I have been working with Mastercam and Excel VBA to crack the almighty mass editing of the tools and have accomplished this as far as I am concerned with VBA. I now want to export my Excel sheet to text so I can import it back into Mastercam. I can export my excel to text but there are too many spaces between the data and Mastercam won't use it. I have tried changing the column spaces in excel but the data is too varied. Is there a way to make a converter that will put just 1 space between each set of data?? code: This is my data after being exported to text: 1 - TOOL 2 - 1 3 - #64 .0360 DRILL 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 19 3 0 0 0 0 118 19 19 5 50 200 18000 162 1 -1 8 - 0 0. 0. 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 - 0. 0.625 1.5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 code: This is how the data needs to be formated: 1 - TOOL 2 - 0 3 - #29 .1360 NC DRILL 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 60 3 0 0.136 0. 0. 118. 60 60 37.4 50. 200. 9128 16 2 0 -1 8 - 0 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 9 - 0. 0.9375 1.9375 0.9375 0.136 0. 0. 0 0. 0. 0 11 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thanks in advance for any help

Alex have you worked on this project anymore? Im having unhandled exceptions when switching from tool to tool. Awesome idea tho...

Dave that is the best signature I think Ive read in awhile...

Don't know anything about VBscript but thank you for the reply Ill just work with what I have. Thank You

I am using the standard mill.set set-up sheet but want to be prompted for a save location rather then it just saving it in the same place as my MCX. Is there a way to do this? Ive searched the forums but all I get is information about ALL the different set-up sheets we wish we could get our hands on... Thanks in advance

Does anyone use the material library and allow the tools speeds and feeds to be calculated? My boss thinks maybe we should be using this. Currently I have tool libraries for each machine broke down by material using the tools most conservative numbers for that material and then we fine tune the tools depending on the job and type of cuts. example: Aluminum.tool, steel.tools etc...

Thanks alot!

Had a brain fart I know Ive done this before. When you select which machine you want to use in Mastercam you know how you now have machine group properties and it shows default paths for tool library, operation library and operation defaults. I changed the paths for the operation library and operation defaults in the machine definition but can't seem to find how to change the tool library path to get it to stick to that machine. How do I do this? Thanks in advance X3 trying to change on a milling machine if it matters

Now that our posts are good. I am working on the set-up sheet and I have already cut the fat off of it but I need to put a tool list at the top of the set-up sheet much like our programs. Like this: Ideal PMT Machine Set-up Sheets - MILL.SET ========================================= PROGRAM NAME = 351479 DATE PROCESSED = OCT. 22 2008 TIME = 1:18 PM MACHINE NAME = KITAMURA HORIZONTAL GROUP NAME = 2ND OP - AFTER PLATING -------------------------------------------------------------- TOOL LIST : (T1 | #36 .1065 JOBBER DRILL) (T2 | #21 .159 JOBBER DRILL) (T3 | #3 .213 JOBBER DRILL) (T4 | 6-32 CUTTING TAP ) (T5 | 10-32 CUTTING TAP ) (T6 | 1/4-28 CUTTING TAP ) -------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATION COMMENT = DRILLS 3 6-32 UNC 2B HOLES ON FACE OF PART A0. TOOL NAME = #36 .1065 JOBBER DRILL TOOL NUM. = 1 SPINDLE = 10000 FEEDRATE = 35. MAXIMUM Z DEPTH = -0.6700 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ETC... I have added this to the set-up sheet: code: pwrtt$ # Write tool table, scans entire file, null tools are negative if rotaxis$ > 0 | rotary_type$ > 0 | mill5$ <> 0, [ sav_rot_on_x = rot_on_x output_z = no$ ] if vmc = 0 & tlplnno$ <> 2, sav_rot_on_x = rot_on_x if vmc = 1 & tlplnno$ > 1, sav_rot_on_x = rot_on_x #sav_rot_on_x = rot_on_x #Uncomment this line to output rotary axis value even when it's not used t$ = wbuf(4,wc4) #Buffers out tool number values if tool_table = 1, ptooltable if tool_table = 2, ppredtool if tool_table = 3, pmetatool if t$ >= zero, tcnt = tcnt + one ptravel pwritbuf5 ptooltable # Write tool table, scans entire file, null tools are negative tnote = t$ toffnote = tloffno$ tlngnote = tlngno$ spaces$=0 if t$ >= zero, [ if tcr$>0, scomm_str, *t$, ptspace, " - ", plistcomm, " - ", *tlngno$, phspace, " - ", *tloffno$, pdspace, " - ", *tldia$, punit, pdiamspc, " - ", *tcr$, punit, scomm_end, e$ if tcr$=0, scomm_str, *t$, ptspace, " - ", plistcomm, " - ", *tlngno$, phspace, " - ", *tloffno$, pdspace, " - ", *tldia$, punit, pdiamspc, scomm_end, e$ ] I think thats a good start but... I also know I need more

bump... any ideas

X2 MR2, I do indeed regenerate I wonder if it is something in the post Ive messed up in my editing of the post? any ideas?

