FlyCAD

User guide

LASIT answers the most frequently asked questions about FlyCAD software.

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The LASIT software package for checking the marker includes:
• The control software that includes a CAD environment for the creation of the workings and their realization, FlyCAD.
• The software for the maintenance of the FLyControl system.

The system is normally supplied with the installed software. If there is a need to reinstall one or more components of the software package, follow the procedures described below.
To download the latest version of FlyControl go here
To start the installation, ask for the password via chat or email.
Pre-purchased for the installation of FlyCad
The FlyControl software must be installed and it must be started at least once and properly configured – if you have not installed FlyControl see the previous paragraph.

How can I identify the markable area on my piece?

The Preview is a tool which displays on the marking area where the marking process will be accomplished, so consequently it shows where to place the parts to be marked. The marking system uses a low power infrared laser (class II laser) which is not dangerous in order to show the drawing to be marked.

Preview Properties

Where is the preview?

Preview is displayed as a default for each new drawing in the jobs’ tree on the left, as shown in the picture below.

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Which kind of forms or shapes can I draw? The Preview can be employed to draw lines, rectangles, polylines, polygons, squares, circles. You can select each one of these forms from the Draw bar (see picture below) which is on the top the page.

NB When FlyCad is launched for the first time, the Draw bar is situated vertically on the right side of the page. It can be moved and put where it can be more useful. To learn more about FlyCad toolbars please see the video you may find here ______________________

Where are they located and what are the features of the Preview?

Once you have selected the Preview from the jobs’ tree, a window with three buttons will be displayed. If you click on the first one you will see the Preview properties, as shown in the picture below. The first property allows for enabling/disabling the selected object by clicking either on TRUE or FALSE. Once disabled, the object disappears from the CAD drawing place but it will be saved in the job tree and it could be used in a second time The second property locks/unlocks the object (to modify a locked object you must unlock it). Once you lock an object, it will be always visible on the CAD drawing plan but it could not be selected and all actions will not interfere with its position nor with its characteristics The third property allows for changing the color of the displayed objects The last property permits to set the automatic preview, which means enabling it every time a new drawing is loaded

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Shape Preview

Preview has another important function: “Shape preview”. Each object we have drawn, from the simplest drawings to texts, images or complex DataMatrix, can be displayed directly on the part to be marked, exactly as it is, without any containing line. Such a function is useful when it comes to mark complex geometries composed by more elements because you can see the object directly on the part and consider the disposition of its composite elements. Once you have created and loaded the drawing clicking on the semaphore icon, you just need to right click on the object and select “Shape preview”.

How do I find the right marking settings?

FlyCad parameters test is a very useful tool which helps the operator in the choice of the marking parameters. If you have to mark for the first time an object and you do not know the result you would like to obtain, instead of marking several times the same thing you can run a parameters test. Follow the steps below.

Draw whatever object. In order to better evaluate the result you can either mark a filled object (for example a square or a rectangle) to see the filling effect or an object in outlines to see the line effect.

Let us draw as an example a square. Select it and click on the Hatch icon in the toolbar to fill it. Select then the pattern from the menu.

Clicking on Job Properties – Template in the jobs’ tree, you can select TEST LASER PARAMETER in Properties of features. This will allow you to choose 2 out of the 4 marking parameters (speed – frequency – power – repetitions) giving some reference values. According to the number of the values you choose for each parameter you will get the same number of respectively rows and columns, which will form a matrix. You can select the distance between rows and columns – if you do not do this the software will automatically display the cells according to an optimal value.

- In this example we have chosen speed and frequency as parameters and then we have assigned the values. Once marked you will see all the results, so you can choose which one fulfils your requirements. Please watch the video you will find here if you want to see the procedure in details.

What file types can I import into FlyCAD?

All the types of graphic files can be imported, also PDFs. It is really important though that those files had been created with a vector program.

If you have an image (Jpg, etc…) saved as PDF, it will not be loaded.

How can I create a drawing?

FlyCad software has a tree structure with a root, Features, from which all the “leaves” or nodes with their function spread out. This structure simplifies the design of each work (texts and images), but also of DataMatrix and serial numbers.

Creating a Drawing

How to create a draw To manually draw whatever kind of shape you firstly need to create a sketch. In the jobs’ tree on the left select the magic wand icon and click on “Sketch”

A new sketch will appear with a default name, Sketch# (where # stands for a progressive number). To draw something you have to select the sketch, then click on “Draw” which is on the toolbar above and choose what you want to draw. You may select directly the shape you want from the Draw toolbar. Here is an example of drawing a line: Select the Sketch, click on the line icon and draw it on the plan.

