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Roland iModela iM-01 Master Manual

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MASTER GUIDE
Before You Read This Document
Before you read this document, be sure to read the "First Step Guide" and the "To Ensure Safe Use" to familiarize
yourself with the basic operations of this machine and the safe and correct way to operate it.
Assumptions
The explanations and procedures contained in this document assume that you have completed the following
operations.
 Hardware setup of this machine (installation, cable connections, etc.)
 Software setup of this machine (the connection between this machine and the PC, the necessary software
installations, etc.)
Documentation Included with the Machine
The following documentation is included with the machine.
iModela (iM-01) First Step Guide
This guide describes the procedure from checking the accessories to initial cutting. Be sure to read this manual
before you use the machine for the first time.
iModela (iM-01) Master Guide (this guide)
This guide contains detailed explanations of the machine's features, maintenance methods, and troubleshoot-
ing information. The manual is in electronic format, and no printed document is included. You can find it on
the included Roland Software Package CD-ROM.
NC Code Reference Manual
Read this manual when you want to perform NC code programming. The manual is in electronic format, and
no printed document is included. You can find it on the included Roland Software Package CD-ROM.
 P. 3, "Viewing the Documentation for the Softwares"
For the latest information on this machine , see the iModela special website (http://icreate.rolanddg.com/).

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  • Page 1 Read this manual when you want to perform NC code programming. The manual is in electronic format, and no printed document is included. You can find it on the included Roland Software Package CD-ROM.  P. 3, "Viewing the Documentation for the Softwares"...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Contents Contents ......................1 Getting Started ....................3 Viewing the Documentation for the Softwares ..............3 Viewing the NC Code Reference MANUAL ................3 Chapter 1 Basic Operation ..................4 Names of Components .................5 Names of Components ........................5 Starting and Shutting Down the Machine ............6 Starting the Machine........................
  • Page 3 Location of Power Rating and Serial Number Label ............70 Main Specifications ........................71 System Requirements for USB Connection ................71 The company and product names in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their re- spective holders. Copyright © 2011 Roland DG Corporation http://www.rolanddg.com/...

  • Page 4: Getting Started

    Getting Started Viewing the Documentation for the Softwares The documentation for the softwares is in electronic format. Follow the procedure below to view it. iModela Creator Start iModela Creator, and then click "Help"-"Contents." Virtual Modela, SFEdit2 On the taskbar, click [Start] ( ), [All Programs], choose the software you’re using, then click [Help].

  • Page 5: Chapter 1 Basic Operation

    Chapter 1 Basic Operation Names of Components ..............5 Names of Components ..............5 Starting and Shutting Down the Machine........6 Starting the Machine ..............6 Shutting Down the Machine............6 Basic Operation of the iModela Controller ........7 Operation of the Spindle Unit ............7 About the Cutting Tool Location Display ........8 Selecting the Command Set ............10 About the Command Sets ............10 Selecting the Command Set ............10...

  • Page 6: Names Of Components

    Names of Components Names of Components LEDs USB port Power button Rear cover Power cord connector Main unit Side cover Side cover Table Spindle head Spindle motor Collet Front cover NOTE:  The side covers are interchangeable. Both can be installed on either the left or right side of the machine. ...

  • Page 7: Starting And Shutting Down The Machine

    Starting and Shutting Down the Machine Starting the Machine Procedure  Press the power button. Initialization begins. When the green LED changes from flashing to on, the initialization has finished.  Start the iModela Controller, which is used to control the machine. On the taskbar, click [Start]( ), [All Programs], [iModela Controller], then [iModela Controller].

  • Page 8: Basic Operation Of The Imodela Controller

    Basic Operation of the iModela Controller Operation of the Spindle Unit Feed buttons Click to move the spindle head or the table. Clicking these buttons to manually move the spindle head or the table is called a “manual Display of the X, Y, and Z coor- feed”.

