GlassMaker Definitions

Absolute Move – An absolute move has a distance that is always relative to the same location.  The location that the moves are relative to are determined by the zero position.  The zero position is set using the *SetZero command.  An absolute distance of zero would move the motor to the zero position, no matter what its starting location.  The same absolute move repeated twice with not double the distance.  A normal move command repeated twice would double the distance.

Analog Controller - The Analog Controller is used to control direct current voltage and current input and output.  Analog control is used for a variety of functions such as interpreting analog voltage values from a sensor or for gas flow control valves.  Each Analog Controller contains four analog outputs and four analog inputs.  The range and type of input and output is determined by the type of Grayhill 73 G series modules being used in the Grayhill board connected to the Analog Controller.  The Analog Controller receives ASCII serial commands from the computer and uses them to control the four inputs and outputs.  The command syntax is similar to the Parker CompuMotor Drive Indexer software.  The Analog Controller commands are intended to extend the capabilities of the motor control system while maintaining compatibility with CompuMotor commands.

Background Move – A background move is a move that is executed and occurs in the background of further code execution.  GlassMaker does not wait until the move is complete before continuing on the next line of the code.  Background moves do not include the Drive Ready (*D) command after the move.

Burners – On the lathe, there can be a variety of different burners with numerous flame possibilities.  Within Glassmaker, a burner consists of a number and name to identify it, two or four Serial Controller outputs and a delay that will be used between the gas and oxygen being turned on or off.  The states that a burner can be set to depends on the type of burner being used and how many outputs are used to control it.

Command – A command is a task that GlassMaker is going to perform.  Multiple commands are used to make up a program.  Some commands pertain to the execution of the program, such as commands that branch execution to other parts of the code.  Some commands pertain to external devices such as motors or controllers.  GlassMaker commands are compiles and turned into Run Time commands.  Run Time commands consist of a simple set of unique commands and serial commands for the external devices.  During Run Time, GlassMaker executes the Run Time commands and makes it seem as though the GlassMaker commands are running.  The devices commands are simply sent directly out the serial port.

Design Time – Design Time is any time that a program is not actively running.  Programs are created and compiled in design time, but once they are run, it becomes Run Time.  The machine can be initialized and controlled with immediate control during design time.

PreMove – A PreMove is used to prepare a motor to be moved simultaneously with one or more other motors.  For motors to move together, their triggers must be connected on the Serial Adapters connected to the motor indexers.  All move information in a PreMove is saved until a *Go or *BGo command is executed.

Inputs –Serial Controllers can be configured to have four or 20 inputs. Inputs are used for determining states of switches or sensors.  The switches or sensors are connected directly to the Serial Controller board.  Within GlassMaker, an input consists of a number, a name to identify it, a device number, IO number, and a true state.  The device number represents the number of the Serial Controller in reference to the rest of the devices in the serial loop.  The IO number represents the input on the Serial Controller that the switch or sensor is connected to.  The true state determines what value received from the controller would be considered a connection.  This is used to invert the logic of the input.

Label – Labels are used to identify a location within a program.  Labels use a name to refer to a place in the code.  Execution can be branched to a label a variety of ways.  When a *Label command is executed, nothing occurs however, commands like *Goto, *Gosub and *If are used to jump to the specified label.

Lathe – The lathe within GlassMaker is the spindle and chuck control.  The spindle can be controlled via a variety of mechanisms, a stepper motor, DC motor or Serial Controller outputs.  Depending on the spindle type, the lathe will consist of a motor and two Serial Conrtoller outputs for the chucks and one for the coaxial cluch, a Serial DC Motor Controller and two outputs for the chucks, or six Serial Controller outputs.  All methods provide control over speed, direction, coax and chucks.

Limit Switch – Limit switches are used to automatically stop a motor if it reaches the end of its travel area.  Limit switches should be installed in both directions for any motor that does not have full 360 degree rotation.  Crashing devices into eachother such as fire carriage and tailstock could cause serious damage to machinery.  The limit switches can both be enabled or disable, or individually disabled.

Macro – A ,macro is a small GlassMaker program that can be used from within the main GlassMaker program and other macros.  Macros allow many lines of GlassMaker code to be called from a single command, the *DoMacro command.  If a procedure is repeated several times within a process, the procedure only needs to be created once as a macro and then called several times from within the process.

