How did you learn to edit posts?

[Tom Szelag]

Some things are intuitive, mainly the pre-existing switches. But beyond that there is obviously a lot of depth to what you can have a post do. For example the topic that was just revived about moving to a certain position for a toolchange.

 

So how did you learn it? I've had a fair amount of programming in MATLAB and Java, but I have no idea what the syntax is for a MasterCAM post processor or what any of the variables are.

 

EDIT - And while I'm at it what is "staging tools"?

[Rekd™]

Necessity and Trial n Error.

 

There's a CD available from your dealer.

[Storkman]

quote:

---

Trial n Error

---

+1 Matt, I don't know too many people who don't still use this method.

Staging tools is when the machine indexs the carosel to the proper tool while the spindle tool is running. Our matsuuras don't stage tools. So at a toolchange it has to wait for the carosel to index before it can be change to the spindle. Mostly single arm toolchangers do this. they have to put the old tool away before loading the new tool.

[notso]

"Staging tools" refers to bringing the next tool to be used into position for tool change before the tool change command.

EX.

 

T1 M06

G0 G90 G54 X0. Y0.

G43 H1 Z1. T2

BLAH

BLAH

BLAH

BLAH

BLAH

BLAH

BLAH

BLAH

G0 Z2.

G28 Z0.

T2 M06

 

It just saves time on tool changes.

[notso]

As far as editing posts. There is a CD available from your reseller that aparently gives pretty extensive instruction on post editing.

[jbel]

Definitely trial and error .

 

Staging tools calls the next tool to the tool change pocket on machines that have floating tool pocket assignments. It makes for a faster tool change by decreasing the wait time for the toolchanger to cycle around.

[notso]

I guess I am too slow (twice)

[bryan314]

Post (specific) questions to the forum. There's a lot of talent around here. And people are always ready to help.

 

+1 trial and error

+1 cd

also sometimes your dealer may have an older book which is easier to flip thru than the cd.

 

trial and error; translation =>

 

Bryan

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

It was easier to learn posts in ver 3. There was not much going on in them. Just going in and tweaking something to see what it does is the best way.

 

There are posts classes available from CNC Software and possibly your dealer.

[Tom Szelag]

Thanks. Looks like I'll give Triad MT a call and see what they got...

[Müřlıń®]

What little I know was mostly by error that trials me patience........and then I learned some by asking questions in here

[JazzBass]

I haven't yet, So my code looks like crap. Makes good parts though.

[kinglouie V]

this is the very heart of why this forum is

so important for us to have.

 

I've gleamed what I could from here,

the post CD and my reseller and came up with

a solution that works in my post.

 

Man, your right about these posts having

so much involved with them, mine rotates and

spins on it's head if you ask. Here is what I came

up with for the safe tool change position in case

someone would like to add to theirs.....

 

code:

---

ptlchgl # Tool change

n,"M05",E

n,pcooloff,e

n,"G91 G28 Z0 ",e

if mi5=1,pmoveout <---- added line to ptlchg and the rest is added in misc. output.

 

 

pmoveout# safe tool change

if mi5=1, n,"G91 G28 ", *xh, *yh, e

 

**the following below is from post.txt file**

 

[misc integers]

1. "Starting Work Offset[1=G54 2=G55,etc.]"

2. "Sub Programs [# OF SUBS?]"

3. "Sub Program Rotation [0=OFF 1=ON]"

4. "M00 Before This Operation [0=OFF 1=ON]"

5. "TOOL CHANGE POSITION [0=OFF 1=ON]" <----added here (mi1 - mi5)

---

Thanks for all your help!

[Paul Decelles]

One of these days I'll sit down and learn how to do posts...

 

Oh, BTW Lou, you don't need the "if mi5 = 1," in pmoveout as you wouldn't be in pmoveout if mi5 wasn't equal to 1

[kinglouie V]

what?

[kinglouie V]

that means I'm toggling that function right?

[Storkman]

quote:

---

One of these days I'll sit down and learn how to do posts...

---

Ya right, How bout an online "Paul does posts" class???

 

[Jim Evans from CNC Software]

Lou,

 

Paul is just saying that if you call the pmoveout postblock only when mi5 = 1, then there is no need to check for mi5 = 1 in the pmoveout postblock (it's redundant).

[Tim Johnson]

Tom,

+1 to the trial & error and the post cd. Just start logging in some time and it will come to you.

 

King,

Paul means you're making the post verify the condition twice. The post is searching mi5 once to make the post go to the postblock and again in the postblock itself. If your postblock has only one line and is being called only in one spot on your post you could get rid of the postblock entirely and make only one line where your arrow is;

code:

---

if mi5 = 1, n,"G91 G28 ", *xh, *yh, e

---

Tim

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Trial and LOTS of error.

 

Rule #1, make a backup

Rule #2, Make one edit at a time

[kinglouie V]

I still don't get it yet

 

I intended it as a toggle on the misc. integers

so I could select when I want it not everytime.

I'll reread his post again, but this was the only way I could get this thing to post the way I wanted it. you should see this thing (post)

it's a monster post that is designed to do just about everything for seven different machines.

no flame on, just the only way I could get the darn thing to behave.

[Rekd™]

quote:

---

Rule #1, make a backup

Rule #2, Make one edit at a time

---

Such a wuss...

 

[Paul Decelles]

Sorry Lou, let me clarify..

This is what you have now:

code:

---

ptlchgl # Tool change

n,"M05",E

n,pcooloff,e

n,"G91 G28 Z0 ",e

if mi5=1,pmoveout <---- added line to ptlchg and the rest is added in misc. output.

 

 

pmoveout# safe tool change

if mi5=1, n,"G91 G28 ", *xh, *yh, e

---

What Tim meant was that the call to a seperate postblock really isn't needed. You can simply have:

code:

---

ptlchgl # Tool change

n,"M05",E

n,pcooloff,e

n,"G91 G28 Z0 ",e

if mi5=1, n, "G91 G28 ", *xh, *yh, e

---

What I meant was the if statement that you had in your post block pmoveout was redundant. In order to be in that postblock mi5 had to equal 1 in ptlchgl.

[kinglouie V]

thanks,

i'll try in the morning...

everyone's hungry

[John13]

+1 for the cd

 

 

The cd is definitly worth getting.