How can I create text?

Thanks to FlyCad software you can create new textstyles, marking the outlines and/or the filling of a word or sentence, curved texts and more. To do this you can use all types of TTF formats, from Windows or from other sources.

Properties Text FlyCad

Writing a text

To write a text you need to use the SingleLine Text function, which is just below Sketch always selecting the magic wand icon.

A new text will appear with a default name, SText# (where # stands for a progressive number).

Selecting the text node you can see its properties in the “Feature properties” box, which is below the job tree.

The first property allows for enabling/disabling the selected object by clicking either on TRUE or FALSE. Once disabled, the object disappears from the CAD drawing place but it will be saved in the job tree and it could be used in a second time.
The second property locks/unlocks the object (to modify a locked object you must unlock it). Once you lock an object, it will be always visible on the CAD drawing plan but it could not be selected and all actions will not interfere with its position nor with its characteristics.
The third property allows for changing the color of the displayed objects.

How can I create a serial number and a date?

FlyCad SN & Date function is necessary to insert a string with a serial number and a date. This string is completely modifiable and it will be marked or engraved on the part, assuring precise and permanent results for a perfect traceability. You can select this function from the menu which is displayed after clicking on the magic wand icon in the jobs’ tree.

SN-1_3081bd711251956eab995ea7b7a7d142 FlyCAD

The default string is composed by:

a prefix, a mid-string and a postfix (0 or more characters)
a serial number (1 to 4 ciphers)
date format ../../.. and eventually hour format .. : .. : .. (both modifiable)

SN-2_e136eabcb9359c6c433e70fd8a2f13e7 FlyCAD

Properties

String codification table

SN % Date Properties

To modify the properties of the serial number and date click on “Feature properties” in the window below the jobs’ tree.

You can invert the order of the serial number and the date.

SN-3-1_8509553abee97557384b9447f1cad96c FlyCAD

You can choose which SN Modality you prefer between PUBLIC and PRIVATE. In Public modality the serial number is saved and shared in all the other drawings, while PRIVATE mode saves the serial number just in the drawing you are working on.
You can change or delete the prefix, middle, suffix strings, as well as the serial number and the date format (please refer to the String codification table in this page)

SN-4-1_1a4ca7331313f5486452666f2708f2d2 FlyCAD

You can modify the properties of the text style, using a standard or a custom font. Please refer yourself to How to modify a text and How to create a new text style in the specific section about the creation of a text.
Enabling the ARRAY function you can personalize the serial number and date organizing more strings in a matrix. You can choose the number of rows and columns but also the distance between them.

SN-5-748x342_6f8cd8bd39bfc5ed284fa9263ae7c550 FlyCAD

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Export marked Sn in excel

You can export a list of serial numbers to Excel using FlyCad.

How do I mark a barcode?

A barcode is an optical, machine-readable, representation of data; the data usually describes something about the object that carries the barcode. You can select the BarCode function from the menu which is displayed after clicking on the magic wand icon in the jobs’ tree. A new object will appear, with the default name BarCode# (where # stands for a progressive number)

Once selected, you can access to the BarCode properties by clicking on Feature properties below the jobs’tree.

Properties Barcode

In the first section, “BarCode”, you can either change the name of the BarCode, or enable/disable it, lock/unlock it or change the displaying color.
In “BarCode Content” you can change the content of the BarCode, and you can enable the Dynamic field

As you can see, you can choose between:
- NO if you want the text to be fixed
- INPUT by REMOTE allows the importation of texts by remote
- SN/DATE to let the barcode work as a Serial Number/Date
- INPUT by KEYBOARD allows for changing the text to mark everywhen you start marking. You will be able to change it at every end of working cycle.
- INPUT by TEXTFILE permits the importation of a specific textfile specially-made to be marked
- INPUT by SINGLETEXTFILE: more dynamic texts in the same drawing are linked to the same textfile
- SN/DATE + INPUT by REMOTE allows for importing some strings of serial numbers and date from remote software.
3. In the “Style Properties” section you can choose the type of code you prefer (Code 128, Code 39, 2of5_ITF, 2of5_Industr, EAN 13 o EAN 8), you can make it curved or you can add the CheckDigit (a redundancy check used for error detection)

4. In the “Bars Filling” section you can change the parameters relating to the bar density, the bars width factor, or you can enable the Reverse which inverts the marking tonality according to the material, creating an Offset zone (which can be modified) in order to improve readability in marking.