When I do a manual entry it posts right until I edit the manual entry. Once I edit the manual entry the post doesn't read it again and doesn't post the changes Ive made. Is this something in my post or maybe a bug or maybe a check box I don't have checked? Thanks again, you guys are great!

Did that its not outputting per tool... I want it to group tools of the same together and only switch parts when the tool is done on G54 before moving to G55 what i was doing is putting a transform after every tool group but seems like there is a better way?

Where is that located how do I access that?

I used transform toolpath and chose operation type to organize the toolpaths problem is its doing its job but I want diffrent results. Lets say Im facing, billeting then cutting off a part on G54 then G55. Well its facing G54 then facing G55 coming back to G54 billeting then billeting G55 going to G54 cutting off then G55 cut off. If I choose operation order it completes G54 then G55. Thats ok but Id rather it went by tool, face, billet G54, then face, billet G55 then cut off G54 then G55. That makes sense to me but Im sure its confusing what im looking to do is group toolpaths so im not wasting rapid time going part to part and im not wasting toolchange time going from part to part. Ill leave it at that... Thanks in advance for any help

Thanks Ill just have to start the task and get it done! Thanks again

*BUMP*

I searched for this topic and found some information but I had a few questions. I see alot recommend going into the tool library and just creating all the tools while inputting the parameters and save each tool thats fine but seems like it would take FOREVER so my question is has anyone perfected using access or excel or something to make this a little faster or am I stuck with creating each tool seeting it up etc...?? Thanks in advance X2 MR2 and X3

For refrence in the future and because it took me 2 days to get it here is what it took in the end: code: programmer : 0 #Prompts for programmers name 1=Dustin 2=Joe DAS code: fq 3 programmer "Enter Programmer's Number [1=Dustin,2=Joe]" code: sprogrammer # Initialize a string variable # Line MUST start in the first column! # And NOT be 'inside' a postblock. pcollect # Collect info while programmer < 1 | programmer > 2, q3 #force programmer to enter a 1 or 2 if programmer = 1, [ sprogrammer = "Dustin" ] else, [ sprogrammer = "Joe" ] code: pheader$ #Call before start of file pcollect code: scomm_str, *month$, "/", *day$, "/", year$, " ", *hour, ":", *min, [if time$ < 12, "AM"], [if time$ >= 12, " PM"] " EC-400 ", *sprogrammer, scomm_end, e$ and it looks like this when done: (09/11/2008 9:31AM EC-400 Dustin) I took the idea from code_breaker as seen in the link in my initial post.

By the way I really do appreciate the help... Im trying to teach myself and you guys are GREAT with the help

THANK YOU Rodger I copied in what you posted there and works good now :-p I missed initializing the string variable didn't know that part... Thanks to everyone

How do I initializing the string variable 'sprogrammer'? Not sure what you guys mean by that? All the code is matched up correctly I think. I was changing things to see if I had messed up code. programmer is the variable and used to callout my format statement. the sprogrammer is used as my string variable? This is my first time tryen this usually Im a cut the code not working paste the code that does work. How do I initialize my string variable "sprogrammer" Is my current question

Ill try that later gotta get away from the computer for a bit... thanks again ill let you know asap

This is what I have now: O0000 (JUNK program) (09/10/2008 11:40AM EC-400 ) (T1 | 3/8 3-FL ISCAR ENDMILL) (T5 | 1/8 2FL E.M. ) Im looking for this: O0000 (JUNK program) (09/10/2008 11:40AM EC-400 Dustin ) (T1 | 3/8 3-FL ISCAR ENDMILL) (T5 | 1/8 2FL E.M. )

pcollect has a post block that i have put under the psof$ pcollect also has a call block located right after my pheader so pheader is read it calls pcollect and ask for data? pcollect isn't collecting data... So where can i move the pcollect post block to collect data before pheader calls for it? also i think my problem is within the pcollect post block here it is again along with locations: This piece is located within "Common User-defined Variable Initializations (not switches!)" code: programmer : 0 #Prompts for programmers name 1=Dustin 2=Joe DAS This piece is under "Question format statements" code: fq 3 pick "Enter Programmer's Number [1=Dustin,2=Joe]" This is in psof$ code: psof$ #Start of file for non-zero tool number pcollect # Collect info while programmer < 1| programmer > 2, q3 #force programmer to enter a 1 or 2 if programmer = 1, [ sprogrammer = "Dustin" ] else, [ sprogrammer = "Joe" ] The callout to pcollect is with pheader code: pheader$ #Call before start of file pcollect This is my Date/Time/Machine/Programmer line within my pheader code: scomm_str, *month$, "/", *day$, "/", year$, " ", *hour, ":", *min, [if time$ < 12, "AM"], [if time$ >= 12, " PM"] " EC-400 ", *sprogrammer, scomm_end, e$ keep it comen im sooo close