Using HandyOpt

Overview of HandyOpt

(Version 4.2+)

HandyOpt integrates TigerStop, an upcut saw a circular saw concealed inside the tool except when it jumps up to make a cut, and a laser ranging system, to accomplish non-contact defecting in push feed mode TigerStop cut list method where material is push fed by the TigerStop into the saw and the finished parts come out on the outbound side of the saw blade.

The laser lets the operator enter information without having to back scan the material. Work flows from the laser end of the system, through the saw, and is ejected onto the outfeed table.

CD HandyOpt Video

The TigerStop CD contains video footage of the HandyOpt, showing how it operates. It is recommended that you take advantage of this resource.

Basic Operation

Simple Start Up — Start up TigerStop!

Select your cut list and start up the laser!

Enter the cut list number by pressing .

The LCD displays .

Press again. The laser then starts up and initializes itself.

The LCD displays several screens quickly, starting with .

The laser is initialized when you see the System Ready screen

How does the HandyOpt laser work?

When you select a cut list, the laser starts up, initializes itself by finding its far point (the back stop near the guard cages). At startup, the laser measures the distance to the back stop and then is ready to start scanning. The laser communicates its recognition of the operator’s marks by emitting beeps, as noted in the following explanation.

Mark the material! Data Point = Breaking of the Laser Beam

Place your board on the scanning supports and slide it up against the laser back stop.
Using the paddle to break the laser beam, start by marking the end of the board closest to the laser.

There will be one long beep to confirm your initial mark.

Then, always moving away from the laser, position the paddle to either side of every defect you want removed.

The light tower will flash and emit one short beep at the beginning of each defect being marked, and two short beeps at the end of each defect. The LCD will also display each data point HandyOpt term, the point at which the laser beam is interrupted by the marking paddle as a position measured from the laser back stop .

When you have finished marking the board, break the laser beam by placing the paddle inside the back stop “zone.”

The LCD will display this data point (made within the back stop zone) as a negative number. The light tower will flash and emit three short beeps to confirm that the material is ready to process.

Load the material and process it!

The TigerStop pusher will retract to the Load Offset position (length + load offset) and pause to allow you to load the board you just marked. When loaded, press the foot pedal on the saw to begin cutting. While the board is being cut, you can mark the next board.

CAPACITY

HandyOpt can accept up to three boards at a time. Whenever there is more than one board in process, the LCD will display a number 1, 2, or 3 in the lower right corner (instead of the flashing I/N or M/m).
Always load the boards in the order you marked them, that is, first in, first out (FIFO).

FIFO ERROR

If you try to enter more than three boards at a time in the cutting queue, the light tower will flash and emit three long beeps.
The LCD will display .
Press any key, and process at least one board before attempting to mark another board with the laser.

REMOVING A BOARD

Use [Clear] to remove a marked board from the queue without cutting it. Boards will be cleared in reverse order, starting with the last one entered.

ERASING MISTAKES

Use [Space/Calib] to clear an unwanted data point. OR…
If a mistake is made in the laser marking of a board, just place the paddle at any point CLOSER to the laser than the mistake.

Since marking must be done in the direction from laser to saw, any time you back track and break the laser beam AHEAD of a mark, it will erase that mark. The light tower will flash and emit three beeps, long–short–long, to confirm the deletion.

To erase all marks and start over with the same board, just break the laser beam at a point at least 5” closer to the laser than the nearest mark. Then you can re-mark the board and continue.

Using LSL “Last Stock Length” Option

HandyOpt now has a way of defaulting to the previous stock length.

If the next board you will cut has the same Clear Length the length of material the optimizer has to work with, equal to Stock Length minus End Trim (head cut, tail cut) and Defect(s) [In Set Point operation, Clear Length is equal to the length entered by the operator at the Enter Stock Length prompt.] as your last one and no defects to be removed, mark only the end of the board by breaking the laser beam inside the back stop “zone.” You do not have to mark the start of the board, only the end. The LCD will display this data point HandyOpt term, the point at which the laser beam is interrupted by the marking paddle, and the light tower will flash and emit two short beeps to confirm that the material is ready to process. This can save time.