5. You can choose to display the barcode data as an alphanumerical code, that is to say a text which is human readable in case of problems in the automatic reading devices: you just have to enable the Human Readable Text function et set the alignment and the style you prefer. You can do this even selecting the barcode and right-clicking on it, choosing the “Properties” voice.

Please refer yourself to How to modify a text and How to create a new text style in the specific section about the creation of a text. 6. Enabling the ARRAY function you can personalize the barcode organizing more strings in a matrix. You can choose the number of rows and columns but also the distance between them.

How do I mark a DataMatrix Code?

A Data Matrix code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode consisting of black and white “cells” or modules arranged in either a square or rectangular pattern. The information to be encoded can be text or numeric data. Error correction codes are often used to increase reliability: even if one or more cells are damaged (up to the 30%) so it is unreadable, the message can still be read. A Data Matrix symbol can store up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters. You can select this function from the menu which is displayed clicking on the magic wand icon in the jobs’ tree. A new DataMatrix will appear, with the default name of DataMatrix# (where # stands for a progressive number).

Properties How many characters can a datamatrix encode? In theory speaking, a squared DataMatrix can encode up to 3116 numbers o 2335 alphanumerical characters in an area of 144×144=20736 cells. Rectangular DataMatrix contain much less characters. The limit is 98 numbers or 72 characters for a matrix of 16×48 (rows/columns). Properties of Datamatrix

Once selected, in the window below the jobs’ tree you can modify the properties of the DataMatrix in the Feature properties window.

In the first section, “DataMatrix” you can either change the name of the DataMatrix, or enable/disable it, lock/unlock it or change the displaying color.
In the “Code Content” section you can choose which type of DataMatrix you prefer (square, rectangular or QR code) or import a matrix by a text file.

N.B. QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) use an encoding system like DataMatrix but they are more employed in the consumer world than the industrial system because they are normally designed to be read by a smartphone.
In Geometry you can set the DataMatrix position relating to X-Y axes, the height and the rotation, but also the Reverse effect which inverts the marking tonality according to the material, creating an Offset zone (which can be modified) and the Mirrored Text effect which creates and marks a specular image of the drawing.
In Cells Filling you can choose the type of filling you prefer for the cells: SQUARE (with lines or spiral) CIRCLES or HATCHING. You can also set the parameters relating to the filling step and the cells adjust for width and height.
You can choose to display the DataMatrix data as an alphanumerical code, that is to say a text which is human readable in case of problems in the automatic reading devices: you just have to enable the Human Readable Text function. Please refer yourself to How to modify a text and How to create a new text style in the specific section about the creation of a text.
Enabling the ARRAY function you can personalize the DataMatrix organizing more strings in a matrix. You can choose the number of rows and columns but also the distance between them.

How can I draw in FlyCAD?

Object Snap is a function which allows you to draw accurately in a very short time. This function employs some object snaps which basically are like magnets that make the drawn objects interact with each other “snapping” onto a specific object location when you are picking a point. For example, you can accurately pick the end point of a line or the center of a circle To use this function you just have to select from the Tools menu the voice Object Snap. There you can choose between different interaction points, as you may see in the picture below.

Can I mark outside the marking area?

SPLIT function allows for perfectly marking/engraving every object which has been drawn beyond the marking area, thanks to the X-Y axes movement: the laser head (and consequently the laser beam) moves depending on the object and it always marks in the center of the marking area. The maximum marking area beyond the standard one using the SPLIT function obviously depends on the stroke of the axes we are provided with. To set the SPLIT please select Job Features in the jobs’ tree and look for the SPLIT section. You will be able to choose between one of these options. NB it is really important to select the starting position of the X and Y axes of the Split in Job Features. If you set this position from a motor node, it will not work (the axis will go to and from)

PROPERTIES PLANE

Using the SPLIT in PLANE modality you will be able to mark an object (text, logo, SN, DataMatrix) on a plane surface even if it goes beyond the standard marking area, allowing at the same time for marking more pieces put in disorder. This modality is based on the real geometry of the parts, that is to say that the graphic representation of the new marking field will conform to the object or the objects to be marked. Once selected PLANE modality the software will create as a default beyond the marking area 8 squares with the same dimensions of the standard one. You can set as you want these dimensions, but also the SPLIT dimension along the X-Y axes, i.e. the translations of the cells relating to the axes.

