Tips & Tricks

[GlennM.MCAM]

Hi all!

I thought it would be a good idea to post some tips and tricks for certain actions. Some of you will know them, other don't.
Please post as much tips & tricks as you want. Here are mine:

Since it is not possible to export the stockmodel as a dmt file, I save the viewmill state as dmt and use that as a block.

If you need a selection of your model and want to save this selection, use this macro:

CREATE LEVEL ; MODELCOMPSET
EDIT LEVEL # ACQUIRE SELECTED

Greetings,

Glenn

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone.

It came up with a very simple but comfortable control.

Press Ctrl + Alt + cilck mouse on a surface.

Doing so will select all the surfaces of that color

Thank you all

[rui_rita]

@iamcdn79

maybe with "macro pause 'CREATE YOU SKETCH"

you can have both macros running...

[iamcdn79]

Thanks @rui_rita 

STRING Msg = "" 
MACRO PAUSE $Msg

 worked for me

[iamcdn79]

In Powermill 2018 you can use your mouse wheel to scroll between the tabs on the ribbon interface instead of clicking

[cory_barrette]

Hey @iamcdn79,

Nice tip!

[iamcdn79]

In Powermill 2018, Replay Limits!!!!!

After editing your toolpath you do not have to redo your trim limits if you want to change your stepover, thickness, tolerance, tool etc. See Attached video

You have to have the box checked on in File->Options->Application Options->Toolpaths->Calculation

[Anonymous]

I got it, great. Thanks. 

[urizenYHS3W]

You can turn it on/off on individual toolpaths with

  EDIT PAR "AutoReplay" "1"

  EDIT PAR "AutoReplay" "0"

followed by EDIT TOOLPATH ; REAPPLY.

There should be some GUI for it soonish.

[5axes]

---

urizenYHS3W wrote :

There should be some GUI for it soonish.

---

I would say it's already implemented via the option "Automatically replay edits"

[5axes]

Hello,

One Tips & Tricks concerning the creation of a Tool Holder  from a 3D Model with just 2 functions of PMILL. Thanks to the new function used to define the turning profile and introduce in PMILL 2017 you can now easily define your Tool holder from a 3D Model.

STEP 1: Load in PMILL your 3D Model. The Z direction must be well oriented but if the model comes from a Tool supplier it should be the case.

STEP 2 : create a pattern and use the "Spun Profile" function to detect the Profile. You don't need to care about the position of the origine, It must be just on the Central axis of the Holder.

STEP 3: In the tool holder definition use the the function "Create Holder from the selected pattern"  .. That's it 

[GlennM.MCAM]

I always store my projects in the network location of our customer and mould number. This macro gets the modelpath and uses the name of the model in the menu tree.

I thought this might come in handy for some people also.

Planes are ignored. With multiple models you get a popup to select the name to be used. If the project already exists, it will just save it.

STRING LIST models = {}
FOREACH md IN FOLDER('model') {
     IF position($md.name, "Planes") == -1 {
          INT k = add_last($models, $md.name)
     }
}
STRING ModelName = ''
IF size($models) == 1 {
     $ModelName = $models[0]
} ELSE {
     $ModelName = INPUT ENTITY MODEL "Choose model"
}
STRING ModelPath = entity('Model','$ModelName').path
$ModelPath = dirname(ModelPath) 
STRING saveas = $ModelPath + '\' +  $ModelName

//if project already exist, just save it.
IF dir_exists($saveas) { 
PROJECT SAVE

//if project doesn't exist, save it as modelname in model location
} ELSE { 
		BOOL NameCheck = FALSE
		STRING $Question = "Is this path and modelname correct?" +CRLF+ $saveas
		$NameCheck = QUERY $Question
		IF $NameCheck {
		PROJECT SAVE AS $saveas 
		STRING $Message = "Project has been saved in" +CRLF+ $saveas
		MESSAGE INFO $Message
		}
}

[5axes]

Two weeks ago someone have requested a solution to easily measure a draft angle on the part. @N:\PPI\Nominatif\LALLIARD\Test-5x\2017_Essais-5-axes\Vidéo

I'm using the same solution but as usual with the help of a macro (PMILL 2017 / 2018) . This macro is call from a Key Shortcut (F2) in my case.

