The ISO file programming page allows workings to be managed and started using .pgm files previously created with CAD-CAM programs.

List

The ISO program list, initially empty, contains all ISO programs that can be executed sequentially.

Buttons

A series of buttons is available for managing the list.

	Open File Opens File Explorer to create a list of files to be executed.
	New ISO list Adds a file to the list of files to be executed.
	Add Pause Adds a pause to the list of files to be executed.
	Remove selected item Deletes a file from the list of files to be executed.
	Clear list Deletes the entire list of files to be executed.
	Move selected item up Moves the selected ISO file upward in the list of files to be executed.
	Move selected item down Moves the selected ISO file downward in the list of files to be executed.

At the bottom there are also two buttons relating to program execution modes:

	Manual / automatic Defines whether the machine status is manual or automatic.
	Single / next automatic Defines whether the next program will start automatically.

Open file

Pressing this button displays an “Open File” window as shown in the following image:

This window is divided into the following components:

• Files List

  • includes all .pgm files in the currently selected directory

• Buttons between the Files list and the Selected Files list

• Selected Files List

  • List initially empty

• Selected File preview

  • Shows a preview of a .pgm file selected from Files or Selected Files

• Bottom bar and search filter

Central buttons located between the “FILES” list and the “SELECTED FILES” list

	Select item Moves the selected item from the FILES list to the SELECTED FILES list.
	Remove item Deletes the selected item from the SELECTED FILES list.
	Insert pause Adds a pause immediately after the selected item in SELECTED FILES.
	Move selected item up Moves the selected item one position up in the SELECTED FILES list.
	Move selected item down Moves the selected item one position down in the SELECTED FILES list.

The contents of the bottom bar are shown below:

	Clear search filter Clears the text bar located to the left of this button.
	Sort by last modified Sorts the files in FILES according to the most recent changes (first image) or least recent changes (second image).
	Alphabetical sorting Sorts the files in FILES alphabetically or in reverse alphabetical order.
	Display USB drive files Displays all files with the .pgm extension on the USB drive.
	Display ISO folder Displays the contents of the ISO folder.
	Display contents Displays the drives available on the computer and the Desktop folder.
	Remove file Enables file deletion mode, which allows .pgm files to be deleted from FILES.
	Enable/Disable copy Enables/disables the copy function (copies the selected file to the ISO folder).

ISO Program Code

The code of the ISO program being executed is displayed in this window:

Buttons

This section of the ISO program contains the following buttons and corresponding functions.

	Timer and Reset Indicates the execution time of the entire .pgm file. Pressing the button resets the Timer.
	View ISO Enables or disables display of the ISO preview.
	Block search This button is displayed only after at least one program has been loaded into the list and allows a block search by line.
	Block search by line This button replaces the “Block search” button after the latter is pressed. The operator can search for a specific line of code in a small window displayed on the screen. After entering a number in the “Line number” field and pressing the “Go to” button, the ISO program code display moves to the required line, or to the last available line if the entered number exceeds the number of lines in the selected ISO program. A block search can be ended and the “Block search” button made visible again by pressing the Close button:
	Dry Run function (Enabled / disabled) Selecting this operating mode allows a working to be performed at maximum machine speed. WARNING! When using this function, NO type of material may be used during the working because the speeds specified in the ISO program are not observed during execution; the numerical control executes the entire program at the maximum nominal speed achievable with interpolated axes.
	ISO Test function (Enabled / disabled) This option can be used to test the loaded file to check for syntax errors. Press the “START CYCLE” button and the machine will virtually execute every line of code without moving the axes.
	Suction cup panel Access to the suction cup management panel.
	Save Pressing the button displays a keyboard that allows the loaded .pgm file to be edited before execution.

Block search

When executing (.pgm) files, the block search function may be useful for repositioning the tool at the point where the machine interrupted program execution, for example if the tool becomes jammed in the material or another type of stoppage occurs.

After pressing the button, the line from which to continue/start the working can be found either by line number using the “Block search by line” button or by scrolling through the file with the scroll bar beside it and selecting the desired line.
After selecting the point in the program from which the machine will resume the interrupted work, press the “Start cycle” button; the machine recalculates all lines of code in the .pgm file without performing any movement. The speed of this operation depends on the number of lines of code that must be generated without any movement.

When recalculation is complete, the machine activates an automatic pause and requires the “Start cycle” button to be pressed again to start the working.
Before starting the cycle, it is recommended to consider the machine's initial positioning, which involves all axes simultaneously.
This is necessary because the machine moves from its current position to the point where it starts working by taking the shortest path and, to do so, all axes move to reach that exact point.

This means, for example, that the Z axis does not lower only once the starting point has been reached, but lowers gradually along the path. This could damage the machine or the material if the machine collides with material located along the path.
Therefore, depending on the current situation, movement of one or more axes can be deselected in order to prevent damage.
To do this, simply select the buttons above each axis; they change from green to red.

The buttons automatically turn green again after “Start Cycle” is pressed.

View ISO

If the ISO preview has been enabled, an additional pane similar to the one shown below is displayed to the right of the “ISO Program Code” pane:

The ISO preview provides the following buttons:

	Perspective View Provides a 3D representation of the image.
	View orthogonal to the XY plane Provides a representation of the piece relative to the XY plane.
	View orthogonal to the ZX plane Provides a representation of the piece relative to the ZX plane.
	View orthogonal to the ZY plane Provides a representation of the piece relative to the ZY plane.
	Enable or disable preview display Enables/disables display of the preview.

Executing the working

The operator can create a list of PGM files by opening the desired files using the dedicated loading function.

Before execution is started, the order of the files in the list can optionally be changed and pauses can be inserted between executions. These pauses provide more flexible process management and, if necessary, allow it to be stopped safely.

When the execution mode is set to “Automatic”, the “ISO Test” function is also available and can be used to check that the selected ISO program is correct before actual execution.

To start the execution cycle, the operator must press the “Start Cycle” button. This executes the first ISO program loaded and displayed in the list.

ISO programs can be executed in two operating modes:

“Single” mode stops programmed execution at the end of each ISO file. The “Start Cycle” button must be pressed again to execute the next file in the list.

“Next Automatic” mode executes the ISO files sequentially without manual intervention until the end of the list.

In both modes, any pauses inserted between files allow the operator to interrupt the cycle at any time, thereby ensuring continuous control over execution.