  • Page 9: About The Cutting Tool Location Display

    Basic Operation of the iModela Controller About Y-Axis Movement Under the factory default settings, Y-axis movement assumes a direction of cutting tool movement relative to the object being cut. This means that clicking a Y-axis feed button makes the table move in the opposite direction from what the arrow indicates.
  • Page 10 Basic Operation of the iModela Controller Selecting the Display Unit Selecting the Coordinate System That Is Used to Display the Cutting Tool Location You can select the coordinate system that is used to display the cutting tool location from the following op- tions.

  • Page 11: Selecting The Command Set

    Selecting the Command Set About the Command Sets You can select one of the following command sets on this machine.  RML-1 Select this command set when you want to use the software that was included with this machine.  NC Code Select this command set when you want to use NC codes.

  • Page 12: Chapter 2 Cutting

    Chapter 2 Cutting Before Starting Cutting..............12 Checking Operations ..............12 Confirming the Command Set ...........13 Selecting the Cutting Tool and Cutting Material ......13 Range Where the Cutting Material Can Be Mounted ....14 Installing the Cutting Tool and Loading the Cutting Material ..15 Starting Cutting ................18 Setting the Cutting Origin ............18 Starting Cutting (for output from iModela Creator) ....21...

  • Page 13: Before Starting Cutting

    Before Starting Cutting Checking Operations Before you begin cutting, there are situations in which you have to check the spindle run-in (warm-up) and the motor load. Use the following chart to determine whether your situation requires you to check the spindle run-in or the motor load.

  • Page 14: Confirming The Command Set

    Before Starting Cutting  [Idling] Click [Start] next to Idling. The idling operation begins. The operation takes approximately 10 minutes. [Checking the Motor Load] Select X, Y, or Z, and then click [Start]. The iModela Controller checks the motor load of the selected axis. Check the loads of all three axes: X, Y, and Z.

  • Page 15: Range Where The Cutting Material Can Be Mounted

    Before Starting Cutting Range Where the Cutting Material Can Be Mounted The range where the cutting material can be mounted is shown in gray in the following illustration. When using a jig, such as a scrap plate, it must not extend out of this range. Be sure to observe this precaution since any piece extending from this range may come into contact with moving parts, resulting in damage to the cutting material or jig or causing the machine to malfunction.

  • Page 16: Installing The Cutting Tool And Loading The Cutting Material

    Before Starting Cutting Installing the Cutting Tool and Loading the Cutting Material CAUTION Be careful not to injure yourself when you handle the blade of the cutting tool. Install the cutting tool.  Click [View] on the iModela Controller. The spindle head moves to the cen- ter, and the table moves to the front.
  • Page 17 Before Starting Cutting  Fix the cutting tool in place. Use a hexagonal wrench to insert the mounting screw, thereby fixing the tool in place. If you cannot see the mounting screw hole, slightly turn the collet by hand. Hexagonal wrench Mounting screw...
  • Page 18 Before Starting Cutting  Affix the cutting material to the table. Mount the cutting material so that it does not extend from the table. After you have affixed the cutting material, check that the cutting material cannot be easily moved from its position.

  • Page 19: Starting Cutting

    Starting Cutting Setting the Cutting Origin About cutting origin "Before you start cutting, you need to set the cutting origin. The cutting origin is a coordinate refer- ence point, and all the X, Y, and Z coordinates are “0”. This cutting origin is also called as the cutting reference position.
  • Page 20 Starting Cutting Set the Z origin.  Click the [X] and [Y] cursor buttons to move the cutter above the cutting mate- rial.  P. 7, "Operation of the Spindle Unit"  Click the [-Z] cursor button to lower the tip of the cutting tool to about 1 mm from the material surface.
  • Page 21 Starting Cutting  In the case of cutting data created with iModela Creator (for RML-1 data) Check that “User Coordinate System” is selected under Set Origin Point. If the command set has been set to "RML-1/NC Code," set [Set Origin Point] to "User Coordinate System." If the command set has been set to "RML-1,"...

