PANEL from the list and PANEL will appear in the Knowledge Name as well.

Once a knowledge is selected, now it is time to determine what Layer to associate that knowledge to.  In the Layer Name box, type PANEL and click on ADD.  You will see the association appear in the list above.  You may also pick the layer from the Layer List pull down.  Remember that you must have those layers in the current drawing to use the pull down list.  In this case the layers will be there.

To add the rest of the associations, you will follow the same procedures.

Follow the same procedure to associate the following knowledges to layers:

Associate Knowledge STRETCHER to layer STETCHER1

Associate Knowledge STRETCHER to layer STETCHER2

Associate Knowledge DADO to layer BACKDADO

Associate Knowledge DADO to layer BOTTOMDADO

Associate Knowledge DRILL250 to layer HOLE_1

Note that you can associate a knowledge to more than one layer in the file.  When you are finished, the screen should look like this:

If you make a mistake editing in this window, simply highlight the line that is incorrect and select Delete.  You may also change an association by selecting it and modifying the layer or knowlege and picking Change.

Keep in mind that once these associations are made, they do not ever need to be made again.  This DOIT file will serve us to cut and make code for the next few parts.

After all these associations are made, select OK to continue.