Active Reports- adding maximum Z depth to tool list

[tony1001]

I have modified the Active Reports Tool List (MILL-SIMPLE).rpx file to look like the picture, but in that last column I can't figure out (if possible) how to get it to put out a maximum Z depth for the tools. I tried putting in MAX-Z in the "DataField" and also where it says "Text," but it just stays blank. Basically, what I'm after in that column is if I have 3 operations that use the same tool, is there a way to get it to output the deepest Z point among those 3 operations? 

 

 

Thanks

[Guest]

Make sure you are pulling the Z out of the Operation and not the tool

-<OPERATION>

<SPACER>SJV</SPACER>

<NAME>8 - Helix Bore</NAME>

<COMMENT>3/8 FEM / MILL HOLDING BORE INTO JAWS / -1.042</COMMENT>

<COOLANT>Flood</COOLANT>

<DEPTH>-1.0425</DEPTH>  <<<<<<<<------------------------From here

<PROG-NUM>5897</PROG-NUM>

<STOCK-TO-LEAVE>0.0</STOCK-TO-LEAVE>

<TPLANE-PLANE-NAME>5897</TPLANE-PLANE-NAME>

<TPLANE-PLANE-NUMBER>4</TPLANE-PLANE-NUMBER>

<CPLANE-PLANE-NAME>5897</CPLANE-PLANE-NAME>

<CPLANE-PLANE-NUMBER>4</CPLANE-PLANE-NUMBER>

<WCS-PLANE-NAME>5897</WCS-PLANE-NAME>

<WCS-PLANE-NUMBER>4</WCS-PLANE-NUMBER>


-<TOOL>

<SPACER>SJV</SPACER>

<COMMENT>3/8 ENDMILL</COMMENT>

<COOLANT>Flood</COOLANT>

<CORNER-RADIUS>0.0</CORNER-RADIUS>

<DESCRIPTION>#1 - 0.3750 ENDMILL1 FLAT - 3/8 ENDMILL</DESCRIPTION>

<NAME>3/8 ENDMILL</NAME>

<DIAMETER>0.375</DIAMETER>

<DIAMETER-OFFSET>1</DIAMETER-OFFSET>

<LENGTH-OFFSET>1</LENGTH-OFFSET>

<MATERIAL>Carbide</MATERIAL>

<NUMBER>1</NUMBER>

<TYPE>Endmill1 Flat</TYPE>

<ASSY-NAME>.500 LOC - 1.12 OUT OF HOLDER</ASSY-NAME>

<HOLDER-NAME>DEFAULT HOLDER</HOLDER-NAME>

<HOLDER-LIB>NA</HOLDER-LIB>

</TOOL>

[themachinist]

Yes, there are two places to find tool information in the setup sheet. Under TOOLS and under OPERATION. You want to use the fields that are under OPERATION:

 

SETUPSHEET/NCFILE/OPERATION/TOOL/MIN-Z  (minimum z i.e. max depth)

SETUPSHEET/NCFILE/OPERATION/TOOL/MAX-Z (opposite - usually clearance plane or retract plane)

[tony1001]

Thanks guys, I will take a look at that.

[tony1001]

I have been messing with this for a while now, but I'm still missing something. Where should I look to make sure that it is pulling the Z depth from the OPERATION instead of the TOOL? I tried copying the subreport so that there is one that has a recordset pattern that says //TOOL for the first 6 columns and the other subreport has a recordset pattern that says //OPERATION for the Max Z depth column. If I preview it, the Max Z depth column shows the -.5 from the XML file, but if I do the report from the tool manager in Mastercam, the column is still blank.

[themachinist]

I have been messing with this for a while now, but I'm still missing something. Where should I look to make sure that it is pulling the Z depth from the OPERATION instead of the TOOL? I tried copying the subreport so that there is one that has a recordset pattern that says //TOOL for the first 6 columns and the other subreport has a recordset pattern that says //OPERATION for the Max Z depth column. If I preview it, the Max Z depth column shows the -.5 from the XML file, but if I do the report from the tool manager in Mastercam, the column is still blank.

 

Can you check to make sure there is a value in the XML file? Or post the XML here and we can take a look.

 

Post the setup sheet

Open this folder: %my mcamx9%\common\reports\XML

Look for the newest *.xml file

 

By the way, you can see an example of how to do what you are asking by looking at this template I published a while back: http://www.emastercam.com/board/topic/83094-free-activereports-template-for-setup-sheets/

[tony1001]

Here is what comes up in the XML file:

 

B112.xml

 

I see there is no section for operations, and I'm not sure how to add it. Under Data source, it is set to go here C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx9\common\reports\SST\Samples\Mill\SSM.xml, using the sample file that comes with Mastercam in that folder.

 

I tried to upload the tool list files, but I get an error saying I'm not permitted.

 

I'll check out your link when I have a chance, my internet access is limited.

[themachinist]

Wow, I'm sorry! I misread your original post. You are working with the tool list, not the setup sheet. Depth information is tied to the operation and, as far as I know, only included when generating a setup sheet. You can use your tool list as a setup sheet to get around this.

[MichaelH]

I see this topic is almost 12 months old but I also have a problem with my tool z depths and the set sheet.

 

Similar to the above set sheet, I too am posting MAX Z depth. This works fine for all tools on OP1 in TOP plane.

 

As soon as I flip too bottom plane and posted set sheet the MAX Z depth is still using TOP plane. I then changed T & C plane to bottom while leaving Shifted OP2 plane as is, this then worked.

 

All was well so I thought.

 

OP3 is front view, rotated 180 deg and set to op3 plane. Nothing I try can give me the correct MAX-Z value. It gives my TOP view Y value.

 

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

[MichaelH]

Wey Hey! solved my own problem. In the report I was using min-z, having looked in the xml file the value I needed was in min-z3. works a dream.