EN: man_8065_chn.pdf - Fagor Automation

1.
INTRODUCTION.
CNC 8065
·24·
Basic notions about channels.
(REF: 1103)
1.1 Basic notions about channels.
About a multi-channel system.
Execution channels
A multi-channel CNC system may have up to four channels; each of which constitutes a
different work environment that may act upon part of the CNC system or on the whole CNC
system.
The difference between a multi-channel system and several independent CNC's is that the
channels can not only act independently, but also together; in other words, they can
communicate, synchronize with each other and carry out coordinated actions.
What is a channel?
As mentioned earlier, each channel constitutes a different work environment inside the CNC.
Each channel can execute a different program, be in an different work mode and have its
own data.
If necessary, the channels can communicate and synchronize with each other and carry out
actions that are coordinated with each other. They can also share information through
variables and arithmetic parameters.
A channel can have a group of axes and spindles that act independently or in parallel with
the rest of the channels. A channel can also be configured without assigning axes or spindles
to it at first. Later on, it will be possible to add or remove axes and spindles through a program
in execution or MDI.
A channel may be governed from the PLC, from the CNC or from both. Likewise, a channel
may be configured as –hidden– so it cannot be selected from the interface and the screen
does not show any information on its axes.
The active channel.
It is the channel selected with the channel selector switch. It is the channel being displayed
and receiving the commands, e.g. [START], [STOP] and [RESET].
Channel grouping.
Two or more channels may be configured forming a group that will have the following
characteristics.
All the channels are in the same work mode, JOG or automatic.
The reset command in any of the channels of the group affects all of them.
Any error in any of the channels of the group interrupts the execution in all of them.
The groups of channels are defined via machine parameters.
Configuring the axes and spindles of a channel.
A channel may be configured at first with one, several, or no axis and no spindle, according
to the machine parameter settings. The axes and spindles of each channel must be chosen
among the ones available in the system. An axis or spindle cannot be in several channels
at the same time; although it could happen that it is not assigned to any channel at first.
Modifying the configuration of the axes and the spindles of a channel
Via a program in execution or MDI, a channel may release or request axes and spindles. This
possibility is determined by machine parameter AXISEXCH, which establishes whether an
axis or spindle can change channels or whether this change is permanent or not.