LINEAL HMI™

Human/Machine Interface for Lineal Cutting

Maximizing your lineal manufacturing equipment means reduced operating costs and increased profits.  LINEAL HMI™ (Human/Machine Interface) from PMC Software Inc. provides an automated length gauge interface to a host of lineal processing equipment.  It is designed to be flexible enough to work for multiple applications, such as sawing, notching and drilling. Operating as a Universal Saw Positioning System, LINEAL HMI™ offers even more flexibility by acting as either a saw stop or a pusher. 

A saw stop uses a "paddle" to press the raw material against to determine cutting length.  A pusher moves away from the saw to allow raw material to be loaded and then "grabs" the material to ensure correct positioning and moves it to the saw blade.

The positioning system must be told the length of the piece to be cut.  LINEAL HMIT simplifies this task by using a touch screen computer monitor to provide the interface between computer and saw operator, totally eliminating the need for a computer keyboard for normal daily production.  This configuration makes the system easy to learn, easy to use, and less prone to failure because of a dirty environment.  The operator simply touches the screen to select a task to be done or enter a dimension to cut.  

A palm button speeds up and further simplifies operation of LINEAL HMI™, eliminating the need to touch the GO button on the computer screen.  This "short cut" allows the operator's hands to remain at their side for positioning, holding and moving material rather than touching the computer monitor.

LINEAL HMI™ allows cutting lengths to be entered manually or downloaded to the microcomputer control from either a host computer, via floppy diskettes; Direct Numerical Control (DNC) electronic transfer; or by incorporating the LINEAL HMI^TM's microcomputer controller into a computer network.

LINEAL HMI™ can be configured to operate in several modes of operation to provide even more flexibility to your machinery.  Manual Mode, Saw List Mode, and Optimized Mode are provided as part of the system to improve machinery performance and accuracy.

In Manual Mode, every measurement is entered by the saw operator via the on-screen calculator keypad. This keypad functions similarly to a typical calculator.

Saw List Mode provides a list of downloaded sizes.  The operator cuts the pieces in the order listed, working well when manual optimization is desired.

Combined with LINEALMATE™, PMC's Linear Optimization Software, LINEAL HMI™ can also function in Optimized Mode. The need for manual calculation or dimensional input is eliminated since an optimal cutting plan for each stock length is provided to the saw operator.  

LINEAL HMI™ provides added flexibility through it's unique universal hand design, allowing material to be fed from right to left (right handed) or left to right (left handed).