Machine programs: CSV or RFY?
What the controller actually expects
Section titled “What the controller actually expects”A production line does not receive a drawing, but a file describing every operation for every element: where to cut and punch, and to what length. Almost all production lines use CSV, a simple tabular text format generated by most LGS design software.
In practice, this means the design is not tied to one machine. A program exported from Vertex can be prepared for any CSV-based machine. This is the basis of machine independence, one of the foundations of our production-design service.
The FRAMECAD exception: RFY
Section titled “The FRAMECAD exception: RFY”One manufacturer differs: FRAMECAD uses its own RFY format. It carries essentially the same information, but describes it using a different logic.
A repeated operation, such as a row of identical holes, appears in the file once for every time it is performed. The file is longer and directly describes each action.
The file defines the length of a segment, and the production-line software decides how densely to apply the operation along it. The file is shorter and uses a more abstract logic.
This creates no practical problem. We know which machine will receive the program and issue it in the correct format.
Why machine independence matters
Section titled “Why machine independence matters”Many manufacturers who purchase more affordable Asian machines do not receive a complete ecosystem of software, training and support. They have a capable production line but nobody to provide production-ready drawings and machine programs.
Because the controller accepts CSV, or RFY in FRAMECAD’s case, the same design can be issued for any compatible machine. The machine brand does not determine which projects we can accept.
Western manufacturers
Section titled “Western manufacturers”- FRAMECAD
- Howick
- Scottsdale
- Knudson
Asian manufacturers
Section titled “Asian manufacturers”- FrameTec
- FrameMac
- Hiteknova
- Dahezb
- Xinhonghua
- Sunway
Software
Section titled “Software”- Vertex BD
- FRAMECAD software
- StrucSoft MWF (Revit)
Working with an unfamiliar machine: machine survey
Section titled “Working with an unfamiliar machine: machine survey”When we encounter a machine we have not used before, we first map its capabilities: supported profiles, punching positions, service holes and maximum length. This becomes a machine-specific template used for every future project on that production line.
Trial production
Section titled “Trial production”We supervise the first production run and refine the program from the results. The second project can then run smoothly on the same machine.
Related service
Section titled “Related service”This article explains the technical background to our LGS production-design service. If you need a machine program for an existing design, the complete service is described there.