Add Lab Equipment to Ports
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Table of Contents (on this page)
Introduction
This document provides instructions for adding equipment to the ports and setting up the programs to run the equipment.
Procedure
It is important to remember that if additional equipment gets added to the system, you must also add the interface to the Tray Tracking segment. It is because the equipment won’t function without a tracking assignment.
This document describes two steps, Custom Configuration for machine interface and Tray Track Assignment for each port within the Optifacts software.
Two methods are available to interface the equipment to the server, direct TCP/IP or serial. The TCP/IP method will communicate over the local network with the server and does not require special adapters or pinout/wiring. However, the TCP/IP method does require connecting the equipment to the same network as the Optifacts server. The serial method uses a serial port connection and cable to communicate to the server through a serial device, typically one from Digi or Comtrol companies. Optifacts communicate to the serial device over the network, but the serial device handles the serial communications to the equipment. Contact your System Administrator or Optifacts Support for the correct pinout/wiring based on the serial device for your lab.
Custom Configuration Setup
From the Optifacts main menu:
Select Option 3 – Editor Utilities and press Enter.
Select Option 6 – Configuration Editor and press Enter.
Select Option 6 – Edit Custom Configuration and press Enter.
The Custom Configuration Editor displays.
Add all the custom configurations required for your lab machinery. Contact your System Administrator or Optifacts Support for the correct setting for each of the machines in your lab that require interfacing.
- Press Q to Query to ensure that the table below exists.
If the table does not exist:
- Press “A” to add a new record.
- Enter all the information as per the example (s) below.
- Calling Program - STARTUP
- Field Name - Is unique, but must start with INTERFACE
- Enabled (Y/N) - Y
- Character Setting - Optifacts program and interface port information
- Float Setting - Leave blank
- Integer Setting - Leave Blank
- Comment - Description of the interface
- Press Escape to save the data.
- Press “E” to exit.
Edger Interfaces
The following entry allows the control of the edger file formats that the system will prepare as a new tracing comes in.
*** This entry overrides the edger commands that occur as part of the start-p line for each tracer. ***
The program uses the Character Setting Field.
Setting Flag Definitions
Here are the meanings of the setting flags:
- (g) Gerber
- (w) - Weco **Note, don’t use this option along with (f)
- (f) - Five12weco
- (c) - Coburn
- (s) - Santinelli
- (o) - Optronics
- O(m)a - OMA
- (A) - ack **Note, this works only for the original Gerber FT-5 tracer
You may enter these letters in any combination or order. (no spaces) in the character Setting field.
Interface 0
The following entry allows the startup of some of the background processes that move data to and from lab equipment. It can also be used for the Optifacts calculation module.
Each entry in this editor must have a unique Field Name. Thus, number the names as you add devices (e.g., INTERFACE 0, INTERFACE 1, etc.)
The Optifacts system must be enabled for enough devices for them to start. For instance, if you have purchased two generator interface licenses, you can add a third entry in this table, but it won’t start.
Most equipment interfaces besides tracers require a matching entry in the job track system to start. This entry will allow Optifacts to update the tray track for the given tray when scanned at the interfaced device.
Program Examples:
The diagram below is an example of the setup to run the program for a generator.
The diagram below is an example of the setup to run the program for a Gerber generator.
The diagram below is an example of the setup to run the program for a blocker.
Below is an example of an entry modified on this screen. However, in newer versions of Optifacts, the entry of interfaces is simplified in Menu 3-6-20. Check our documents for Add/Edit Equipment Configuration document.
Tray Track Assignment for the Ports
From the Optifacts main menu:
Select Option 7 – Tray Track and press Enter.
Select Option 12 – Tray Track Configuration Editor and press Enter.
Select Option 2 – Sub-master Station Number Setup and press Enter.
Add the necessary Sub-Master Stations for each machine port using the same interface used in the custom configuration.
- Press “Q” to Query to ensure that the tables below exist.
If the tables do not exist:
- Press “A” to add a new record.
Enter all the information as per the example (s) below.
- Master Station Number
- Sub-Master Station Number
- Station Description
- Station Type - Press enter to accept N as the default entry.
- Station Priority - 0 is the default priority number
- Lite-up Number - Enter the desired lite-up number that is associated with this sub-master station. It is the lite-up number seen on the pricing options page in Rx Order Entry.
- Delay station
- Enter “Y” to indicate that this is a delay station and will stop the clock on the production time reports.
- Enter “N” if not a delay station.
- Interface Port - Enter the desired port ID for the machine interface
- The naming convention for machine interface (lower case only - upper case is for modem connections).
- tty – Standard
- r - Rocket Port
- d - Digi Port
- a - The port the machinery is plugged into (a, b, c, etc.)
- 0 - Row on the port (i.e., Rocket Port has two sections--First Rocket Port will start with 0 and 1; the second Rocket Port will start with 2 and 3, etc.)
- After Breakage - Set to “Y” if applicable. It will require that the job passes through Frame Marry again after breakage gets posted. For example, the frame was married, a breakage was posted AFTER Frame Marry, the job will have to pass through the Frame to Come process again for a frame bin to be reassigned. If available, the same frame bin gets used the first time it was processed through bin assignment.
- Press Escape to save the data.
- Press “E” to exit the screen.
The diagram below is an example of the sub-master station port set up for a generator.
Symbol Bar Code Scanners
Job Track can have several processes running to monitor Symbol Bar Code Scanners. To enable Symbol Scanners, you will need the following entry in menu 3-6-6.
- A process needs to start for each port scanner, similar to configuring a tracer on each port.
To view and download these instructions as a PDF file, click on the following document image.
Did you know?...
Optifacts is now utilizing a help-desk ticket system to better serve your emailed support needs and have your requests assigned to a team member that can support you best.
Please consider emailing your support requests to support@optifacts.com rather than individual addresses for more efficient support.
You may also log in to your account at https://rxuniverse.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/12 to submit your requests directly and see the status of any currently open tickets your lab may have.
If you are in need of immediate support, please call the support desk directly at (800) 678-4322 during business hours of 8 am to 5 pm CST/CDT, Monday through Friday.
Optifacts, Inc. Suite 100 - 18 Riverside Ave. S. Sartell MN 56377
Phone: (800) 378-4322 Phone: (320) 258-3559 Fax: (320) 258-3880
Email: sales@olsssystems.com Email: support@optifacts.com
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