Variable Help Needed

[Civic Dude]

Hey all,

 

The shop I am working for uses a macro to obtain and store tool length values in all of their CNC mills.

 

The question I have is related to "getting a number" through the post for the following output.

 

Below is our standard posted code . . .

 

N1

T1

M06 ( 1/4" CARB BALL MILL)

(MAX - Z1.)

(MIN - Z-.6213)

(TOOLPATH - HMM)

(STOCK LEFT ON WALLS = 0.)

(STOCK LEFT ON FLOORS = -.01)

/ M13 N

 

What I would like to achieve is to have the post pick up the number of the tool and place it right after the M13. In other words it should read

 

/ M13 N1 (For tool #1)

 

I am no post guru and have tried a few things but have not had any success.

 

Obviously this is not a huge deal as the posts work perfect in all other ways.

 

I would just prefer not to have to hand edit the files after posting.

 

Also the way the macro works, the N1 text will assign the height offset in the H1 offset register.

 

If anyone has any ideas it would be much appreciated,

Thanks in advance,

Bob

[Colin Gilchrist]

Hi Bob,

 

This should be fairly easy to accomplish. The pre-defined variable in the post is "t$" for the tool number. Obviously the tool number is formatted to output a "T" and the tool number, and you want "N" and the tool number.

 

You can use the 'nwadrs' command to assign a new prefix string to the t$ variable, and then switch it back...

 

Look for the "M13" output in your code, I'm guessing the post line will look something like this:

 

n$, "/M13", e$

 

or something like that...

 

Here is what you need to add:

 

code:

---

add this above the post line that outputs your M13 code

 

result = nwadrs(strn, t$)

n$, "/M13", *t$, e$

result = nwadrs(strt, t$)

 

 

 

 

Now you also need to find the String selector table and add an entry. Here is the default:

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#String and string selector definitions for NC output

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Address string definitions

stri "I"

strj "J"

strk "K"

strm "M"

strn "N"

stro "O"

strp "P"

srad "R"

srminus "R-"

strz "Z"

sblank

 

 

You need to add an entry for "T", so after the 'srminus' line, add this

 

strt "T"

 

So your new list should look like this:

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#String and string selector definitions for NC output

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Address string definitions

stri "I"

strj "J"

strk "K"

strm "M"

strn "N"

stro "O"

strp "P"

srad "R"

srminus "R-"

strt "T"

strz "Z"

sblank

---

That will take the t$ variable, change the prefix to "N" output the tool number in your NC code, then switch the prefix back to "T" for that variable.

 

HTH,

[Rob @ Target Machine]

Add this to "ptlchg_com" postblock after "pstock"

 

 

code:

---

       preadbuf5

if (opcode$ > 0 & opcode$ < 16) | opcode$ = 19,

[

n$, pspc, scomm_str, "MAX - ", *max_depth, scomm_end, e$

n$, pspc, scomm_str, "MIN - ", *min_depth, scomm_end, e$

]

]

spaces$=sav_spc

pstock

result = nwadrs(strn, t$) <------------------------------Here

pfbld, "M13", *t$, e$

result = nwadrs(strt, t$) <---------------------------to Here

if plane$ < 0 | opcode$ = 3 | opcode$ = 16, plane$ = 0

sav_absinc = absinc$

if wcstype > one, absinc$ = zero

pindex

---

HTH

[Rob @ Target Machine]

Wow, you posted while I was typing....What are the chances of that?

 

I guess you type faster the me.

[Rob @ Target Machine]

Good thing though...I forgot that strt "T" isn't defined by default.

[John Summers]

fmt N 1 nt # Make a new variable N

######^ Ref. a 1 0 fs (probably not fs 1)

 

nt = t

[Civic Dude]

Wow! Thanks for all the advice folks! I will give it a test as soon as I get some time.

 

Thanks again,

Bob

[John Summers]

Whoops. The new variable's name is nt. It will be output with the letter N.

[Civic Dude]

Thanks Colin,

I tried your solution and it works like a champ!

 

Now here come's the next question. I also use the older sub_rep post occasionally and would like to make the same changes to that one.

 

I believe this is a Version 7 post but could be mistaken. It is the same sub rep post that has been on this site for a long time.

 

Thanks to all for the suggestions,

Bob

[Guest]

Bob,

 

I believe the same changes will also work in the MPsubrep. I haven't looked it for some time though

[Colin Gilchrist]

Hi Bob,

 

That shouldn't be a problem. What version of Mastercam are you using the sub_rep post with? If you have updated it for your current version, it will support the changes I listed above...

[Civic Dude]

Hey Colin,

I am running X3 MU1 and have updated it. I will take a look at the post when I get some time but it seems that it doesnt have as many variables as the MPMaster post.

 

Anyway thanks for the fix and I will try it out on the sub rep deal.

 

I see you're in Everett, I lived in Vancouver for 14 years and worked in Oregon. Had a 03' Evo VIII for 4 years too! AWD and turbo makes for a great NW driver.

 

Thanks again for all the help,

Bob

Murfreesboro TN!

[Ployd]

Civic Dude,

 

I used to work for WMH Tool Group, which purchased Powermatic, and is now located in La Vergne. Used to work with a nice guy from Murfreesboro. Nice area down there in the South. Hot and sticky in the summer!

[Colin Gilchrist]

Hi Bob,

 

I'm happy to help. Let us know if you can't figure out the sub_rep post and we'll help you get it figured out.

 

Evos are nice cars, and you just can't beat AWD in the twisties...