ACE KISS Teach User Guide

ACE KISS Teach version 2.x – User Guide published March 21, 2012

1 Introduction to Teach Version 2

ACE KISS Teach is the online and offline programming suite for the ACE Production Technologies line of
Selective Soldering machines. The online mode is designed to run on the PC which is part of the KISS Selective
Soldering machine and the offline mode is designed to run on your desktop PC. Offline programming allows you to
use a PCB’s image or Gerber files as a guide to graphically define solder and flux process paths. Programming a
board using Teach v2 enables you to program a board without thinking about process order and allows you to easy
go back and change details of your program with a simple click of the mouse. Although they are separate
applications, Online and Offline are closely related and are able to share project files so you can begin on your
desktop and finish on the machine, and the other way around. Online programming involves careful interaction
between the machine and the software, displaying your project paths over live video from the machine, so it can
only be used on the machine itself. The online version of the software also gives you all of the image and Gerber
capability of the offline tool.

2 Using this Guide

2.1 Definitions
Teach – this is how “ACE KISS Teach” is referred to in this manual

2.2 Table of Contents

2.3
1 Introduction to Teach Version 2 .................................................................................................................. 1
2 Using this Guide......................................................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Definitions............................................................................................................................................. 1
2.2 Table of Contents................................................................................................................................... 1
2.3...................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Getting Started ........................................................................................................................................... 2
3.1 Technical Support .................................................................................................................................. 2
3.2 System Requirements............................................................................................................................. 2
3.3 Installation............................................................................................................................................. 2
3.4 Software Activation ............................................................................................................................... 3
3.4.1 If you see “The number you entered was not valid” ............................................................................ 3
3.5 Controls................................................................................................................................................. 3
3.6 Main Control Screen .............................................................................................................................. 4
4 Program Features........................................................................................................................................ 5
 4.1 New Project Screen................................................................................................................................ 5
4.2 Global Parameters.................................................................................................................................. 5
4.3 Toolbars ................................................................................................................................................ 7
4.4 Fluxing and Soldering............................................................................................................................ 7
4.4.1 Use of Path Tools .............................................................................................................................. 8
4.4.2 Use of Optional Equipment ................................................................................................................ 9
4.5 Machine Profiles .................................................................................................................................... 9
4.6 Image Manipulation ............................................................................................................................. 10
5 User Workflows ....................................................................................................................................... 11
5.1 Setting up Machine Profiles ................................................................................................................. 11
5.2 Making a new program ........................................................................................................................ 11

3 Getting Started
3.1 Technical Support
ACE Production Technologies

Phone number: 509-924-4898 (Pacific Time Zone)

Email: [email protected]

3.2 System Requirements

KISS Offline is designed to run on all modern desktop versions of Windows including XP, Vista, and 7 in either
32-bit or 64-bit configuration. However, KISS Offline is only available as a 32-bit application at this time.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5SP1 or newer is required on all platforms.

A video card with hardware support for OpenGL and 128MB or more of dedicated video RAM is highly
recommended.

2GB or more of RAM is recommended in order to handle very large images and Gerbers. If your video card
shares memory with the main system RAM then 4GB of RAM is recommended. Otherwise, you may experience
low memory situations and/or program errors when opening very large images (200+ megapixels).

10MB of hard drive space is needed for the application, plus up to 350MB for Microsoft .NET Framework
3.5SP1 if needed on your system. Additional hard drive space will be required to save project files, and since the
original image is always copied to the saved project location there may be significant storage used for saving.

You must have Administrator rights to install the software.

3.3 Installation
Teach must be installed before running, it cannot be run stand-alone. The installation package has two files in it,
open the file titled “setup.exe” to install the software and any required prerequisites. If you open the file
“ace_kiss_teach_library.msi” directly the installation may unexpectedly fail due to missing software resources.
The setup program will guide you through the very simple installation procedure, then you can run the software
from the Windows Start Menu.

