Owner's manual

Programming Basics and Setup 5-1
5 Programming Basics and Setup
5.1 Overview
This section introduces the fundamentals of developing dispensing programs in FmXP. These skills
prepare you for more complex programming in the next two chapters.
The following subsections provide guidance on how programs are built in FmXP 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 FmXP 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
5.2 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
FmXP 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, FmXP will automatically use the
offset parameters specific to that system in place of the offsets associated with the
program. Refer to 4.3.10.3 Local Machine Offsets.
A typical FmXP 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 5.2.1.5 Recipes.