File Menu Options in Raptor

Hello again, I'm Duane Bates, the pre-installation and training department manager at Peddinghaus. I will be digging into the options that are in the file menu in Raptor.

The first available selection is "new". This is used when you need to create a part in Raptor. If you have to create a part from a drawing, this would be the choice you would use. "Open" is used to open parts from the database that is located locally on the PC or machine control. This is not how you import a part file that is located on the server. New multipart is used to create a multipart out of single parts. A multipart is one or more parts being made out of a stalk length of material. The single parts that will be included in the multipart must be saved in the local database. Open multipart is for opening a multipart that has been saved in your local database.

ave is for saving any changes you have made to your parts. Save settings allows you to save a copy of every setting in Raptor. This will allow you to make a backup of your settings, or to save a copy so you can take it to another PC. Load settings allows us to load the settings that were saved using the "save settings" options. Import Peddimat options is only used if you are upgrading a machine from Peddimat to Raptor. If so, you can import the Peddimat machine config file to transfer the settings from Peddimat to Raptor. The selections under "import" are used to import parts into Raptor. They can come from several different origins.

The import from Tekla function is for connecting Raptor directly to a Tekla detailing model. With this option, Raptor is going into the model and getting the information for each of the parts that are selected to be imported. For this to work Raptor and Tekla must be running on the same PC. You must open Tekla first. XML3D files are files that have been previously been exported from Raptor. This is the standard Raptor file type. DSTV is the long-standing industry standard for the structural steel industry. This file type is created by most of the detailing software in the industry. The file extension for these files will be either .NC or .NC1. The Peddimat option is for importing parts from our legacy programing software known as Peddimat. The SDS2 option is not for importing DSTV's that have been created in SDS2. It is for importing files from SDS2 with a .XML extension. These files are just like a DSTV except they also have a GUID, or global unique ID for the part from the detailing model.

DXF stands for digital exchange format. This is the file type used to import a file or part from a CAD program. IDSTV+ is primarily used to communicate with different management software that is used in the structural steel industry. In this case, it will be used to import nested part information from those programs. IDSTV+ files contain all of the information for each of the parts in the nested part or multipart including the GUID for each of those parts. The canam file import function was designed specifically for canam.

Import multipart, multipart files are files that contain nested or batched parts on a stalk length material. These files may contain a single part or multiple parts. You will use the import multipart options to import multiparts into Raptor. XML3DM is a file that is a Raptor multipart. This is a multipart that was previously created within Raptor. XNC is for a specific software from Germany. Most customers will not need this option. DSTV+ is used for communicating with the management software that was previously mentioned. A DSTV+ file contains nested part information, much like an IDSTV+ file does. The difference is that a DSTV+ file does not contain the part GUID.

Import CNC function is an option that customers will not see. This option is used by tech support to help troubleshoot any issues you may be having. If you are experiencing an issue with running a part file, you can send the .MPF file to tech support. They will be able to extract the CNC code, part file and all of the Raptor settings from where the CNC was created. This will allow them to assist you with troubleshooting your issues. The last option is exit. Exit is one of the ways you have to close Raptor. The other is to click the "X" in the top right corner of the screen. On a machine control, you will not see the exit option, nor will you have the X in the corner. Once Raptor is open it will stay open until you shut down the control.

For any other service-related questions please contact Peddinghaus support at 1-815-937-3800 and press 2 for technical assistance. Visit our website at www.peddinghaus.com for more how-to videos and additional machine information.