During the setup you will be presented with the option to install the online or offline version of the software. If
you are installing on your desktop PC you should use the offline version. If you are reinstalling it on your KISS
machine’s PC then use the online version. The difference is in which files are put on your computer, and online
and offline activation serial numbers are not interchangeable.

If the setup program detects that you do not have Windows Installer 3.1 or Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5SP1,
installed it will guide you through downloading and installing those items directly from Microsoft. If you are not
connected to the internet you will need to download these components and install them manually.

3.4 Software Activation

After installation you are required to activate your software before it will be functional. The first time you run
the software (and any other time you run it without
being activated) you will first be presented with a
message box telling you that the software has not been
activated and that you must do so before proceeding.

The activation window is shown in Figure 1. If you

exit the quit the process without a successful activation
the window will be opened again next time you start
Teach.
Figure 1
If you receive an error message during registration it will be
one of the following types:

3.4.1 If you see “The number you entered was not valid”
There are two causes of this error – The serial number you entered was not a proper code, or you entered an
online serial number for an offline installation. Check to see if you typed it correctly, there should be 5
characters in each box, and the characters should only be numbers and the letters A through F. Also make
sure that you are using the right serial number for the type of installation you are doing (offline for your
desktop PC and online for the PC that is part of you r KISS machine).

If you are sure that your serial number has been entered correctly then contact the technical support of the
software distributor.

After successful registration your serial number is displayed on the “About” screen when you access it from the
Help menu.

You may install the offline software on multiple desktop PCs using your single activation key.

3.5 Controls
Teach uses a combination of mouse and keyboard inputs for navigation.

Offline Specific Controls (also when using the Online in image or Gerber mode)

 Pan – Hold down the mouse wheel, middle mouse button, or P key and move the mouse
 Zoom In/Out – Scroll the mouse wheel or use the ‘I’ and ‘O’ keys on the keyboard
Online Specific Controls (Video mode)

 Pan/Jog
o Use the arrow keys to jog continuously
o Hold the Control key while tapping the arrow keys to step the machine incrementally, 0.001” at
a time
o Hold the Control key and move the mouse to smoothly and slowly jog in X and Y at the same
time, like a virtual joystick
o Hold the Shift key and move the mouse to smoothly, but quickly, jog in X and Y at the same
time.
 Zoom – there is no ability to zoom when working in video mode.

Common Controls

 Use the left mouse button to select an element or activate a tool

 Use the right mouse button to bring up content menus to edit properties of various graphical elements
 Press the Control key and the Z key at the same time to “undo” the last action
 Press the Control key and the Y key at the same to “redo” the last action that you “undid”
o Undo and Redo are both available from the “Edit” menu on the toolbar

3.6 Main Control Screen

The ACE Offline software is designed to be intuitive and graphically oriented. Most of the tools users will
access on a frequent basis are presented on the Main Control Screen.
 Figure 2

4 Program Features
4.1 New Project Screen
When initiating a new project, the user is provided the opportunity to provide information to help define the
Project.

 Project Name will set the name the project is saved under. The Project Name is also placed in the
generated machine code as a comment.
 The Machine Profile drop-down menu allows the user to select multiple machine configurations if the
factory is so equipped. This allows the Project to be targeted to a specific machine with suitable options
loadout.

4.2 Global Settings

Global Settings is half of the battle when creating a project. The process parameters you set here will be used as
the defaults for all the Paths you create in your design. Information on this screen is divided into function-
specific groups – Fluxing, Soldering, and Settings.

