Creating multistep program with Sync Points

Repair Area

The steps and synchronization points in the repair area show the respective repair paths to be followed if the total status at a synchronization point is NOK. A repair path always starts and ends at a synchronization point. Where the repair path should re-enter the main step path is flexible, but the repair path must always go back towards the beginning of the program. Only one repair path can start in each synchronization point, but several repair paths may end at the same synchronization point. For repair paths, a “left arrow” icon and / or a “right arrow” icon may be shown. These can be used to change where a repair path re-enters the main step path. The maximum number of steps to run in a repair path is three. It is not possible to define a repair path that starts at the start of the program.

Example: Repair paths

Tightening Area

The tightening area includes the main step path, i.e., the steps and synchronization points in the multistep tightening program excluding repair and termination paths.

Number of Tightening Steps, Restrictions and Monitors Allowed

	Number of Steps Allowed	Number of Restrictions Allowed	Number of Monitors Allowed
PF6000/PF8	16 (excluding start/end)	8	8
PF6000/PF8 Synchronized Tightening	25 (excluding synchronization points, start / end, and repair and termination paths)	8	8
Flex	25 (excluding synchronization points, start / end, and repair and termination paths)	8	8
IxB	16 (excluding start/end)	5	8

Terminate Area

A termination path always starts at a synchronization point on the main step path. Only one termination path can start in each synchronization point. The maximum number of steps to run in a termination path is three. The steps and synchronization points in the terminate area show the respective termination paths followed if the total status at a synchronization point is fatal. If such fatal status is encountered and no termination path is defined for the synchronization point, the program will go directly to the end without running any other steps. After a termination path is done the tightening is ended.

Example: Termination path

Left Menu

The Left menu will also include Sync Point, which has the following sub-items:

Sync Point
Automatically add sync points
Connect (reusing repair/termination paths)

	Description
Sync Point	Drag and drop this item to the program to insert a new synchronization point in the program, similar to how a step can be dropped. Additionally, if a step or synchronization point is dropped above or below a synchronization point on the main step path, a repair or termination path can be created, if such a path does not already exist. Display of errors and other moves / modifications of synchronization points work in the same way as for steps. Deleting synchronization points is not allowed in some circumstances, if it would lead to too many steps being placed in a row.
Automatically add sync points	This setting is enabled by default, but may be temporarily disabled by clicking on the checkbox. If the setting is enabled, up to 2 synchronization points will automatically be added when a step is inserted into the program, under certain conditions: It must be a new step (i.e. an existing step that is moved does not count). The step must be inserted onto the main step path. There must be a step before and / or after the location where the step is inserted. Synchronization points are only added if all of them can be added without exceeding the maximum allowed number of synchronization points on the main step path.
Connect...(reusing repair/termination paths)	It is possible to connect a synchronization point to an existing repair path or termination path by pressing the Connect... button. This makes it possible to re-use the same repair / termination path for several synchronization points. When the Connect... button is pressed, a prompt will be shown indicating that the additional starting point for the repair / termination path should be selected (by clicking on a synchronization point in the main step path; program start or program end are not valid selections). If a valid selection is made, another prompt will be shown indicating that the start of the repair / termination path to re-use should be selected (by clicking on the first item – step or synchronization point – in that repair / termination path). If a valid selection is made again, the editor will draw an additional path from the selected synchronization point to the existing repair / termination path. If at any point an invalid selection is made, the procedure can be restarted by clicking on the Connect... button again. To undo the creation of an additional path, click on the corresponding delete (“stop sign”) icon.

Description

Sync Point

Drag and drop this item to the program to insert a new synchronization point in the program, similar to how a step can be dropped. Additionally, if a step or synchronization point is dropped above or below a synchronization point on the main step path, a repair or termination path can be created, if such a path does not already exist.

Display of errors and other moves / modifications of synchronization points work in the same way as for steps.

Deleting synchronization points is not allowed in some circumstances, if it would lead to too many steps being placed in a row.

Automatically add sync points

This setting is enabled by default, but may be temporarily disabled by clicking on the checkbox.

If the setting is enabled, up to 2 synchronization points will automatically be added when a step is inserted into the program, under certain conditions:

It must be a new step (i.e. an existing step that is moved does not count).
The step must be inserted onto the main step path.
There must be a step before and / or after the location where the step is inserted.
Synchronization points are only added if all of them can be added without exceeding the maximum allowed number of synchronization points on the main step path.

Connect...(reusing repair/termination paths)

It is possible to connect a synchronization point to an existing repair path or termination path by pressing the Connect... button. This makes it possible to re-use the same repair / termination path for several synchronization points.

When the Connect... button is pressed, a prompt will be shown indicating that the additional starting point for the repair / termination path should be selected (by clicking on a synchronization point in the main step path; program start or program end are not valid selections).

If a valid selection is made, another prompt will be shown indicating that the start of the repair / termination path to re-use should be selected (by clicking on the first item – step or synchronization point – in that repair / termination path).

If a valid selection is made again, the editor will draw an additional path from the selected synchronization point to the existing repair / termination path.

If at any point an invalid selection is made, the procedure can be restarted by clicking on the Connect... button again.

To undo the creation of an additional path, click on the corresponding delete (“stop sign”) icon.