Programming your Ocean Clipper

How do you program the Ocean Clipper CNC angle Line

Programming the Ocean CLIPPER CNC Angle line is very simple and intuitive even for operators with no CNC or computer experience.

We have installed several hundred CNC beam lines and angle lines throughout the USA and many countries worldwide and we have found that the average operator who has never programmed a machine ever before can become efficient on the machine in less than 1/2 day.

The Ocean Clipper CNC Angle Lines (and the Ocean Avenger CNC Beam Lines) can be programmed in one of two ways

• 1. Manually using a key pad to enter the clip angle data including the angle size, length, size and position of slots and holes, or

• 2. Directly Import of the data to the CNC angle line directly from your CNC steel detailing files

1. Manually programming your Ocean Clipper CNC Angle Line -  (Old School)

A. Manual detailing (from a paper drawing)

The Ocean CLIPPER can be programmed manually at the machine or in the office using the supplied Peddimat software. This software comes included with the CLIPPER and can be installed on as many PC’s in your office as you choose – this unlimited license is included with the purchase of your machine. It is the same software that is found on the machine itself and is the same software used on teh Ocean AVENGER and all Peddinghaus CNC fabricating machinery.

Peddimat is incredibly simple and intuitive, and takes less than an hour to learn, even if you have never worked on a computer in your life.

We always train your operator how to run the machine using Peddimat as you are often going to have the situation where a customer arrives with a couple of pieces of steel that need holes or layout marks and you want to be able to produce them quickly without bothering your detailing staff who might be busy on a larger job.
 

2. Importing Steel Detailing Files directly to your Ocean Clipper CNC Angle Line - (new School)

B. Importing files directly from your steel detailing software

It is obviously preferable to import files directly from your steel detailing software because it eliminates an unnecessary step and also eliminates possible incorrect data capture. There are two separate and distinct camps in this respect

1. 3-D Modeling Camp
Software that falls in this camp includes X-Steel, SDS/2, Tekla Structures, StruCAD, DetailCAD, BOCAD, SteelCAD etc. All these 3-D modeling programs export the DSTV file that is seamlessly imported into the CLIPPER.

Your detailer will supply you a .DWG file or a .PLT file that you will use to plot your drawings. He will also supply you with the .NC or .NC1 files that you will import directly into your machine. The DSTV-Import function is standard on the Ocean CLIPPER (also see C. New Developments below)

2. AutoCAD Camp
AutoCAD is an architecturally based software and works well for exporting flat 2-D pieces to plate processing machines. Where it falls short is in its ability to export files for 3-D shapes like beams, channel, angles etc. AutoCAD exports both .DWG files and .DXF files which are perfect for plates.

The Ocean CLIPPER can import .DXF files and can use them to process 3-D shapes as long as the steel is detailed according to specific rules. Some of these rules might be different to the way you are detailing at the moment and might require some adjustment. This process is not nearly as seamless as the 3-D modeling software solutions above.

If you want to understand exactly what you need to do to generate a DXF IMPORT COMPLIANT AutoCAD file, view the PDF file – DXFEnglish – which will explain the process of detailing the files according to the specified rules. This process requires the optional DXF-Import function on the Ocean CLIPPER.

C. Newest Developments.

Due to the large number of AutoCAD users out there, KiwiSoft has improved their Pro Steel 3-D steel detailing software which runs within AutoCAD, and it is now able to export the DSTV file (.NC or .NC1).

Several of our AutoCAD users have embraced ProSteel 3-D because it is much cheaper than all the other 3-D modeling programs, and because it is easier to learn since it uses all the familiar AutoCAD commands and shortcuts. Note that Pro-Steel 3-D requires that the customer has AutoCAD 2004 or later.

Click here for more information on Pro-Steel 3-D steel detailing software for AutoCAD

I sincerely hope this helps you understand the various ways that you can program the CLIPPER. We have installed over 150 machines in less than 3-1/2 years, and we have completely changed the way that the small to medium sized fabricator processes steel.