 The Flux Settings fields control all of the process settings for the flux paths to be written later to the
PCB image.
o Purge Dwell – controls the length of time (in seconds) the fluxer remains on before beginning
to move on a path.
 o Single Point Dwell – controls the length of time (in seconds) the fluxer remains on when used
at a single point fluxing site (typically a single solder joint). A fluxer will only dwell at the
first point of a path.
o Process Speed – sets the machine movement velocity during application of flux or to the target
PCB.
o Process Height – adjusts Z position of the x-y-z gantry during application of flux.
o Rapid Height – sets the Z position during transitions from one process site to the next.
o The Flux Head button group sets the fluxer to be used for the Project.
o If a “Drop Jet” or “VAF” fluxer is selected then the parameters of the Drop Jet or VAF can be
set using:
 DJ Freq – Frequency of the Drop Jet fluxer, 1-100%
 DJ Drop Size – Droplet size of the Drop Jet fluxer, 1-100%
 VAF Freq – Frequency of the VAF, 1-100%
 VAF Drop Size – Droplet size of the VAF, 1-100%
o All of these parameters can be customized at the individual paths or path points
 The Solder Settings fields control all of the process settings for the solder paths to be written to the PCB
image.
o Dwell – sets the time (in seconds) the solder nozzle will pause at the beginning of a solder path
to preheat (sometimes called heat soak) the PCB to facilitate selective soldering.
o Single Point Dwell – controls the time (in seconds) used for soldering Dwell when used on
single point sites.
o Process Speed – manages the speed the solder nozzle moves during application of solder to the
target PCB.
o Soldering Height – adjusts the height of the x-y-z gantry during application of solder to the
target PCB.
o Rapid Height – sets the height during transition between soldering sites.
o The Nozzle group allows the expansion of a menu displaying common nozzle sizes and
profiles available for use on the KISS Selective Soldering Machines. Click Change to select
from available nozzle shapes. NOTE: this shape is used to display the solder paths over the
PCB as an aide to the programmer. It DOES NOT force or otherwise directly influence
machine movement or nozzle choice when running the program on the destination machine.
 The Machine Settings group allows the toggle and adjustment of various options and machine functions.
All fields are as equipped – options not enabled by the Machine Profile will be grayed out.
o The Options Group toggles common machine functions for use on a given Project.
 End Of Program Alert – toggles an audible alert at the end of a program run on the
destination machine.
 Cycle Counter – enables the onscreen Cycle Counter on the destination machine.
 Air Knife Option – enables the use of the Air Knife on chosen solder paths in the
Project.
 Top Side Pre-Heat – Sets the project to use the top side preheater on the destination
machine.
 If enabled in the machine profile, additional controls are presented that allow
software selection of the preheater zones for use during processing of the
PCB. NOTE: This will only function correctly on a KISS Selective
Soldering machine equipped to handle software control of the preheater
zones.
 Fiducial Correction – toggles the use of Fiducial Correction on the destination
machine.
 o The Wave Check group enables and controls the use (as marked) of the Solder Nozzle Wave
Check system on the KISS Selective Soldering Machines.
o Conveyor Width – sets the width (inches) of the conveyor rails on KISS 104 machines.
o Edge Registration – toggles the use of Edge Registration on equipped KISS 104 machines.
o Zero Point Description – documents the location and nature of the zero used to locate the
image of the PCB for the Project. This zero description is later used in the header of the
Machine Program to provide the information necessary to locate the zero on subsequent uses of
the Program.

4.3 Toolbars
There are few tool selections required to access the power of ACE Offline programming.

 Build Program – triggers the post-processing of the flux and solder paths that have been drawn over the
image of the PCB.
 Global Settings – accesses various Project settings
 Solder (Solder 1 or Solder 2) – enables the placement of Solder Paths. Also allows the selection and
editing of existing solder paths.
 Flux – enables the placement of Flux Paths. Also allows the selection and editing of existing flux paths.
 Visible Layers – drop down menu allows visibility control of various layers of the Project.
 Path Tree Explorer – Shows all of the paths in your project with their given Reference Designators (or
just a unique number if you have not assigned a name). Double clicking on a path in the tree will center
the view on the beginning of that path. This works in both online and offline modes. The Path Tree
Explorer can be moved to any side of the editing window by clicking on its title bar and dragging.
While dragging you can also leave it “floating” it rather than be docked to an edge. Additionally, you
can set it to always show or automatically hide by clicking the pin icon in the top right corner of the
Path Tree Explorer title bar.