  • Page 22: Starting Cutting (For Output From Imodela Creator)

    Starting Cutting Set the XY origin.  Move the cutting tool to the loca- tion that you want to set as the XY origin.  P. 7, "Operation of the Spindle Unit" If the setting position is difficult to see, remove the top cover for better vis- ibility.
  • Page 23 Starting Cutting  Click "Output." "Cut" dialog appears.  Set the cutting conditions including "Cutter" and "Material." For information on how to use iModela Creator, refer to Help of iModela Creator.  P. 3, "Viewing the Documentation for the Softwares" Chapter 2 Cutting...

  • Page 24: Starting Cutting (Nc Code Data)

    Starting Cutting  Click "Cut." Cutting starts. * After cutting is finished, be sure to perform maintenance of the cutting tool.  P. 40 "Maintenance of the Cutting Tool" Starting Cutting (NC code Data) Operation Overview Step 1: Save the output file. First convert the program to a text file, and save it on your PC.
  • Page 25 Starting Cutting Starting Cutting Before you start cutting, check the following items. If there are mistakes in any of these items, unintentional operations may be performed, which may cause the cutting material to be wasted, and may cause the ma- chine to malfunction.
  • Page 26 Starting Cutting  Click If the output file is in NC code, the contents of the file are displayed here. This enables you to check the contents of the file.  P. 32, "Displaying and Saving This Machine's Set- tings" This can be used when the output file is in NC code.
  • Page 27 Starting Cutting Pausing/Resuming/Stopping Cutting Use the iModela Controller to pause, resume, and stop cutting operations. Click this button during cutting to stop cutting. Click this button during cutting to pause cutting. Click this button again to restart cutting. Recovery of Operation from Emergency Stop or Emergency Shutdown If an emergency stop or an emergency shutdown occurs during cutting, remove the cutting tool and the cutting material from the machine.

  • Page 28: Advanced Operations

    Advanced Operations Adjusting (Overriding) the Feed Rate during Cutting You can use iModela Controller to adjust the feed rate during cutting (the speed at which the cutter moves when cutting). The machine can be set for this to be adjusted automatically or manually. This operation is called an “override”.

  • Page 29: Saving And Reusing Output File Lists

    Advanced Operations Saving and Reusing Output File Lists You can save and reuse output file lists. By reusing a file list, you can eliminate the work required to select the files to construct the same cutting order that you want to repeat. Saving Output File Lists Specify a file name, and then click [Save].

  • Page 30: Corrections

    Advanced Operations Corrections Important! This setting affects the cutting accuracy. Exercise care when you specify this setting. If you are not confident in the value that you want to specify, we recommend that you do not specify this setting. You can make distance corrections for the X, Y, and Z axes. ...

  • Page 31: Nc Code Setting

    Advanced Operations NC Code Setting This section describes the setting of the NC code. [NC code] tab Tool-diameter Offset Type This selects the type of correction (offset) for the tool diameter. The locus through which the tool passes differs according to the offset type. For more information, refer to the "NC Code Reference Manual." ...

  • Page 32: Testing Output Of Nc Code Files

    Advanced Operations Testing Output of NC Code Files If a cutting data file is written in NC code, you can test the output of the file to check for the presence of mistakes (bugs). The code of the file whose output you want to test is displayed here.

  • Page 33: Displaying And Saving This Machine's Settings

    Advanced Operations Displaying and Saving This Machine's Settings You can use the iModela Controller to display the settings of this cutting machine as text, and also to save the settings as a text file. This feature is useful when you want to share settings between users, when you need to provide setup information when you request repairs for a malfunctioning machine, or under similar circumstances.

  • Page 34: Spindle Motor Management

    Advanced Operations Spindle Motor Management You can use the iModela Controller to manage the total working time of the spindle motor. You can use this feature to manage the motor service life. Click this button to reset the total working time of the motor whose number you have selected.

  • Page 35: Chapter 3 Maintenance

    Chapter 3 Maintenance Cleaning and Greasing ..............35 Cleaning ..................35 Cleaning the X-, Y-, and Z-Axis Screws........36 Application of Grease to X, Y, Z Axes ........38 Maintenance of the Cutting Tool ..........40 Replacement of Consumable Parts ..........41 Caution and Note for Replacement of Consumable Parts..41 Replacement Periods for Consumable Parts ......41 Replacing the Spindle Motor .............43 Replacing the Hooks ..............45...

