Bend navigator

The Bend Navigator at the top of the screen provides an overview of the complete cycle. Most of the icons and terminology used in the navigator are similar to the ones found in the Bend CAM navigator for manual bending. However, robotic bending introduces extra rows and columns due to its added complexity, which are explained here.

Navigate

Bend navigator can be opened by pressing the Z key.
The navigator displays the following status icons:
- Icons in uncolored cells → No Errors/Warnings
- Icons in Orange colored cells → Indicate Errors
- Icons in Yellow colored cells → Indicate Warnings
By clicking on a cell that displays error/warning, it takes you to the simulation stage where those specific error/warning occurs.

Bend navigator columns

Pickup (P) - The column marked P represents the part pickup operation. Before bending starts, the robot picks up a flat sheet from a pallet, or from a part dispenser. This column represents this operation. You can click on it and use the slider to view a simulation of the pickup operation.

Bending (1, 2, 3,…) - The columns marked with tags like 1, 2, 3 represent bending operations. You can click on these columns to view a simulation of the bending process.

Regrip (R) - The columns marked with tags like R1 represent regrip operations. During pickup, the gripper will pick up the part by gripping it along a particular plane, in a particular orientation. Sometimes, not all the bends in the part can be processed with this same orientation, and the gripper may need to regrip the part to continue. This column represents such regrip operations.

Deposit (D) - The columns marked with tags like D1 represent the part deposit operations on the final pallet, conveyor or basket.

Bend navigator rows

Bend navigator rows in FlexCell CAM are similar to Bend CAM navigator rows. Additional rows have been introduced in FlexCell CAM for Clamps, Robot, Gripper, and Cell components. These rows are also used to signal collisions or other errors.

Shortcut keys

These shortcut keys can help speed up navigation between the different modes and panels in FlexCell CAM.

Navigator shortcuts

PgUp PgDn

Switch to the previous or next stage in the simulation

Switch to the previous or next phase within the same stage. For example, phases in bending are the steps like part insert, gauge-retract, bend, and beam-open.

Spacebar

Start/stop the simulation

Z

Expand/collapse the navigator panel.

Panel shortcuts (keyboard)

E E

Open the panel for the current stage (bend / pickup / regrip / deposit)

E B

Open the Back-gauge panel for the current bend

E D

Open the Die panel

E G

Open the Gripper panel (to adjust the gripper position for this stage)

E R

Open the Robot Strategy panel for the current bend

E W

Open the Waypoints panel for the current stage

Panel shortcuts (mouse)

Left click twice on navigator header

The first click switches the simulation to that stage. The second click opens the panel for the stage

Left click on the back-gauge

Open the Back-gauge panel for the current bend

Left click on the die

Open the Die panel

Left click on the punch

Open the Punch panel

Left click on the gripper (or robot C axis)

Open the Gripper panel

Left click on the pallet

Open the Pallet panel

Left click on the camera

Open the Camera panel (editing pickup detection images for this part)

Left click on a blank on the pickup pallet

Open the Pickup panel

Left click on a suction cup of a gripper

Open the Suction panel (suction cup settings for this gripper)

Left click on a part on the deposit pallet

Open the Deposit panel

Left click on the X,A or B axes of the robot

Open the Robot Strategy panel for the current bend

Left click on the robot rail

Open the Waypoints panel for the current stage

Left click on the regrip stations

Open the Regrip Stations panel