Microvellum Processing Center Application

Microvellum Processing Center Application


The standalone Processing Center application provides shop-floor tools for managing and executing manufacturing data generated from Microvellum projects.
It enables users to:
  1. Print part labels
  2. View and print reports
  3. Create and re-create manufacturing data
  4. Manage part remakes
  5. Re-optimize output
  6. Create and manage batches
  7. Review G-code and other production results
This standalone software delivers the established Processing Center functionality in a lightweight, purpose-built application designed specifically for shop-floor environments.

Production App Transition

The Processing Center interface has served as the core Microvellum data processing toolset for many years. This new standalone application:
  1. Provides access to the same core functionality.
  2. Operates independently from the primary CAD environment.
  3. Is optimized for shop-floor usage. 
For customers currently using the standalone Production app on the shop floor:
  1. The new Processing Center serves as a direct replacement.
  2. No additional cost is required to transition.
  3. Core shop-floor functionality remains unchanged.

Production vs Processing Center

The standalone Processing Center application does not fully replace all existing functions for the Production application.
Production historically included broader project-level and engineering capabilities that the Processing Center application does not include, such as:
  1. Creating and managing projects
  2. Adding products to projects
  3. Access to Edit Design Data, Global Variables. Material Files, Part Properties
  4. Creating work orders
  5. An integrated version of Processing Center
Instead, the standalone application is intended to replace the need to use Production on the shop floor for operational manufacturing tasks, including:
  1. Batch creation and management
  2. Processing of existing work orders
  3. Optimization
  4. Label printing
  5. Processing Station (Tool File) management
  6. Scrap Management
Project setup, product engineering, and work order creation will continue to occur within the Microvellum BSB/AC or the legacy Production app. The standalone Processing Center is purpose-built for executing and managing manufacturing data after work orders have been created.

Features


General

  1. Load Parts List – All Parts: Loads every part in the work order into the Processing Center, regardless of machining status.
  2. Load Parts with Machining Only: Loads only parts that contain machining operations, allowing users to focus on parts requiring CNC processing.
  3. Load Parts with No Machining: Loads parts without machining, typically used for saw-only or manual processing workflows.
  4. Load Parts List by Material: Filters and loads parts grouped by material to simplify batching, nesting, and inventory decisions.
  5. Preview & Print All Reports & Report Groups: Allows users to preview and print individual reports or predefined report groups directly from the Processing Center.
  6. View Single Part G-Code Results: Displays the generated G-code for a selected part, enabling verification and troubleshooting before production.
  7. View Event Log: Shows a detailed log of processing events, warnings, and errors generated during work order processing.
  8. Modify Work Order Details: Allows edits to work orders without reprocessing the entire project.
  9. Modify Material Inventory: Updates material inventory quantities directly from the Processing Center to reflect production decisions.
  10. Change Work Order: Switches between different processed work orders without closing the Processing Center.

Label Types

  1. Current Product Label: Prints a label for the currently selected product.
  2. Product Labels: Prints labels for multiple products within the work order.
  3. Current Part Label: Prints a label for the selected individual part.
  4. Current Auto Nest Part Label: Prints a label associated with the selected nested part within an optimization pattern.
  5. Part Labels – Nest, Saw, ARDIS: Prints part labels formatted for specific workflows such as nesting, saw operations, or ARDIS systems.

Label Printing

  1. Compatible with Touch-Screen Monitors: Supports touch-based interaction for shopfloor use on industrial touch screens.
  2. Preview & Print Sheets of Labels: Allows users to preview and print labels for entire sheets at once.
  3. Preview & Print Individual Part Label: Provides on-demand preview and printing for a single part label.

Optimization Results

  1. View Optimization Patterns per Sheet: Displays how parts are arranged on each sheet within an optimization or nesting result.
  2. View Part and Yield Information: Displays part name, width, length, product number, and sheet yield details within the optimization view.
  3. Track Printed Labels Visually: Visually indicates which parts already have labels printed to prevent duplicates and missed labels.

Nest

  1. View Nesting G-Code Results: Displays the CNC output generated for nested sheets.
  2. View Composite Nest Drawings: Shows combined visual drawings of nested sheets for review and verification.
  3. Plot Nests: Sends nest drawings to a plotter or printer for physical reference.

Scrap Options

  1. Commit Scrap to Inventory: Adds unused material from nesting results back into scrap inventory.
  2. Manage Scrap Inventory: Tracks available scrap materials for future use.
  3. Manage Storage Locations: Defines and manages physical storage locations for scrap materials.

Processing Station Management

  1. New: Creates a new processing station.
  2. Edit: Modifies settings, rules, and outputs for an existing processing station.
  3. Copy: Duplicates an existing processing station to accelerate setup.
  4. Delete: Removes unused or obsolete processing stations.
  5. Map Parts: Defines how parts are routed and processed through a station.
  6. Activity Stations: Manages associated activity stations used for reporting and workflow tracking.
  7. Import / Export: Transfers processing station configurations between databases or environments.

Processing Assignments 

  1. Select All Parts: Selects every loaded part in the Processing Center grid.
  2. Assign Processing Stations to Selected Parts: Manually assigns one or more processing stations to selected parts.
  3. Assign Processing Station Rules to Selected Parts: Applies auto-assign rules to automatically determine processing stations.
  4. Clear All Assignments from Selected Parts: Removes processing station assignments from selected parts.
  5. Process: Generates machine output, drawings, and reports based on current assignments.

Batch Options

  1. Control Batch Names: Defines and edits batch identifiers used for grouping processed output.
  2. Create New Batches: Creates additional batches within the same work order.
  3. Hide Assigned Parts: Temporarily hides parts that have already been assigned or processed.
  4. Process Report Groups: Generates reports based on predefined report group configurations.

Work Order Details (Grid Data)

Displays detailed part and work order information, including:
  1. Project Name
  2. Room Name
  3. Item Numbers
  4. Product Name
  5. Specification Group Name
  6. Part Name
  7. Quantity
  8. Width
  9. Length
  10. Material Name
  11. Edgebanding
  12. Comments
  13. Processing Station Assignment

Grid Settings

  1. Create New Views: Saves custom grid layouts for different workflows.
  2. Show / Hide Columns: Controls which data fields are visible in the grid.
  3. Column Groups: Groups columns for improved organization and readability.
  4. Control Font Size: Adjusts grid font size for readability or shop-floor displays.
  5. Custom Sorting: Sorts grid data based on user-defined criteria.

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