  • Page 36: Cleaning And Greasing

    Cleaning and Greasing WARNING Never use a pneumatic blower. This machine is not compatible with a pneumatic blower. Cutting waste may get inside the machine and may lead to fire or electrical shock. WARNING Never use a solvent such as gasoline, alcohol, or thinner to clean the machine.

  • Page 37: Cleaning The X-, Y-, And Z-Axis Screws

    Cleaning and Greasing Cleaning the X-, Y-, and Z-Axis Screws Cleaning After Finished Cutting After the cutting operation is finished, use the cleaning brush provided as an accessory to clean X-, Y-, and Z-axis screws. X-Axis Move the spindle unit to the left or right, and then thoroughly clean the screw. ...
  • Page 38 Cleaning and Greasing Z-Axis Move the spindle unit to its lowest position, and then thoroughly clean the screw.  P. 7, "Operation of the Spindle Unit" Screw Cleaning During an Extensive Cutting Operation (Only X-axis) If cutting waste accumulates during an extensive cutting operation, the machine’s operation may be hindered, resulting in a product that does not meet expectations.

  • Page 39: Application Of Grease To X, Y, Z Axes

    Cleaning and Greasing Application of Grease to X, Y, Z Axes When the X-, Y-, or Z-axis screws begin to make an unusual noise during operation, apply grease to the screws. Grease should be applied after approximately 50 hours of operation. Procedure ...
  • Page 40 Cleaning and Greasing Y-Axis  Spread the grease evenly. After applying the grease, perform the spindle run-in operation to spread the grease.  P. 12, “Checking Operations”  Wipe off any excess grease. When idling is finished, wipe off excess grease on the screw. This illustration shows an example.

  • Page 41: Maintenance Of The Cutting Tool

    Cleaning and Greasing Maintenance of the Cutting Tool CAUTION Be careful not to injure yourself when you handle the blade of the cutting tool. Cleaning of the Blade Chippings and wastes of double-sided tape used for securing a cutting material attach to the blade of the cutting tool.

  • Page 42: Replacement Of Consumable Parts

    If you have any questions, refer to the iModela special website (http://icreate.rolanddg.com/). If you cannot access the iModela special website, contact your authorized Roland DG Corp. dealer.  Use the specified consumable parts. Replacement Periods for Consumable Parts There are various consumable parts in this machine.
  • Page 43 Replacement of Consumable Parts Gears Cable-securing rubber Bearing Z-axis screws Spindle holder iM-01 spindle motor Hook Bushing X-axis screws Table Bearing Y-axis screws Consumable parts also exist at the locations which are not given in this figure. For more information, refer to the iModela special website.

  • Page 44: Replacing The Spindle Motor

    Replacement of Consumable Parts Replacing the Spindle Motor WARNING Disconnect the power cord before you perform the part exchange. Attempting such operations while the machine is connected to a power source may result in injury or electrical shock. CAUTION Be careful of high temperatures. During use, the cutting tool and spindle motor become hot.
  • Page 45 Replacement of Consumable Parts  Clean the contacts on the motor. Remove cutting waste and the like using a cotton swab on the market. Contact  Contact Prepare the new spindle motor. Check that the contacts are not dirty. With your finger, lift the contacts up 1 mm so the connections can easily be made.

  • Page 46: Replacing The Hooks

    Replacement of Consumable Parts  Make sure that the gears are in place. Make sure that there are no gaps between the gears. If there are gaps, push in the spindle motor.  Perform idling.  P. 12, "Checking Operations" Replacing the Hooks If the hooks securing the main unit break or are lost, replace them with new ones.
  • Page 47 Replacement of Consumable Parts  Align the hook and the tab on the connector. Remove the hooks to the outside. Remove the hook. Align the hook and the tab.   Install the new hooks following the reverse of the operation described in step Position the longer handle toward you.