4.4 Fluxing and Soldering

Teach projects are organized in a simple tree of paths. Paths can be of two or three types: Flux and Solder, or
Flux, Solder 1, and Solder 2 depending on how your machine is configured. Paths are graphical representations
of the intended path of the processing executed on the target PCB, and each path type is shown in a different
color for easy identification. Each path contains XY position data, as well as process data such as preheat
dwells, process speeds, and process Z heights. When properly set in Global Settings, the size and shape of the
solder paths is representative of the actual solder nozzle being used. The size and shape of the flux paths are
approximations due to variable manual adjustments.

Flux and Solder paths are defined as a chain made up of Vertexes connected by Segments. As appropriate,
various process and equipment functions are assigned to Vertexes and Segments to allow their adjustment and
activation.

To Flux Paths you can:

 Assign or change a Reference Designator

 Change process parameters for all vertexes in the path at once, overriding the Global Settings
defaults. Be aware that any edits to the parameters for an entire path will re-write the values for each
vertex, writing over any existing overrides in the vertexes!
 Change the type of flux head used for that path, if more than one flux head is present in your
machine
 Change the flux head parameters for Drop Jet or VAF applicators
  Reset the path’s settings to the Global Settings default
 Delete the path

To Solder Paths you can:

 Assign or change a Reference Designator

 Change process parameters for all vertexes in the path at once, overriding the Global Settings
defaults. Be aware that any edits to the parameters for an entire path will re-write the values for each
vertex, writing over any existing overrides in the vertexes!
 Reset the path’s settings to the Global Settings default
 Delete the path

To Vertexes you can:

 Override the process parameters for that vertex, overriding the Global Settings defaults. Be aware
that any edits to the parameters for an entire path will re-write the values for each vertex, writing
over any existing overrides in the vertexes!
 Activate equipped soldering options such as N2 Air Knife and N2 Spot Preheat, and set the
operating parameters for those tools
 Split a path into two paths, with the new path starting at the selected vertex

4.4.1 Use of Path Tools

The Path tools on the main toolbar allow the user to set the type of path to create or interact with. For instance,
after selecting the Flux tool, the user is unable to select anything but a flux vertex or path segment. This
removes ambiguity when applying segment and vertex specific properties, as well as permitting selection of
paths and segments that can be behind other paths.

There are various operations and rules that apply to either Path tool, so for this section they will be treated
identically.

With a Path tool selected, the user can:

 Create new Paths: Simply click outside of any existing path graphic of the currently chosen type and a
new Path will be started. Continue clicking to add vertexes to the new path; when you are done click
the right mouse button or press the Escape key to end the path. Once you end a path you cannot restart
adding vertexes, but you can split individual segments of the path or delete individual vertexes to tweak
the routing.
 Edit the location of existing Vertexes. Click on the vertex to select it, click it again to start moving it,
move the mouse around to position it where you want it, then click again to set it at the desired location.
 Edit the properties of existing Vertexes. Highlight a Vertex by clicking once on the element you want.
To select a Vertex you must click inside the little square at the center of the Vertex. Click the right
mouse button to bring up the associated context menu. Note that the information in this menu is derived
from the Global Parameters, but changes to this menu OVERRIDE those settings. Any changes will
change the affected vertex (and its associated Segment) to a contrasting color to allow intuitive, quick
identification of content that has been changed from the Global Parameters. When you override the
defaults then make changes in the Global Settings window those changes will NOT affect the
overridden vertexes unless the change you make affects the machine configuration, like changing the
chosen flux tool.
  Add a Vertex to a Segment (Splitting a Segment). Clicking twice on a segment of interest will add a
vertex that can then be dragged about. Highlight a Segment by clicking once on the element you want,
click on that Segment again to split it. Hit the Escape key to cancel the action if you made a mistake.
 Edit the properties of existing Paths. Highlight a Segment by clicking once on the element you want.
To select a Segment click anywhere in the colored area of the segment. Click the right mouse button to
bring up the associated context menu. Note that Segments do not have any editable properties; the
properties of the preceding vertex are what govern the process for the move which goes over that
segment, so the context menu you see when a segment is selected applies to the entire path. The entire
path is shown highlighted when the menu opens to remind you of this. Note that the information in this
menu is derived from the Global Parameters, but this menu OVERRIDES those settings. Any changes
will change the affected path to a contrasting color to allow intuitive, quick identification of content that
has been changed from the Global Parameters.
 Delete a Vertex. Highlight the vertex, then press the Delete key on the keyboard.

