Import an STL using VBS

[sour kraut]

I know there is a VBS command to import a DXF file but What I'm looking for is a way to import a STL file through the script. Is this possible?

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

The Help for VBScript is available -> \mcamx6\help\VBScript.htm

 

ImportFile("C:\TEMP\Data\My.STL")

[sour kraut]

Thank you. I must have overlooked that one!

[sour kraut]

I have another question. How can I automate the bounding box so it opens, creates the box, and then closes? The standard wshShell.SendKeys "o" will not work and I need to automate it. I'm sorry, I know just enough to be annoying.

[sour kraut]

I got it figured out. I had to use the shellandwait command, tell it not to wait, and call a seperate vbs file with the wshScell.send key command. Not the best but it will work.

[rocheey1]

you dont need shell and wait. all you have asked for can be done with Mcx VBScript. You can call masterCam commands, such as bounding box, inside VBScript.

 

example code:

Sub Main()
Dim success
NewMC (False)           ' reinitialize the database
success = ImportFile("C:\TMP\test.STL")    ' import stl file
If success = False Then Exit Sub      ' exit routine if no model
RunMastercamCommand("create_bbox")    ' create bounding box
success = SaveMCAs("c:\tmp\testme.mcx6", true)   ' save off file
End Sub

[sour kraut]

The RunMastercamCommand("create_bbox") opens the bounding box dialog and creates the bounding box but does not close the bounding box dialog after it has created it. I'm guessing the next line after the bbox call causes it to close because you are saving the file, but what if I have other operations to perform before I want to save? I have to find the min max values for X and Y after I create the bbox, and then translate all entities based on this back to 0,0. I have all of this working but I wasn't able to get the bbox dialog to close on it's own until I used the shellandwait command. I need to read up more on VB scripting so I don't waste everyones time with questions. Thanks everyone.