  • Page 48: Chapter 4 Appendix

    Chapter 4 Appendix What to Do If ................48 Initialization Is Not Performed or Initialization Fails ....48 The iModela Controller Does Not Operate Correctly ....48 Operations Are Ignored .............48 The Spindle Doesn't Revolve ............49 Abnormal Cutting Occurs ............49 The Origin Is Off ................49 The Feed Rate Is Wrong ............50 The Cutting Results Are Not Clean..........50 The LED Beside the Power Button Is Flashing ......50...

  • Page 49: What To Do If

    What to Do If Initialization Is Not Performed or Initialization Fails Is a large amount of cutting waste present? Clean away any cutting waste. Clean the area around the spindle head especially carefully.  P. 35, "Cleaning and Gleasing" Is anything caught on the spindle head or table? Check whether something has become caught and is impeding initialization.

  • Page 50: The Spindle Doesn't Revolve

    What to Do If Is a large amount of cutting waste present? Clean away any cutting waste. Clean the area around the spindle head especially carefully.  P. 35, "Cleaning and Gleasing" Is the driver installed correctly? If the connection to the PC is not made in the sequence described, the driver may not be installed correctly. The iModela Controller does not function normally if the driver is configured incorrectly.

  • Page 51: The Feed Rate Is Wrong

    What to Do If Has EXOFS been set? EXOFS in the NC code has a function to shift the origins. Set EXOFS to zero, and then reset the origins. If the origins are still shifted, check the program. Procedure to set EXOFS to zero 1.

  • Page 52: The Deletion Of Cutting Data Takes Time

    2. Double-click the "Roland iM-01" icon "Roland iM-01" dialog appears. 3. Select the cutting data you want to delete in "Roland iM-01" dialog, and then click "Document," and "Can- cel." When the cutting data disappears from "Roland iM-01" dialog, the deletion is complete.
  • Page 53 What to Do If  Click [Install] of "iModela Driver".  "Select [Install], select [Roland iM-01] as the model name, select [USB] as the port, and then click [Start]." Driver installation starts. Follow the on-screen in- structions and continue with the installation.
  • Page 54 What to Do If  When the screen shown here is displayed, click [finish].  Click of the setup menu.  Remove the CD-ROM from the CD-ROM drive.  Connect the machine and the computer with a USB cable. Please use the included USB cable. Do not use a USB hub. Windows Vista or 7 The driver will be installed automatically.
  • Page 55 What to Do If Select [Install the software automatically] and click [Next]. Click [Finish]. If the following screen is displayed during installation Click [Continue Anyway]. Eject and remove the CD-ROM, and then click [Back] and repeat from the last screen. Chapter 4 Appendix...

  • Page 56: To Install Software And Electronic Manual Separately

    PC conditions, refer to iModela First Step Guide. Procedure  Log on to Windows as “Administrators.”  Insert the Roland Software Package CD-ROM into the computer. (Windows Vista/7 only: When the automatic playback window appears, click [Run menu.exe].) The setup menu appears automatically.  Click "Custom Install."...

  • Page 57: The Imodela Driver Cannot Be Installed

    What to Do If The iModela Driver Cannot Be Installed If the driver installation stops partway through or if the wizard does not appear when you use a USB cable to connect the PC to the machine, follow the appropriate procedure shown below. Windows 7 1.

  • Page 58: Uninstalling The Imodela Driver

    D:\Drivers\WIN7X64 (64-bit version) D:\Drivers\WIN7X86 (32-bit version) If you're not using the CD-ROM, go to the Roland DG Corp. website (http://www.rolanddg.com/), and download the driver for the machine you want to delete. Then, specify the folder where you extracted the downloaded file to.
  • Page 59 D:\Drivers\WINVISTAX64 (64-bit version) D:\Drivers\WINVISTAX86 (32-bit version) If you're not using the CD-ROM, go to the Roland DG Corp. website (http://www.rolanddg.com/), and download the driver for the machine you want to delete. Then, specify the folder where you extracted the downloaded file to.