4.4.2 Use of Optional Equipment

ACE KISS Selective Soldering machines come equipped with some of the most advanced equipment
available in the industry. Teach allows the user to access and control that equipment in the programming
environment. Most options are controlled via the Global Parameters dialog, although certain options are
enabled via the Global Parameters but actually controlled via vertexes.

Globally Controlled Equipment:

 Preheater – The ACE Topside IR Preheat is activated here. When active, the software inserts the
appropriate on/off and configuration MCodes in the machine file. The Preheater is activated at the
beginning of the Soldering process.
 End of Program Alert
 Cycle Counter
 Wave Check – both the Wave Check activation/counter routine is controlled here, as well checking
mode (Every cycle vs. Cycle Count – which is set on-screen).
 Conveyor Width – For KISS 104 machines only, this sets the desired PCB board width of the
conveyor rails.
 Fiducial Correction – NOTE: This option is configured on-screen on the KISS Selective Soldering
machine.
 Edge Registration – The field contains the force modifier used to pinch the PCB.

Vertex Controlled Equipment - These options must first be enabled in Global Parameters:

 N2 Air Knife – This option is controlled in the vertex. The field controls the duration of the air knife
burst.
 N2 Spot Preheater – This option is controlled in the vertex. The fields control the duration and flow
parameters for the heated N2 option, respectively.

4.5 Machine Profiles

ACE Offline Programming uses Machine Profiles to target the software at a specific machine configuration.
Options such as Preheat, N2 Knife, etc. can be activated using a Machine Profiles.
To set up a Profile for your ACE Kiss Selective Soldering Machine (Note: the Create Machine Profile action can
only be accessed while creating a new program):

1. While in the Create Program dialog box, drop down the Target Machine menu and select “… New
Machine”.
2. Select the options your KISS Selective Soldering is equipped with as appropriate in the New Machine
Parameters dialog box (Error! Reference source not found.).
3. Set your desired default Flux and Solder Z Heights (used during processing of PCB) and Rapid Heights
(used during transition moves). NOTE: Ensure you are placing proper positive or negative values
based on your machine genre.
4. Select the fluxers your KISS Selective Soldering machine is equipped with.
5. You can edit the machine code definitions file(s) as well, do not do this unless you know what you are
doing.
6. Click Save Machine.
7. Fill out a file name and save it in the default location. WARNING: if you save the machine profile
somewhere else, you will not be able to access it later.

4.6 Image Manipulation

Not all scanners are created equal. Therefore, ACE Offline allows you to perform basic image correction so the
performance at the KISS Selective Soldering machine is improved. The image correction works by manually
correcting the coordinates of visible landmarks on the scanned image. For instance, a fiducial point with a
known physical location is a prime example of a landmark that is ideal for use with the image correction routine.

To correct a scanned image in ACE Offline:

1. Select the menu Tools>Image Correction>Set Image Dimensions.

2. The software asks for the location of a landmark in the Upper Left region of the PCB. Using the
pointer, click in the center of your chosen landmark. Below the main DROs, you will see two fields
displaying the coordinates of the chosen point. See Figure 4.

