Vb script for drill circle picking

[camguymtl]

Hi everyone, I am looking to automate the use of Mask on Arc for circle picking in a drill routine. I would like to be able to write a specified diameter on a prompt line rather than picking a circle off the screen. Also were can I get good examples of automated vb scripts for milling routines?

Thanks.

[Bullines]

You could use the AskValue() function to prompt the user for a diamter like this:

 

code:

---

Dim iDia    ' var to hold diameter value

 

If Not (askValue("Enter diameter:", 0, 100, iDia)) Then

' user canceled os you can bail if need be

End If

---

Then you can loop throught the database to find arcs that match what you're looking for:

 

code:

---

    Dim bSuccf            ' success flag

Dim arrNewArcs() ' array of arcs

Dim arcTemp ' temporary arc object

Dim iArcCount ' number of arcs

 

' init

iArcCount = 0

 

' look for arcs

bSuccf = StartDBSearch(mc_alive, mc_arctype)

 

' good to go?

If bSuccf Then

Do

' create an arc object for the current arc

Set arcTemp = New McAr

 

' get the current arc

If GetArcData(GetEntityEptr, arcTemp) Then

' add the arc to the array if it has the diameter we want

If (arcTemp.R * 2 = iDia) Then

' resize the array

ReDim Preserve arrNewArcs(iArcCount + 1)

 

' add the new arc to our array

Set arrNewArcs(iArcCount) = arcTemp

 

' increment the counter

iArcCount = iArcCount + 1

End If

End If

 

' get the next arc

bSuccf = NextDBSearch()

Loop While bSuccf

End If

---

You would then have an array, called arrNewArcs, containing Mastercam arc objects (McAr) that have the same diameter as what the user entered. From that point, you can do what you need to.

 

For more examples, look in the VB sub directory in your Mastercam installation directory.

 

HTH

 

[ 09-24-2004, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: Bullines ]

[camguymtl]

Thanks for the tip, how would I incorporate that whit Mastercam commands?

Bob.

[Bullines]

How do you mean?

[camguymtl]

I would like to use the variable Idia when I get to the Mask on Arc command so I dont need to select an arc from the part. Could I use a script using the Toolpaths - Drill - Mask on arc commands with a prompt for the value of Idia and then using the aray arrNewArcs for creating point positions.

Thanks again.

Bob.

[Bullines]

You can't directly use Toolpaths | Drill | Mask from VBS. Well, that's not completely true. You can, but you cannot pass it any variables.

 

As an alternative, you could use the arcs in the arrNewArcs array in my above code snippet with AddDrillPoint() and MakeDrill()/MakeDrillWithKnownTool() functions.