Manual

Programming Basics and Setup 5-1
5 Programming Basics and Setup
Overview
This section introduces the fundamentals of developing dispensing programs in FmNT. These skills
prepare you for more complex programming in the next two chapters.
The following subsections provide guidance on how programs are built in FmNT and also what tools are
used to create them. Read this section before going on to programming
. Exercise 5-1, in this section,
requires use of the Tutorial Board and FmNT to perform a programming setup procedure. No dispensing
will be performed.
The section covers the following topics:
Theory and Use of Programs
Program Logic and Structure
Programming Setup
Theory and Use of Programs
Programs are written for specific dispensing applications on specific dispensing systems. Typically, a
program written on one dispensing system must be modified slightly before it can deliver the same degree
of accuracy on another system. Therefore, if possible, create the program on the machine that will run
the program.
" NOTE If the program will be run on multiple machines, the Local Machine Offsets
procedure in FmNT allows you to transfer a dispensing program from one
dispensing system to another without having to reteach the Workpiece Origin,
Heater Offsets, or Valve Bias. When the program is transferred to another
system, FmNT will automatically use the offset parameters specific to that
system in place of the offsets associated with the program. Refer to “Local
Machine Offsets” in the System Configuration and Setup section.
A typical FmNT program file consists of the following:
Program File (dispensing and maintenance commands)
Fluid File
Vision File
Heater File (if applicable)
These elements may be assembled and saved as one file. This file is called a Recipe. See “Recipe” later
in this section.