  • Page 60: Responding To Error Messages

    If the message persists even after you perform the operation from the beginning, visit the iModela special website (http://icreate.rolanddg.com/) and check the troubleshooting. If you cannot access the iModela special website and check the troubleshooting, contact your authorized Roland DG Corp. dealer. In the above figure, "*" represents "X," "Y," or "Z,"...
  • Page 61 (http:// icreate.rolanddg.com/) and check the troubleshooting. If you cannot access the iModela special website and check the troubleshooting, contact your authorized Roland DG Corp. dealer.  P. 6, "Starting and Shutting Down the Machine"...
  • Page 62 Switch the equipment off, then back on. If the symptom persists, a malfunction may have occurred. Switch off the equipment's main power and contact your local vendor or Roland sales center. An emergency stop occurred because the machine's memory unit became partially inaccessible. urn the machine off and redo the operation from the beginning.
  • Page 63 What to Do If that you have specified may exceed the capabilities of the machine. Check the cutting parameters.  P. 6, "Starting and Shutting Down the Machine," p. 43, "Replacing the Spindle Motor" The spindle rotation is stopped. The spindle motor experienced an excessive load or it is not mounted.

  • Page 64: Nc Code Specifications

    NC Code Specifications List of Settings Related to NC Code The following list contains the settings related to interpreting and executing NC code that can be performed on the machine. Use NC programs to perform all other settings.  See the "NC Code Reference Manual." NOTE: If you want to make settings related to NC code, set the command set to "NC Code"...

  • Page 65: Items Related To The Mechanical Specifications

    NC Code Specifications Items Related to the Mechanical Specifications This section describes the NC codes that are dependent on the machine's mechanical specifications.  "NC Code Reference Manual." Dimension Word Of the four dimension words—X, Y, Z, and A—only X, Y, and Z are supported. Data Settings (G10) The ranges of the G10 parameters are as follows.

  • Page 66: Interpretations Of Nc Code Omissions

    NC Code Specifications Interpretations of NC Code Omissions When NC codes are omitted, the machine performs the following interpretations. The machine performs interpretations when NC codes are omitted in a characteristic manner. If you want to write general-purpose programs, do not omit NC codes. ...

  • Page 67: Word List

    NC Code Specifications Word List The words supported by this machine are listed in the following chart. For details on each word, see the "NC Code Reference Manual." Preparation Feature (G feature) Group Name Word Function Continuation Function Positioning and inter- Positioning polation Linear interpolation...
  • Page 68 NC Code Specifications Group Name Word Function Continuation Function Dimension Absolute Modal Incremental Coordinate system setting One-shot Return point Return to initial level Modal Return to R-point level Support Features (M feature), Feed Feature (F feature), and Spindle Feature (S feature) Word Function Function Start...

  • Page 69: How To Store In The Dedicated Case

    How to Store in the Dedicated Case You can store iModela in the dedicated case as follows.  Detach the cutting tool and cutting material.  Move the spindle unit to the VIEW position.  P. 7, "Operation of the Spindle Unit" Side covers Side covers Power cord...

  • Page 70: Main Unit Specifications

    Main Unit Specifications External Dimensions/Table Dimensions 582.4 Unit: mm 582.4 464.4 199.8 86 (X-axis travel) Chapter 4 Appendix...

  • Page 71: Location Of Power Rating And Serial Number Label

    Main Unit Specifications Location of Power Rating and Serial Number Label Serial number This is required when you seek maintenance or sup- port. Never remove the label. Rear AC adapter Power rating Use an electrical outlet that meets the requirements for volt- age, frequency, and amperage given here.

  • Page 72: Main Specifications

    (for fixing the cutting tool in place), spare hooks, replacement spindle motor, blower fan, maintenance grease, cleaning brush, double-sided tape, trial cutting materials, trial scrap plate, flathead screwdriver, Roland Software Package, setting boad, and user's manuals System Requirements for USB Connection A model preinstalled with the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows XP, Vista, or 7, or a PC preinstalled with Windows XP or later that has been upgraded to a later version of Windows.
  • Page 73 DOC-0943 R2-111104...

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