Parking
Let’s talk about the parking functionality within Optimum CNC plasma cutting software. The parking functionality allows the user to save a number of points around the machine which can then be quickly moved to. This can be very useful, for instance, to simply save a safe spot to move the torch, or to save a spot where the operator can perhaps easily access the torch — perhaps for checking up on it or for cleaning it, etc.
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To access the parking functionality, head into the Advanced tab from within the top ribbon, and within it, click on the Parking Presets button. The Parking Preset Spots popup will be brought up on the screen and this will contain parking locations 1 through 10, as well as the currently selected parking number and the X and Y position for this parking number.
So let’s say here we have parking number one selected. Let’s say we move to some location on the machine and we click the Move To button. The system will raise the torch up to a safe height and then move it to the machine coordinates specified for the parking number one for X and Y, which are 5 and 10 respectively.
Now let’s say we’d like to save some new position — let’s say for parking number two. So let’s say I move the machine away to this coordinate right here. Perhaps this is somewhere near the edge of the table, somewhere where the operator can easily reach the torch. Now I can simply click the Save As button to save the current machine position, click Confirm, and now we can see that parking number two has these machine coordinates saved.
Let’s say we move away — let’s say we move down. Notice how the machine will first move to the safe height and then move to the X and Y machine coordinates. This is done to prevent any collisions of the torch.
Another thing to note is that it is machine coordinates rather than work offsets that are saved. This should be obvious because we want the same machine coordinates to always be the safe parking presets, rather than some kind of a work offset that can be modified.
So let’s say here we perhaps zero these work offsets. For the work offsets — for the program coordinates — this will be a zero position. However, in real terms for the machine coordinates, this is still 27 and 15 for X and Y.
Let’s say we now move away a little bit, click the Move To button, and we can see that the system will move to the old machine coordinates of 27 and 15 for X and Y. This can be done for any of the 10 parking spots.
Alternatively, let’s say we’d like to simply enter some kind of a number. So let’s say we want to have parking number four and we have, let’s say, 10 and 10 in mind for our X and Y coordinate. We can also simply save this without actually moving to this location first by using the jog buttons. Now that this data is input, we can simply press the Move To button and the system will move to 10 and 10 for our new parking number four.
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Parking Presets Button Location: The Parking Presets button is located in the “Advanced” panel, just left of the Optimum CNC Logo. Once you have the Advanced Tab open, you will find the “Parking Presets” at the bottom of that panel. Tapping on the button will activate a popup that will allow you to set up to 10 parking spots
BONUS: The user can enable the Move to Parking After Jog function by toggling on the corresponding button and selecting the parking number. P7 to P10 is available for this functionality. If the “Go to Parking After Job” option is enabled (highlighted in green), the system will return to the XY coordinate specified in the selected parking number after the cut has completed.
Optimum CNC Software Screenshots: Tap on Images to Enlarge
