v2.4.0
YetiPilot!
We’re finally allowed to shout about it!
YetiPilot utilises our new SC2 Spindle motor to read the forces experienced by the Spindle motor during a cut, and then speeds up or slows down the feed rate based on this feedback.
This means that YetiPilot can push SmartBench to complete the job as quickly as possible, at the same time as slowing SmartBench down and protecting your job if the load on the spindle is too high.
Using YetiPilot is literally as easy as pressing a button, and selecting your material, cutter diameter, and cutter type. Then, you’re good to go!
You can learn more about YetiPilot here.
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If you purchase a Precision Pro + machine as of the date of this article’s release, it will likely come with software version v2.3.0 which already enables you to use YetiPilot, out of the box. If you are an existing V1.3 Precision Pro customer upgrading to Precision Pro +, you will need software version v2.4.0, which comes with the upgrade app. |
New features
Upgrade app
If you have a V1.3 SmartBench Precision Pro, you can now upgrade to Precision Pro + and get access to our new YetiPilot feature, using the upgrade app and upgrade kit.
New YetiPilot profiles
Birch Plywood has been added to the list of materials; 2 flute downcut spiral and 2 flute compression spiral cutters have been added to the tool list.
Spindle motor health check
The spindle motor health check is a new YetiPilot feature that ensures the data coming back from the spindle motor is within the expected range before starting a job.
This not only ensures that YetiPilot can function correctly, but also checks the reliability of the spindle motor data connection.
If the spindle motor health check is enabled, it will run automatically at the start of every job. During the check, the spindle motor will be run at 24,000 RPM for up to 10 seconds.
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It is critical to use tools rated for 24,000 RPM when the spindle health check is enabled. |
Please note that the spindle motor health check will run regardless of whether YetiPilot is enabled or not. However, YetiPilot will not be available while the spindle motor health check is disabled.
Pro + Spindle motor health check safety screens
This screen contains critical safety information about spindle clamping with Precision Pro +.
It will show up during the start-up sequence if you haven’t seen it before, or immediately after you upgrade your machine to a Precision Pro +.
UI Improvements
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The info popup on the spindle overload pause screen now has a QR code that takes you to the knowledge base, so you can troubleshoot any issues more easily.
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We’ve re-ordered the YetiPilot profile options, and filtered them to ensure that all of your tool and material combinations have been tried and tested by our engineers.
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The job time will now only increment while the job is running - if you pause, so will the timer.
Patches
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Issues with feeds and speeds not resetting properly between jobs has been patched.
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Increased the delay between sending commands to change the feed to 0.06s.
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Visual patch for the Z tool graphic, to ensure it doesn’t overlay other parts of the screen.
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Visual patch for tab colours in maintenance app.
Technical
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These are the more technical changes that we have put into this release. While they are important for improving SmartBench, there’s definitely some programming jargon in this section! |
YetiPilot
Inrush
Increase inrush counter from 12 to 20 reads.
Target load is calibrated to the spindle motor
YetiPilot now uses the sum of ‘free load’ (from the spindle motor health check) and ‘tool load’ as the target spindle power.
General refactoring
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Improved readability & maintainability of core YP functions
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Made core YP functions more modular (for example, there is now one function do_override_adjustment() to cater for both spindle & feed override adjustments)
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Uses last GCode spindle speed instead of live spindle speed to make speed adjustments.
Technical notes
Git tag: v2.4.0
Official release name: This is your Captain speaking
Git commit: 5f1ecb9