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CYLINDER

To use the CYLINDER split you need a W rotary axis. This modality allows you to mark cylindrical parts, dividing into little pieces the circumference (C = 2 π r) and marking them one at a time on the part, employing W axis rotary movement. Selecting this function you will get this window:

Insert the cylinder diameter of the piece but do not modify neither the conical factor nor the Window PosX. Set the Split X dimension like the standard marking field (in this case we put 100 because we have a F160 focal lens). Split Y dimension instead represents the little slice of circumference that the laser will mark at once (the bigger the slice the faster the marking process). We set 2mm for convenience but it is clear that you can insert any value depending on the part to mark. The object to mark has to be placed precisely in the center of the marking area, rotated of 90°. In this example we have written a SingleLine text.

The last step consists of inserting a motor node: select from the menu which is displayed after clicking the magic wand icon “Motor”, in the jobs’ tree. It must always be placed before the object to mark in the tree structure – to move it you easily drag it.

Right clicking on the motor node and select Save Actual Position – Set Z on W Height

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ARBITRARY

Selecting the ARBITRARY split you can decide as you wish the movement of the laser along the X and Y axes. This is really useful when it comes to marking irregular parts, but mostly it speeds up the marking process because the laser will be directly marking on the coordinates you have chosen. Once drawn the object to mark, enable the Arbitrary split and click on the icon as shown below.

The software will allow you to draw a geometric shape: include the first object you would like to mark in it. Now:
- Click on the geometric shape you have just created. In Feature Properties you may find all the information
- Insert 1 in Sort Index to set this object as the first to be marked
- Set both X and Y axes in ABSOLUTE in the specific Motor section, in addition with the starting position of the axes

Do the same for the second object. Insert 2 in Sort Index to set this object as the second to be marked. This time you will need to select RELATED in Motor specific section (the software will consider the information relating to the first object).

Load the drawing and mark. The laser will mark the first object and then directly the second, which would not have done in PLANE modality.

How do I set up the part counter function?

The piece counter function is very useful when it comes to marking a big series of parts, or when you have to effectuate a particular work for a precise number of pieces per cycle (see table below).

How do I enable the FlyCAD log-in?

By menu “Special Option” selecting the field “Laser messages windows enabled” you can enable/disable the log.
Logging operation will slow down the Flycad so we suggest to enable it only if you need to check for system issues.

Why is FlyCAD slow?

Slow Factors

Compatibility issues

The application “flycad.exe” does not have the permissions from the admin and/or there are some compatibility issues with the previous versions of Windows concerning ticks which may be still checked.

In this case, if “flycad.exe” has not already set the admin permissions to be run, set them in this way:

Right-click on “flycad.exe” properties -> Compatibility -> Modify the settings for all users -> put a tick on Run this program as admin.

If there are compatibility issues with the previous versions, then: Right-click on “flycad.exe” properties -> Compatibility -> Modify compatibility and CHECK OFF Run this program as admin

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Too many Record

A too old version of FlyCAD has too created too many records in tb_publicSN.

In this case you have to launch “AutomaticBackup.exe”, select Execute SQL from the options menu and select the “resetSN.sql” script

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Database Log file has become too heavy

Il file di Log del Database FlyControl ha assunto dimensioni elevate.

In this case you have to launch “AutomaticBackup.exe”, select Minimize Flycontrol Log File from the options menu; otherwise click on Minimize Database from the toolbar

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Font issue

It could be due to a problem connected to a Font chosen by the client.
In this case you have to go to the FlyCAD installation path, rename Fonts file (giving any name), uninstall FlyCAD and then re-install it; check all the client VCF files and find out which one gives problem.

How do I recover FlyCAD if I replace the PC or laser?

If you changed your laser or your computer you will have to insert the registration code in FlyCad software, otherwise the laser will result disabled and thus not working. First thing, be sure that the laser is on and that it is connected to the computer through the network cable. Open FlyCad and select from “Help” menu the voice “About”

The software will display a window in which you will find all the information relating to the installed FlyCad version and the Registry Code. Click on the 3 dots labeled button, as shown in the picture below.

In the displayed window take note of the user code and send it to [email protected]. You will get from us another code you will have to insert in white boxes.

How do I set up stand-alone mode?

This modality involves the utilization of the laser with no communication with FlyCAD. When this modality is on it is possible to send some commands to the LASER unit via RS232 serial door from a PLC or from another device.
To see the available commands check the paragraphs:
– Simplified SERIALJOB2 protocol
– StanAlone protocol with no control features

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