Figure 3
 3. For the image shown, a typical correction would take the coordinates of the landmark (-.112, +4.405)
and set them to the actual location of the fiducial, in this case (-.110, +4.400). This is done by adjusting
the values shown in the Image Correction DROs to match the physical coordinates.
4. Finalize the correction for the Top Left by clicking the button labeled Set Top Left.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for the Top Right and Bottom Right, using landmarks and coordinates appropriate to
those locations. NOTE: the Bottom Left is assumed to be the Origin for the image. You can move the
Origin without affecting the Image Correction.

4.7 Build Program Screen

When building a program you are presented with a number of options that control machine code
generation:

1. Panelization
a. Check the “Enable Panelization” checkbox to gain access to the panelization settings.
b. By setting the panel process order and the dimensions Teach will automatically
generate the necessary offsets and subroutine calls in the machine code.
c. There is currently no provision for “X-outs” or non-symmetric panels.
2. Soldering order (for dual solder nozzle machines)
a. You can choose to run Solder 1 first or Solder 2, that is the only difference between the
two modes.
3. Program optimization
a. If enabled Teach will apply a “nearest neighbor” sorting to the process paths to reduce
board process time.
b. Flux paths may be automatically reordered and/or fluxed in the reverse direction to
minimize machine movement time.
c. Solder paths may be reordered, but will NOT be reversed.

5 User Workflow
ACE KISS Teach is designed to be an intuitive, task-centered software suite focused on productivity and time-to-
machine optimization. Below is a minimum effort process required to start and finish a project.

5.1 Setting up Machine Profiles

When starting Teach for the first time, the user may need to create a Machine Profile that is specific to their
machine’s options as equipped.

1. Select File>New Program

2. Drop down the Target Machine menu, and select …New Machine.
3. This will bring up the New Machine Parameters dialog. Select the options the target machine is equipped
with.
4. Click Save Machine.
5. Enter a name for the profile, then click Save. NOTE: If the machine profile is saved to a directory other
than the default location, ACE Offline will not know where to find that settings file.

5.2 Making a new program

1. Open ACE KISS Teach 2
2. Select File>New Project
3. Choose a Machine Profile NOTE: Teach will remember the last machine profile you used.
4. Choose the type of board visualization you would like to use
 a. Image
i. Select any common graphics format to work with in KISS Offline.
ii. Lightly compressed JPEG, PNG, or TIFF/BMP work best for detail work
iii. Teach will remember the last location that you opened an image from
b. Gerber
i. You will be prompted to select 1 or more (up to 5) Gerber layers to program with, you
can define the color you would like to use for each layer. The layers will be displayed
with layer 1 “on top.” When editing you can toggle the visibility of individual layers.
ii. Only files that are Extended Gerber format (RS274X) are usable
iii. Teach will remember the last location that you opened a Gerber from
c. Video
i. Online only. Your machine is factory configured for the proper video feed configuration,
so you should not need to set any options for this mode. The software will automatically
enter video mode without additional prompting.
ii. In special cases you may need to set the video source under the Tools->Video Devices
menu
iii. For Online installations your machine installation tech will configure your machine to
launch Teach in Online mode automatically
5. Global Settings will automatically appear after selecting your project type. Setup the project parameters as
required by your PCB and machine.
6. Begin laying out paths. You can add flux and solder paths in any order. Click where you wish to begin
your first flux path.
7. Fill in the Reference Designator dialog that pops up. This will come in handy in large projects.
8. Continue your path and click the right mouse button (or press Escape) to finish the path when you are done.
Repeat this as many times as necessary for your flux and solder tools.
9. Apply any desired special properties to Segments and Vertexes. These can include longer Dwell times, Air
Knife activation, Preheat etc.
10. Click Build Program to generate a Machine Code File.