From Geometry to G-code

[Jure Klemencic from Camincam]

I would like to get an example of C++ code (C-hook) that makes an operation from existing geometry and then postprocesses it to get the appropriate G-code.

 

Thank you very very much for any answer!

[bryan314]

I would like a pony and full access to Mastercam's source code.

 

That's a very big request. Here's a very abbreviated list of functions to look at to get you started.

 

 

get_ent To search through MC geometry

select_ent and related functions: get user selected entity or entities.

 

operation_manager create, add, delete modify operations.

 

postOps and/or run_post_exe_dll generate nci and post nc code through post processors.

 

Bryan

[Jure Klemencic from Camincam]

OK, thank you! You really helped me, because I didn'n know which functions to use nor how to use them. I succesfully used select_ent function in main.cpp:

code:

---

MC_BOOL succf;

LPCTSTR cs2 = "Select entities";

DB_LIST_ENT_PTR **eptrs = NULL;

int *num_eptrs = 0;

select_ents (cs2, 0, &succf, PRESEL_CLEAR, &*eptrs, num_eptrs);

---

but then I didn't manage to use the operation_manager function:

code:

---

operation op;

op.op_idn = 1;

DB_LIST_ENT_PTR d_ptr4 = NULL;

operation_manager (&op, OPMGR_ADD, &d_ptr4, &succf);

---

Linker complains:

quote:

---

main.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) void __cdecl operation_manager(struct operation *,short,struct db_list_ent_type * *,char *)" (__imp_?operation_manager@@YAXPAUoperation@@FPAPAUdb_list_ent_type@@PAD@Z) referenced in function _RunMyDialog

---

Please, try to explain, what I'm doing wrong. I don't know what the 3rd parameter in operation_manager ("pointer to operation entity" d_ptr4) is used for. I also don't know if I positioned all the &s and *s correctly. I will appreciate any help!

[Takashi Sato from Ai Solutions.]

I think you are missing to link some .lib files.

 

mastercam.lib mccore.lib mccontrol.lib mcgeomsld.lib mclathe.lib mcmatss.lib mcmill.lib mcpost.lib mcwire.lib MCMachineDef.lib

[Jure Klemencic from Camincam]

Great, that was true. After I have added the .lib files my C-hook compiles and links well.

 

BUT when I run the C-hook from Mastercam, it crashes and the attached error message appears.

 

 

What could be possible reasons? Thanks again!

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

Does this occur when you start the C-Hook?

or

After the C-Hook has done something?

 

Are you running a DEBUG version of the C-Hook using a non-DEBUG version of X (mastercam.exe)?

[Jure Klemencic from Camincam]

This occurs AFTER the C-Hook asks me to enter two variables into MyDialog and draws a point at a location I show by the mouse.

 

No, I don't run the debug version. I simply compile, link and copy the C-hook DLL into the mcamxCHooks folder. Then I launch Mastercam and click the icon of my C-hook.

I know there are two versions of Mastercam.exe, one for Release and the other for Debug, but I didn't manage to run my C-Hook directly from VisualStudio.

 

Thank you for your quick reply.

[Jure Klemencic from Camincam]

I have redesigned my code for creating an operation into the following:

 

code:

---

MC_BOOL succf;

operation *op = new operation;

op->op_idn = 1;

DB_LIST_ENT_PTR d_ptr4 = NULL;

 

operation_manager (op, OPMGR_ADD, &d_ptr4, &succf);

---

But the c-hook still crashes. Can anybody please provide a correction of my code or any other way to create an operation?

 

Respect.

[pma]

you having stack problems?

i was crashing too and moved the op structure out of the stack and all seemd fine after ...

[Takashi Sato from Ai Solutions.]

however I dont see the cause of it.

 

code:

---

 	memset(&op,0,sizeof(operation));

op.opcode = TP_CONTOUR;

operation_manager (&op, OPMGR_INIT_ADD, &eptr, &succf);

 

//setting parametors....

 

operation_manager (&op, OPMGR_REWRITE, &eptr, &succf);

operation_manager (&op, OPMGR_NCI_REGEN, &eptr, &succf);

---

[Jure Klemencic from Camincam]

Huraah, now I managed to create a lathe operation!

 

code:

---

 op.opcode = TP_LFINISH; 

---

What I would really like to know is how to tell the new operation, which geometry to be machined?. It seems I don' really understand the &eptr parameter of operation_manager.

 

Please, help me again to make me happy !

[bryan314]

If the function is successful the eptr just points to the memory mastercam allocates for the operation. It's short for entity pointer. Your op variable is just a copy of eptr->eptr.u.op

 

check out the structures:

db_list_ent_type (eptr)

ent (eptr->eptr)

operation (eptr->eptr.u.op)

in 3dvars_ch.h

 

Don't do any manipulations on the eptr directly unless you know what your doing (or even if you know) since it's a really quick and easy way to crash mastercam if you're not careful.

 

Bryan