//
// Measure and display Draft angle Value
// F2 to call the macro
// 	
FUNCTION MAIN() {
If NOT member($session._keys, "DraftAngle") {
	SESSIONPAR BOOL DraftAngle = 0
} 

	MEASURE CLEAR_ALL MODE VECTOR START MEASURE DIRECTION
	MODE DIRECTION ALIGN GEOM
	
IF $session.DraftAngle==0 { 

	VIEW MODEL ; SHADE UNDERCUT
	$session.DraftAngle=1
} ELSE {

// Get the Direction vector
REAL V_I= REAL($widget('DirectionInput.DirectionFrame.I').value)
REAL V_J= REAL($widget('DirectionInput.DirectionFrame.J').value)
REAL V_K= REAL($widget('DirectionInput.DirectionFrame.K').value)

REAL Calc =0

IF $V_K == 0 {
	$Calc=90
} ELSE {
	$Calc=sqrt(($V_I*$V_I)+($V_J*$V_J))
	// PRINT $Calc
	$Calc = Atan($Calc/$V_K)
    if $Calc > 180 {
		$Calc=$Calc-180
	}
}
STRING $Qry = "Draft angle : " + $round($Calc,3)
BOOL Ret = 0
$Ret = QUERY $Qry

IF $Ret  {
	DIRECTION ACCEPT
	$session.DraftAngle=0
} ELSE {
    // Activate Direction measure mode for next value
	MODE DIRECTION ALIGN GEOM
}

}

To use this macro add the shortcut into your keyboard shortcut

Then call the macro each time you need To mesure a point with F2 ( or your shortcut)

• One call will open the measurement Windows. Pick a point on the part where  you want to get the draft angle
• Press again F2 to get the Value

If you not validate the value, you can pick a new point. Press again F2 to get the new value : if you validate the result the macro will close the measurement Windows.

[jonathan.artiss]

Press and hold the Alt key for a few seconds and your quick access toolpath will display numbers over the icons. Press the number to open the function. 

[iamcdn79]

@jonathan.artiss I was always wondering why those numbers popped up liked that, thought it was a bug, is there an option to disable that?

[jonathan.artiss]

@iamcdn79

---

@iamcdn79 wrote:

@jonathan.artiss I was always wondering why those numbers popped up liked that, thought it was a bug, is there an option to disable that?

---

I believe this is the same with all Autodesk products, or similar at least. 

I do not know of a way to disable it. Maybe an option under keyboard shortcuts?

[iamcdn79]

I looked there and Customize the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar but couldn't see anything that would disable that.

Maybe some hidden macro command?

[jonathan.artiss]

@iamcdn79

Looking at this a bit more, I think that it's a Windows setting. Similar options are appearing in my Outlook.... 

Either way, it works in PowerMill and I think it's a cool option. 

[iamcdn79]

---

@5axes wrote:

@Anonymous weeks ago someone have requested a solution to easily measure a draft angle on the part. @N:\PPI\Nominatif\LALLIARD\Test-5x\2017_Essais-5-axes\Vidéo

• One call will open the measurement Windows. Pick a point on the part where  you want to get the draft angle
• Press again F2 to get the Value

---

Nice work, is there a way to get the draft angle displayed without having to hit F2 again? I would just like to pick a point and display that draft angle value

[kukelyk]

I think it is no so cool:

[paolo.bastianelli]

The Alt button tip is definitely a Windows functionality, not just PowerMill specific.

It used to work in previous versions too, it would just appear differently (the first letter of each words would be underlined when pressing Alt, suggesting that pressing F the File dropdown menu would open up, pressing T the Tools dropdown menu would open up and so on - see attached image).

I agree, it gets annoying for users with many icons in their quick access toolbar, but it can be quite useful for those that only have a handful of them.

Thanks,
Paolo