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  4. VTube Communication With BLM Benders with VGPNext and VGP3D Software

VTube Communication With BLM Benders with VGPNext and VGP3D Software


BLM SVNET PROTOCOL (BLM Part # SW0453)



  • The BLM SVNET protocol is used to correct BLM XYZc bender data in both the VGP3D and VGPNext controls.

  • This protocol uses standard Windows networking.

  • BLM charges for enabling this protocol. The BLM catalog number is "SW0453."

  • Contact BLM for the price to enable this protocol. If you purchase it, a BLM technician will work with your IT department to install and enable the protocol.

  • This protocol can send and receive corrected bender XcYcZc values.

  • The communication is bidirectional. VTube-LASER can SEND and RECALL XcYcZc bender data to/from the BLM control.

 

This protocol is appropriate for VGP3D software. This is the legacy version of VGP software.
This protocol is also appropriate for VGPNext software.  This new version of the control software was released in 2024.


Video Tutorial for VTube-LASER to BLM Bender Correction


How to Setup VTube-LASER for BLM SVNet

Enter VTube-LASER Benderlink Setup

  1. Enter the VTube System Options menu.

  2. Enter the Global List tab menu.

  3. Enter the Setup Benderlink Network menu.


Setup the Benderlink Network Grid for the BLM SVNET Protocol

  1. Choose an unused row in the grid for a new BLM bender setup. (Click on the image at the right to see a zoomed image.)

  2. Assign a bender name that will help operators identify what this bender is. This text will be displayed at the top of the Bender Setup menu.

  3. Set the protocol to BLM SVNET.

  4. In the NetPath field, enter the path to the shared drive or folder. Use the network location that is used in the BLM setup. VTube accepts UNC names as well as regular paths with drive letters.

  5. Enter the IP address in the PING IP ADDRESS field if it is a fixed field. (This is not required. It allows VTube to ping the address to see if the network location is active before opening communications.)

  6. VTube considers rotations to be positive in the CCW direction. Most BLM benders handle Positive rotations as a Clockwise motion, so you will probably need to enter "YES" for these options (so that the rotations are not corrected in the wrong direction).

  7. Press Close to save the settings. VTube will save these values to a global configuration file that will not change unless you change them in this grid.






For Newer BLM VGPNext Controls

How to SEND a CORRECTION to the VGPNext Control from VTube-LASER




Open the project from the BLM database.

Use the PROJECTS menu to choose a project setup. For this example, we will use project RomerArm.

Bend the part and take it to the measuring center.

Measure the tube with VTube-LASER.

Measure and align the tube to determine if it qualifies by falling within the envelope tolerance for the tube shape.

In the VTube-LASER screenshot, you see the actual result of the first tube not qualifying in shape. The red cells in the tangent point grid on the lower left show that the measured tube centerline is out-of-tolerance.

At the BLM bender control, switch to the CORRECTIONS AND CALIBRATIONS menu.

Click on the table button.

Click on the SvNet button.

Video - Starting Communications

See an operator entering the communications screen in the video.
This Waiting dialog will appear.BLM is waiting for VTube-LASER to send commands.

At VTube-LASER, click on Bender Setup in the navigation pane.

Initial Setup of the Bender Setup Screen

Confirm that the Bender Channel number is correct at the top.
Enter the Part Number.
The part number in VTube-LASER must match the BLM project name for communications to work correctly.

Click on the "RECALL LRA from BENDER" button.

A RECALL progress window will appear with a timer.

If the VTube-LASER Part Number matches the BLM Project Name, then the BLM will answer with data.

Handling Part Number Mismatch

If the BLM control answered with a more extended project name, click the "DO NOT use the incoming part number" button to keep the shorter VTube-LASER Part Number we know the BLM just responded to.
Note: This is a minor bug in the VGPNext software that answers with the internal database name even after the BLM project name was changed. If you change the name, BLM will not find the part number during VTube-LASER RECALLs or SENDS.

Handling a Bend Count Mismatch

If the bend count does not match after a RECALL, allow the incoming bender data to increase the bend count to whatever is at the bender.

About the Blue Columns

The RECALL updates the blue columns with the current XYZc data used to bend the part that is being measured.
After a RECALL, the blue column data should match the XYZc data at the BLM bender.

About the Other Bender Setup Columns

The white columns are the calculated correction or adjustment values. VTube will add the values in the blue columns to the values in the white columns to update the corrected values in the orange columns.
Be sure the BLM communications dialog is still active, then click on the "Auto SEND Bender CORRECTIONS" button.  This will send the orange column data to the bender.
Note: The "Correction Percentage" tab menu allows you to send partial corrections. If you intend to send a full correction, ensure the values in that menu are set to 100%.

