Using ESPRIT

What exactly is a layer?
I'm trying to create new elements, but they don't appear on the screen. Why?
How can I save my preferences so they apply when I open a new file?
How do I make ESPRIT start with a new Template?
When I start ESPRIT, why do I get a "Cannot Open User File" error message?
How do I get ESPRIT to remember the System Unit setting when I start a new file?

What exactly is a layer?

Think of a layer as another way to mask elements. On the Masks dialog (Ctrl+M), there are check boxes that turn the display of elements on and off. Among other things, you can change the display of all geometry or all tool paths. When an element is masked off, it is not visible in the graphics window. See Masks.

Instead of using the pre-defined settings on the Masks dialog, you can create new layers in the Layers dialog (F11) and decide which elements to place on different layers. Then you can switch the display of an entire layer on or off. Layers can contain any combination of elements, so you could place certain geometry, features, and operations on one layer and then turn it off to make all of those elements invisible. This takes them out of your way, so you can draw something else until you need those elements again. Then you can turn that layer back on. See Layers.

It is important to remember that all new elements are placed on the current active layer. The name of the active layer is shown in the Layers pull-down on the Layers and Planes toolbar and it is also highlighted with a red box in the Layers dialog. In general, do not turn off the current active layer because any new elements you create will be invisible.

I'm trying to create new elements, but they don't appear on the screen. Why?

Make sure the element type is not turned off on the Masks dialog (Ctrl+M) or that the current active layer is not turned off on the Layers dialog (F11). In either case, your elements are being created, but you simply don't see them. After you unmask the element type or set the active layer on, your elements should display. You may want to use Delete Duplicate Elements on the Edit menu to delete any elements you created more than once while they were invisible.

How can I save my preferences so they apply when I open a new file?

There are two methods for saving colors, dimension configuration, and other preferred settings:

1. Create and save a template. After you define your preferred settings, select Save As from the File menu. Change the file type to ESPRIT Template Files (*.est). You should save .est files to the data\Templates folder under your ESPRIT installation folder (or whatever path your Templates folder is set to on the File Locations page of the Options dialog.

2. Save your settings as user defaults. To do this, open the Options dialog from the Tools menu, then select the Defaults... button. Select Save Current as User Defaults and select OK. These settings will then apply when a template is not loaded (that is, when you cancel the Template dialog while starting a new session of ESPRIT).

How do I make ESPRIT start with a new Template?

If the Template dialog does not display when you start a new file, select Options from the Tools menu. On the Input page, check the Show Template Dialog box and select OK. If a template you saved previously does not show up in the Template dialog, make sure you saved the template to the Templates folder (listed on the File Locations page of the Options dialog).

When I start ESPRIT, why do I get a "Cannot Open User File" error message?

At some time in the past you chose a template file from the Template dialog and then selected "Do not show this dialog to me again (Current selection will be default)". Then, at a later time, the default .est file was deleted or renamed. The "Cannot Open User File" error message is in response to ESPRIT being unable to locate the default file. That is the only time this error occurs.

To fix the problem, select Options from the Tools menu. On the Input page, check the Show Template Dialog box and select OK. The next time you select New to start a new file, you can select a template or cancel the dialog.

How do I get ESPRIT to remember the System Unit setting when I start a new file?

ESPRIT automatically remembers the System Unit setting. If the setting is changing when you open a new file, that indicates that you are loading a default template file with a different System Unit.

Verify the template you are selecting in the Template dialog. You might need to save an inch .est file and a metric .est file so you can choose between the two. If you do not see the Template dialog when you start a new file, that indicates that at some time in the past you chose a default template and the dialog was turned off. To display the Template dialog so you can choose the template you want to use, open the Options dialog and check the box next to Show Template dialog on the Input page.

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Cutting Operations

What kind of tool is needed for SolidTurn Bar Feed?

Bar Feed operations require a custom tool type. The custom tool can be used to represent the geometry of the bar stopper or bar puller, whichever is appropriate. For information on creating custom tools, see Turning Tools.

What does the "Unable to Process Tool Technology" error mean?

This error message indicates that a valid tool was not selected. You probably left the Tool ID pull down blank. It is important to know that you cannot select a turning tool for an operation unless it is assigned to a station on a turret.

When you create a lathe tool, the station and turret default to None. When you add a lathe tool, make sure you select the Turret Name and Station Name on the General page. Or, after you add a turning tool, you can set that information by dragging and dropping the tool onto the Turret Station on the Tool tab of the Project Manager (F2). See Turning Tools.

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Simulation

How do I know which tool removed what material?

You need to set the Simulation Cut Color differently for all your tools. The Simulation Cut Color controls the color of the material that remains after it is cut by that tool; it does not control the color of the tool during simulation. By setting the Simulation Cut Color to a unique color for each tool, you can easily compare what material was removed by each tool and you will be able to see any areas where a previous tool may have cut too deeply into material that was supposed to be removed by a subsequent tool. See Milling Tools or Turning Tools.

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File Output

How do I print to scale?
On Page Setup, why are the Margins and Line Weights settings grayed out?
Why is my printer inverting dimensions and text?
When I select Setup Sheet from the File menu, nothing happens. Why?
When I try to create a Setup Sheet, I just get a blank Excel workbook. Why?

How do I print to scale?

From the File menu, select Page Setup and uncheck the "Print Window" box. Then you can set the Scale value and the location of the origin of the printout. The origin values are basically the negative of where you want the lower left corner of the print to start. For example, if the lower left corner of your drawing is at X 1 and Y 2, set Xpo to -1 and Ypo to -2.

On Page Setup, why are the Margins and Line Weights settings grayed out?

The margins are automatically set to the printable limits of that printer. That is why the Margin settings are grayed out.

Line Weights are given for reference only, which is why they are grayed out. Those are the width values that correspond to the various line weights in ESPRIT. If you want to print a thicker line weight, group the elements you want to print and print them while they are grouped. See Group.

Why is my printer inverting dimensions and text?

First, always make sure you have the latest drivers for your printer. Go to the website of your printer manufacturer and check the version number of your drivers. Download and install new drivers if necessary.

If you have the latest drivers and your printouts are still inverted, then exit ESPRIT and browse to the Utilities folder on your ESPRIT installation CD. Note: Utilities is a "hidden" folder, so you may need set your system to display hidden files. In Windows Explorer, select Folder Options from the Tools menu. On the View page, select "Show hidden files and folders".

In the ESPRITUtilities\ESPRIT folder on the CD, you should see an ESPRITSettings.exe program. Run this program and check the Invert Printer Image box. Restart ESPRIT and try printing again. Getting inverted printouts is actually a Windows API problem, because it applies to some printers, but not to all.

Important: If you are using more than one printer, the Invert Printer Image setting applies to all printers. There is no way for you to selectively invert the printing for some printers and not for others. If you have a problem with inverted printing on certain printers, you either have to use only one printer or you can make it easier to switch back and forth. For example, you could copy the ESPRITSettings.exe program from the CD to your Desktop and run it as needed.

Read the ESPRITSettingsReadme.txt on the CD for more information.

When I select Setup Sheet from the File menu, nothing happens. Why?

You must have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer to create the setup sheet.

When I try to create a Setup Sheet, I just get a blank Excel workbook. Why?

You need to change the security setting in Excel so that you can run the macros necessary to import and format the setup sheet. In Excel, select Macro>Security from the Tools menu and change Security Level to Medium. When you run Setup Sheet, select Enable Macros.

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