Application Tutorial 4:   Repeating a Path in a Grid Pattern

Once a Path has been created, it is very easy to have the Path repeated in a 1, 2 or 3 dimensional grid pattern.  This is useful for dispensing fluid on parts that are stored in a pallet or for repeatedly stepping a fixed distance and duplicating a dispensing pattern.

This training example requires that Application Tutorial 1 has already been completed and builds upon its results.

»  For any of the sample templates, execute the Process again to verify that the dispensing path is accurately being followed.

»  Open the Path Editing panel: Edit > Path Editor .

A Path is always indexed along the major axes of its reference frame.  For example, if a Path is relative to the Global Frame, you can step in the positive or negative direction of its X, Y or Z axes.  You cannot step diagonally.  However, since you are free to select the orientation of the reference frame for a Path, this does not impose a significant limitation.

By default, the number of "Pallet" indices (Idx) is 1, which means do it once and don't step.

»  Select the Path for the template that you are using for this tutorial.

»  Change the number of Pallet indices (Idx) in X to "2".  This will repeat the pattern once by stepping once in the X direction.

»  To specify an index step size of 25.4mm, change the X Pitch to "25.4".

»  Press the Save button to store the results on the flash disk.  Respond Yes when asked if it is okay to delete the existing file.

»  Execute the Process to view the results.

Since we are only indexing in one dimension, the order in which we index the X, Y and Z values is immaterial.  However, if we did specify more than one indexing direction, the "Order" pull-down could be change to re-order which axis we indexed along first.

This completes the modifications for repeating a Path