Send to BENDER Complete Window

If the correction file is sent, then you will see this window.
The window will close automatically after a few seconds.

Click on the BLM Undo Button

At the BLM, click on the UNDO button.
The XYZc data should now match the orange columns in VTube-LASER's Bender Setup screen.
Build the new data into the bender's PLC, bend the part, and then repeat the measuring process from above.

File Cannot Open Error Window

During communications, if the BLM control cannot match the VTube-LASER part number with a BLM project name, then the "File cannot be opened" dialog will appear.









For Older BLM VGP3D Controls

How to SEND a CORRECTION to the VGP3D Control from VTube-LASER

Bend the part on the BLM, then open the Measuring Center Communications in VGP3D

Click on the measuring center image to the right of the part number.

This will display a small SVNet-communications window on the VGP3D user interface.

The window will allow the BLM to respond to requests for communication from VTube-LASER.




Measure the tube with VTube-LASER.

Measure and align the tube to determine if it qualifies by falling within the envelope tolerance for the tube shape.

In the VTube-LASER screenshot, you see the actual result of the first tube not qualifying in shape. The red cells in the tangent point grid on the lower left show that the measured tube centerline is out-of-tolerance.




Correct the BLM with VTube-LASER - Enter BENDER SETUP

Follow these steps in the VTube-LASER:

Press the "BENDER SETUP button in the Navigation Pane.


INITIAL RECALL Setup of Bender Setup Window

These steps assume that you have programmed a part into the bender and measured and aligned a part.

STEP 1—Set the correct bender number at the top of the window. If you have already set up the bender protocol in the Benderlink grid, the BLM SVNET bender icon should display.


STEP 2 - Click on the "RECALL LRA from BENDER" button.


RECALL Warning Boxes

VTube-LASER will warn you if the incoming data count and part number do not match what is in VTube-LASER.

  • If the bend count does not match, allow the incoming bender data to increase it to whatever is at the bender.

  • If you want the Part Number at the bender to be left untouched, accept the incoming part number and use it for transfer from this point forward.




THE BLUE COLUMNS SHOULD MATCH THE BLM XYZc DATA AFTER THE RECALL

After the RECALL, the blue columns should show the data programmed in the BLM control.

This ensures that corrections are being made to the correct foundational data. If the blue column data does not match the bender at the correction time, then it is probable that the bender will not be corrected properly.




SEND THE CORRECTIONS TO THE BLM FILE

SAVE the Correction data to the file for the BLM by pressing AUTO SEND BENDER CORRECTIONS.

STEP 1 - Click on Bidirectional Communication

STEP 2 - Click on AUTO SEND BENDER CORRECTIONS.



This will change the contents of the BLM XYZ to the values from the VTube ORANGE cells.




AT THE BLM, Close the Communications Window

If you sent the correction data (the orange columns of data) from VTube-LASER to the BLM, then you can close the BLM communications window at the BLM and then check the new XYZc bender values. Be sure that they match the data in the orange cells in VTube.



BEND the Corrected Part


  • The XYZc data will be updated. Run the simulator with the new data.

  • Bend the corrected part.

  • In the VGP software, press the measuring center icon for the VGP3D software or the SvNet icon for the VGPNext software again to be ready for communications from VTube-LASER in case another correction is needed.

  • Take the part back to VTube-LASER to measure it again for qualification.







RULES for CORRECTIONS LOOPS

  • A RECALL from the BLM must be performed first so that VTube learns the data currently used to bend the part you just measured.

  • The number of bends must match in both VTube-LASER and BLM.




BLM CONFIGURATION FILE LOCATION

If your bender control has option SW0453 programmed into the BLM license key, then you can set the option in a text file that can be edited in a text editor.
This is the default path for a VGPNext control.



Edit the newconfig.ini in a text editor.
Edit the entries that start with "GTUBE."  (GTUBE is an obsolete measuring center software package that is no longer available. HEXAGON purchased the rights to the software and then discontinued it.)
  • The "PATH" is the network location where VTube-LASER can read and write both command files and data files.

  • The MAC_NUM value is the Supravision Network bender number from 1 to 99. Each bender usually has a unique number. The MAC_NUM and the Bender Channel number at VTube-LASER must match for the communications to work.

  • We're unsure what the other values do or if they are essential for setup. (Contact BLM if you have questions.)



BLM ETHERNET PORT LOCATION

  • The Ethernet port is at the end of the control cabinet.

  • The port is attached to the SECOND Ethernet adapter in the BLM Windows computer.