topic Betreff: Need help altering my macro to create a tool from database in PowerMill Forum

Need help altering my macro to create a tool from database

E-Singer89 — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:32:40 GMT

So we have a macro that we run for drilling holes in plates. Currently we use one macro to separate the featureset into multiple featuresets by size then a second macro to drill those featuresets. The macro currently creates a new tool based on the featureset size. Is there an easy way to change this so that it first checks the project to make sure the tool doesnt already exist; and then if it doesnt goes and grabs the correct drill from the database to use in the drilling program?

current macro looks like this

Betreff: Need help altering my macro to create a tool from database

icse — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 08:24:54 GMT

try this:

STRING msg6 = "Please highlight all numbered feature sets." + CRLF + "Then hit RESUME." MACRO PAUSE $msg6 FOREACH $f IN explorer_selected_entities() { REAL d = $f.Name IF $d <= 1.0 { STRING $dName = "" + $d + "" ACTIVATE FEATURESET $dName REAL $diameter = $d IMPORT TEMPLATE ENTITY TOOLPATH TMPLTSELECTORGUI "deep_drill.ptf" ////////////////////////////////////////////// //get a list of all drills with given diameter entity list $tools = filter(folder('tool'),'this.Type == "drill" and this.Diameter == "' + $diameter + '"') //if list contains any drill with given diameter Activate that tool if size($tools) > 0 { activate tool ${tools[0].Name} } else { //check if theres a drill witth given diameter in the tool database FORM TOOLDBSEARCH TOOLDB QUERY SET TOOL_TYPE DRILL TOOLDB QUERY SET MIN_DIAMETER ${diameter} TOOLDB QUERY SET MAX_DIAMETER ${diameter} TOOLDB QUERY PRESET int $num = list_num_rows('ToolDBToolSearch.TDBResultsList') //if so activate that tool, if not create a tool... if $num > 0 { TOOLDB RESULTS_LIST SELECT 0 NEW TOOLDB RESULTS_LIST CREATE SELECTED TOOLDBSEARCH ACCEPT } else { TOOLDBSEARCH ACCEPT //Your Tool Creation Code goes here CREATE TOOL ; DRILL EDIT TOOL ; DIAMETER $diameter EDIT TOOL ; NUMBER COMMANDFROMUI 1 STRING newTool = $diameter + "_Drill" RENAME Tool ; $newTool } } ////////////////////////////////////////////////////// EDIT TPPAGE SWDrilling EDIT DRILL TYPE DEEP_DRILL EDIT DRILL DEPTH HOLE EDIT PAR 'AxialDepthOfCut.UserDefined' '1' EDIT DRILL PECK_DEPTH "0.05" EDIT TPPAGE SWToolRapidMv EDIT TOOLPATH SAFEAREA CALCULATE_DIMENSIONS EDIT TOOLPATH SAFEAREA PLUNGE_SIZE "0" EDIT TPPAGE SWFeedSpeed EDIT FEEDRATE CUTTING_SPEED "60" IF $diameter >= .75 { EDIT FRATE "2.0" EDIT PRATE "2.0" } ELSE { EDIT FRATE "3.0" EDIT PRATE "3.0" } EDIT COOLANT ON EDIT TPPAGE SWDrilling

Betreff: Need help altering my macro to create a tool from database

E-Singer89 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:20:15 GMT

So that worked as intended mostly, thank you! I made sure it didn't try to make new tools once tools were already in the program as well. However, the only odd thing it does that I can't seem to find why is that it's renaming the very first tool it brings in with a name of "1"

I did have one other question. I tried searching the forum but only found a solution for when using drilling methods and not standard drilling toolpaths; but is there a way to make it so peck depth is set to .1 of the tool diameter instead of the .05 static peck in the macro? I am new to using macros and the guy that used to write them where i work is no longer with us, so im trying to learn as much as i can.

Betreff: Need help altering my macro to create a tool from database

icse — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:52:24 GMT

1st point, maybe the tool is contained in your template:

IMPORT TEMPLATE ENTITY TOOLPATH TMPLTSELECTORGUI "deep_drill.ptf"

you can add this line to edit the peck depth:

EDIT PAR 'AxialDepthOfCut.UserDefined' '1' EDIT DRILL PECK_DEPTH ${Tool.Diameter / 10}

Betreff: Need help altering my macro to create a tool from database

E-Singer89 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:21:12 GMT

Ahhhh yes. My template did have a tool built into it. I thought I had saved it without, thank you. Also, the peck depth works, thank you!