macro question

[powerfulp]

Hello -

 

I know this is a Mastercam forum (& I use mastercam) but I know there are some smart folks here so I pose this question:

 

I am trying to figure out how to write some macros in my g-code program that does the following regarding cycle times:

 

1 - Stores cycle time for each tool every time they are ran. But only keeps one record, the last one.

2 - Stores entire program cycle time.

3 - Stores the last ten program cycle times so they can be easily reviewed.

 

Here is what I have figured-out thus far:

 

The program has five tools and my machine has permanent common variables up to #699 so I thought it could go like this:

 

#601 is for T1's cycle time

#602 is for T2's cycle time

#603 is for T3's cycle time

#604 is for T4's cycle time

#605 is for T5's cycle time

#606 is for accumulative cycle time

#607 thru #616 would store the last 10 cycle times.

 

(This is on a Mazak Horizontal Machining Center with M-32 control)

 

 

So to get and store cycle times for each tool and to get and record the entire cycle time, I would just do this:

 

(First tool runs...)

M6 (Dont' know if I should put the following before or after the tool change)

#602=#3001 (using millisecond counter for getting the cycle time for this tool)

#606=#606+#3001(Accumulated time)

#3001=0

(Next tool runs)

#603=#3001

#606=#606+#3001

#3001=0

(Last tool runs)

<< Same thing with the macro but #3001= happens before the shuttle, not after an M6>>

(Part shuttles out, is changed, and cycle start is hit)

M6

(beginning of program)

#600=#3001 (tells you how long it took to switch parts and start up machine"

#607=#606+#3001 (Stores entire cycle time in #607)

#606=0

#3001=0

 

So I'm thinking I will have to do a conditional statement somewhere in the macro, with a counter, etc in order to get and store the next nine cycle times in variables #608-#616, but I can't figure out exactly how to write that. Can someone help me out with this? I'm pretty green when it comes to macro programming but I think it's awesome and want to learn more and more ways to do stuff with it. I'll continue working on it as I wait for a reply.

 

Also had another quick question: Does the millisecond timer start over after like 60 seconds? I've hear that but then I heard that it goes on till power off or for 77.7 years...

 

Any help is appreciated ... thanks.

[ktechdan]

I would like to read all of that and maybe help you, but the colors are making my eyes bleed.

[crazy^millman]

Hello -

I know this is a Mastercam forum (& I use mastercam) but I know there are some smart folks here so I pose this question:

I am trying to figure out how to write some macros in my g-code program that does the following regarding cycle times:

1 - Stores cycle time for each tool every time they are ran. But only keeps one record, the last one.

2 - Stores entire program cycle time.

3 - Stores the last ten program cycle times so they can be easily reviewed.

Here is what I have figured-out thus far:

The program has five tools and my machine has permanent common variables up to #699 so I thought it could go like this:

#601 is for T1's cycle time

#602 is for T2's cycle time

#603 is for T3's cycle time

#604 is for T4's cycle time

#605 is for T5's cycle time

#606 is for accumulative cycle time

#607 thru #616 would store the last 10 cycle times.

(This is on a Mazak Horizontal Machining Center with M-32 control)

 

So to get and store cycle times for each tool and to get and record the entire cycle time, I would just do this:

(First tool runs...)

M6 (Dont' know if I should put the following before or after the tool change)

#602=#3001 (using millisecond counter for getting the cycle time for this tool)

#606=#606+#3001(Accumulated time)

#3001=0

(Next tool runs)

#603=#3001

#606=#606+#3001

#3001=0

(Last tool runs)

<< Same thing with the macro but #3001= happens before the shuttle, not after an M6>>

(Part shuttles out, is changed, and cycle start is hit)

M6

(beginning of program)

#600=#3001 (tells you how long it took to switch parts and start up machine"

#607=#606+#3001 (Stores entire cycle time in #607)

#606=0

#3001=0

So I'm thinking I will have to do a conditional statement somewhere in the macro, with a counter, etc in order to get and store the next nine cycle times in variables #608-#616, but I can't figure out exactly how to write that. Can someone help me out with this? I'm pretty green when it comes to macro programming but I think it's awesome and want to learn more and more ways to do stuff with it. I'll continue working on it as I wait for a reply.

Also had another quick question: Does the millisecond timer start over after like 60 seconds? I've hear that but then I heard that it goes on till power off or for 77.7 years...

Any help is appreciated ... thanks.

[Guess_who]

Sounds like you can just add some type of counter.

 

Initialize #620 = 607

 

Then as you run though your routine and store your time, have something like this

 

IF #620 GT 616 THEN #620=607

#[#620] = #606 (STORES FIRST TIME IN #607)

#620 = #620 + 1 (THIS WILL INCREMENT UP BY ONE EACH TIME)

 

I hope I understood the question.

[ktechdan]

...awesome quote for readability...

 

Thanks Millman.

 

Powerfulp, this is a pretty cool question. If you are trying to have #608 always store the most recent time and #616 always store the oldest time, you could simply assign like so:

 

#616=#615

#615=#614

#614=#613

#613=#612

#612=#611

#611=#610

#610=#609

#609=#608

#608=#607

[powerfulp]

Hello and thanks for the replies.

 

So what I ended up with for this (with some help), was:

 

 

Oxxxx

(Start of program)

T1M6

#3001=0 (Initialize continuous millisecond timer)

xxx

(Runs the tool)

xxx

T2M6

#601=#3001 (Stores total time from M6 to M6, essentially, for T1)

#606=#606+#3001 (Starts accumulated total time)

#3001=0(resets timer)

xxx

(Runs tool)

xxx

T3M6

#602=#3001 (Stores total time from M6 to M6, this time T2)

#606=#606+#3001(Accumulated total)

#3001=0

etc. till the end of the program, then:

#605=#3001 (Stores time for T5)

#606=#606+#3001 (Accumulated)

(Now, execute a DO Loop to move all the cycle times up one non-volatile variable at a time , then putting the most recent cycle time at the bottom)

#1=1

WHILE [#1 LT 10] DO1

#[#607 + #1] = #[#607 + [#1+1]]

#1 = #1+1

END1

#617=#606(Enters entire cycle time in #617

#606=0

#3001=0

M99

 

(Note: I wanted to skip a couple places for separation on the screen)

If you wanted to, you could put the time it takes to load, unload a part by doing a #3001=#619 before the first tool change.