Motor – Motors are used to provide motion on a lathe.  There are a variety of motors that are used for different purposes.  Within GlassMaker, a motor consists of a number, a name to identify it, how many pules make one revolution, the number of pulses that make one unit of measurement, aliases for translated clockwise and counter-clockwise.  Motors can also be given minimum and maximum speeds, home speeds and aliases for use with the units.

Outputs –Serial Controllers can be configured to have 16 outputs.  Outputs are used generally used to control air logic devices that operate the proportional air system, burners, swing arms and chucks.  Within GlassMaker, an output consists of a number, a name to identify it, a device number, and IO number. The device number represents the number of the Serial Controller in reference to the rest of the devices in the serial loop.  The IO number represents the output on the Serial Controller that the device is connected to.  Whether the output on the controller is normally high or normally low is determined by a jumper on the Serial Controller board.

Program – A program is a set of GlassMaker commands that are used together to control external devices.  When a program is run, GlassMaker starts at the first line of the program or code and executes the command.  Each command has different functions, some of which pertain to the structure of how the program executes, and some which pertain to the devices that comprise the machine.  When GlassMaker has completed executing the command, it continues on to the next line of code and executes it, unless its execution is “branched” or otherwise moved to another line of code with a command.

Proportional Air – The proportional air or blow box is made from a system of air logic valves that allow air to be blown, vacuumed or purged through the head and tail stock of the lathe.  The air logic is controlled by a Serial Controller.  Serial Controllers used for proportional air are dedicated and the outputs can not be seen or allocated for other purposes.

Run Time – Run Time is when a program is being run.  Once a program is written and compiled in design time, it can be run.  Some features are not available during Run Time, since GlassMaker is executing the program and possible controlling external devices.

Serial Controller - The Serial Controller is used to control inputs and outputs.  Outputs are commonly used for the proportional air system, burners, swing arms and chucks.  Inputs are used for determining states of switches or sensors.  Each Serial Controller contains 16 inputs or outputs (I/Os) and 4 inputs.  The 16 I/Os must be configured for either all inputs or all outputs.  It is possible to have either 20 inputs or 16 outputs and 4 inputs for a Serial Controller.  The Serial Controller receives ASCII serial commands from the computer and uses them to control the 16 I/Os and 4 inputs.  The command syntax is similar to the Parker CompuMotor Drive Indexer software.  The Serial Controller commands are intended to extend the capabilities of the motor control system while maintaining compatibility with CompuMotor commands.

Serial DC Motor Controller - The Serial DC Motor Controller is used to control spindle rotation using a DC motor.  The Serial DC Motor Controller also controls the coaxial clutch.  The Serial DC Motor Controller receives ASCII serial commands from the computer and uses them to control various operating parameters of a DC motor such as velocity, acceleration and direction. Command syntax is similar to Parker CompuMotor Drive/Indexer software. The Litton commands are intended to extend the capabilities of the motor control system while maintaining compatibility with CompuMotor commands.

Serial Loop – The Serial Loop is the daisy-chiain connection of devices that are connected to the computers serial port, that make up the automation of the lathe.  All the devices are connected to each other one after the other.  Any information that is sent out the serial port of the computer goes into the serial loop, to each device and back to the host computer with any responses.

Time Based Move – A time based move is used to make a series of consecutive moves with smooth transitions in speed.  A single time based move command can have multiple time and speed parameters.  There is no distance for a time based move.  The resulting distance in a lateral movement would be approximately the multiple.

Variable – A variable is a place in memory where different types of information can be stored.  Variables can be changed and modified with different functions and their values can be used in a variety of functions.  Information from the serial loop can be stored in variables.  Decisions can be made based on the contents of variables.  Values from variables can be used for analog  values, motor speeds and distances, and a variety of other functions.

Variable Set – A variable set is a set of values for the same variables.  Each variable set uses exactly the same variables.  When the contents of a variable are changed, they are only changed for the currently active variable set.  When the variable set is changed, the contents of all of the variables are set to the values from the selected variable set.  Variable sets allow many different values for the same variables.  The user can be prompted to select an active variable set during run time, which can determine the values for the variables.