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Anonymous
643 Vistas, 2 Respuestas

Want a Macro Recorder?

I am new to FeatureCam, but have previous programming experience. So the first thing I started looking for in FeatureCAM was a macro recorder or someway to almost completetly automate graphics and tool path for families of parts. I have seen some of the options within FeatureCAM for families of parts, but it does not appear to completely automate the programming and still requires a programmer to be present. My previous software experience allowed me to record every step of making a part program from beginning to end (including generating code and automatic printing) and then add variables and or formulas that allowed the user (NONPROGRAMMER) to simply answer a few dimensional questions that appear in a popup or panel, thus allowing me to stay home on weekends if I wanted to or not have to come in if I were sick or hurt. I also created a button on the top toolbar for the NONPROGRAMMER to be able to select from the different programs created. The other advantage was that some parts would take 2.5 hours to two days for me to manually program would now take 5 minutes or less using a properly written macro and the program would be correct every single time. I am curious if anyone else has an interest in making this an improvement within FeatureCAM, or has a comment about it? If you do have an interest in this improvement please make sure you create a ticket in the "Ideas and Suggestion" section of the Autodesk Support Requests so they understand the volume of need for this improvement.

 

Thank you fro reading.

spencer.hardcastle
en respuesta a: Anonymous

Hi @Anonymous,

 

Withing FeatureCAM, we do have the ability to customise the user experience as well as automating the a wide variety of processes within the software. This can be achieved by utilising the FeatureCAM API (Application Programming Interface), which is written using Visual Basic code. The API mimics very closely what can be achieved using the user interface.

 

To access the API, please navigate to the View menu and then "Basic IDE...". This will display the environment for writing macro's. FeatureCAM is installed with a variety of previously created Add-In's and Macro's, including some examples to get you started with writing your own. These can be found by navigating to the Options menu and then by selecting "Add-Ins...". By then selecting "Library...", you have access to a variety of add-ins which are split-up into various categories. By selecting "Include Programming Examples", a variety of useful examples can be accessed. 

 

FeatureCAM also has a dedicated help archive specifically for writing macro's and Add-Ins, which can be accessed from the help menu, followed by "FeatureCAM API Help". This provides examples of every object, property, method and event that can by used within a macro.

 

Unfortunately, we do not have a method for recording macros, due to the fact that FeatureCAM uses an API interface.

 

Hope this answers your question and helps you to start automating FeatureCAM using the powerful API. If training in the API is something you are interested in, please contact your local Autodesk office for further details.


Spencer Hardcastle
Manager of Customer Advocacy - Autodesk Fusion
Anonymous
en respuesta a: spencer.hardcastle

That is truely a shame! I am not very familiar with basic, but  have known about it for quite some time. A macro recorder could have helped myself and many others make quantum leaps in educating ourselves, significantly reduce our custom macro development time as well as reduced programming time for parts specific to our company. The lack of the macro recorder, in my opinion, is probably the biggest flaw that I have found in FeatureCAM so far. When choosing CAM softwares I typically look for this capability, among others capabilities, and it plays a significant role in the decision making process.Emoticono frustrado