[ger21]

Been trying to lay out the interface for the next version. I was going with separate windows for different settings. However, looking back at my post #110, I think the single window with tabs is a better way to go. I'll probably have a separate window to assign machining to individual objects, though. But it'll only have options pertinent to the selected object.

I'm going to remove some of the things I was thinking of. No incremental code, no absolute IJ mode. This shouldn't matter to anyone, and would just be a waste of my time to program.

There's a few things I had forgotten about, that I'll need to add back in. Drill cycles is one. Lathe mode is another, but may need to wait until yet another version, since I don't have a lathe, and don't have much time.

I've come up with a simple idea to assign machining order to the objects. When the macro is started, I'll go through the objects and assign an order based on the as drawn order. Then the user will be able to click on any object and assign a new order. The assigned order will be attached to the objects, and will be saved with the drawing. Thinking about it now, I think that all cutting parameters will be attached to the objects and saved with the drawing. So if you've created code from a drawing and saved it, then need to create the code again in the future, it should only take 2 or 3 clicks to get the same code.

Anyway, feature requests or ideas are welcome. Don't expect anything soon, as I won't start writing code until I have the interface complete.

[trevis1st]

Is it possible to convert this macro for use in Intellicad? I understand there maybe to many differences between Intellicad and Autocad.

[ger21]

I don't have IntelliCAD or the time to do it, but it probably could. 99% of it is very simple VBA code, mostly if...then statements.

Only two things I can think of off the top of my head that might not work. One, I use an AutoCAD VBA method called Angle From X axis to calculate arcs, but they this could be duplicated with a little trig. Second, and more important, is that AutoCAD allows me to assign my own data to drawing entities, which I use to assign different machining parameters to different lines and circles. Not sure if IntelliCAD lets you do this.

[Khalid]

Gerry..Great to see you again after a long long time in this thread... I heard that you also worked some programming for rotary axis...Am i right??

[ger21]

.. I heard that you also worked some programming for rotary axis...Am i right??

No, not me. At least not yet.

[ger21]

Since I don't actually have a machine to run, I hadn't noticed that my code for G41/G42 circles no longer works correctly in Mach3. It did work perfectly when I wrote this, but apparently something has changed in Mach3's comp code. Even the lockdown version, 2.63, does not work correctly. What happens is than when making a helical cut, the final cut at the final depth does not complete the circle, and retracts too soon. I may fix this in the future, but not right now, for two reasons.

1) There are currently some bugs in Mach3's comp, that are slated to be fixed in the near future. I don't want to make changes when the bug fixes may break them again, so I'll wait until Mach's comp is completely fixed. When Mach3 gets fixed, I'll think about fixing it then.

2) I'm slowly working on the next version. Depending on how far along it is, I may not want to go back and fix this one. But this new one will take a while, so I may just fix this one to get it working correctly.


In the mean time, I'd just recommend not using the G41/G42 for circles. You can still cut circles the size they are drawn by checking the "Actual Size" box, and the macro will do the compensation.

G41/G42 should still work fine for polylines, though.

[ger21]

I've come up with a simple idea to assign machining order to the objects. When the macro is started, I'll go through the objects and assign an order based on the as drawn order. Then the user will be able to click on any object and assign a new order. The assigned order will be attached to the objects, and will be saved with the drawing. Thinking about it now, I think that all cutting parameters will be attached to the objects and saved with the drawing. So if you've created code from a drawing and saved it, then need to create the code again in the future, it should only take 2 or 3 clicks to get the same code.

Anyway, feature requests or ideas are welcome. Don't expect anything soon, as I won't start writing code until I have the interface complete.

First, I went back to the single tabbed window.

Then, I got tired of working on the interface, and decided to start writing some code. As I slowly get it working, I'll have a better idea of what the interface needs to have. One area that was holding me up was tool changes and two spindles. In the end, I think I'll assign both a tool # and spindle# to each operation, but will also have an option so the second spindle is invisible for those with only one.


I started to write code for the machining order. I got it to assign the order to all the objects when I start the macro. Then I discovered a problem. Everytime I started the macro, it would reset the order. So them I spent about 6 hours trying to figure out how to check if the order was assigned, and if it was, then leave it alone. So I finally got that working tonight. I also have re-ordering partially done. I can move an object up in the order, but not yet down. But that'll be easy.

Just thought of something. If I copy and paste something, it has the same order as the object it was copied from. Back to the drawing board.... I think I'll need to set it so that if there are duplicates, everything will get reordered. The assigned order, btw, is the order the objects were drawn.

Bottom line is that if anything is added to the drawing, any custom order will be reset. Have to make some compromises, or this will end up far more complicated than it needs to be.

Comments welcome.

[ger21]

Anyone want to test out the cut ordering? Draw some lines or circles, run the macro and click the "Edit Cut Order" button. Nothing else is currently functioning, except the object selection. There's a bunch of error checking, but doing something that generates an error message more than once may result in a crash.

When you start the macro, it checks all the objects to see if the cut order has been previously assigned to all the objects in the drawing. If any objects do not have an order assigned, the order is assigned to all objects in the order they were drawn. The order is attached to the objects and will remain with them as long as you don't add any new objects. Even if you save the drawing and reopen it later. Suggestions welcome.

[kenlong65]

:stickpoke:idea:

For all those using AutoCAD 2000 and wanting to try my macro, bad news. I installed 2000 today and found a few major problems. VBA in 2000 doesn't have the Round and Formatnumber functions, which I used extensively. Since I'm not a programmer, I wouldn't know how to work around their absence. And even if I did, I'm not sure I'd want to go through all the code making all the needed changes. And their may be more problems that I'm not aware of.

However, if their is someone with decent VBA skills and AutoCAD2000 that would like to tackle this, PM me. But remember, I'm not a programmer, and there is a LOT of sloppy code.

Was not kidding in my pm to you last weekend, am willing to tackle the acad 2000 problem for kicks and the kool app. You can retain all intellectual property rights I'm just dieing to see the logic path of your brain child.
and I love a good chalange :drowning:

[ger21]

I PM'd you back, Sorry for the delay.

[Khalid]

Gerry very Nice work.. Can You introduce Lathe Functionality in your AutoCad Add-in Macro?

[ger21]

I have way too many projects going right now, and this one is on the back burner after I make a few changes for Ken.

Check out the Mach3 Screen forum for what I'm currently working on.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=78

Also need to finish a router so i can use some of this stuff I've been doing.

[kenlong65]

Greetings Gerry,

The new interface makes me want to go and get Mach3!

You may not be writing in C++ but your still a programmer in my book.

I believe the real art is in software design and you got what it takes.

:cheers:

[ger21]

Ken, I've got the comp fixes 90% done, and hope to have it to you sometime this weekend.

And you can download Mach3 for free. I use the trial version for all my code testing.

[kenlong65]

Thank You Gerry No Rush.

I'll look into Mach 3 tonight.

Thanks for the tip.

[ger21]

Fixed the circle G41/G42 problem with Mach3.

V0.42

[ger21]

Found a minor bug this morning while attempting to make a tutorial video. In some cases, when assigning custom properties to circles, options may have been checked when they were not actually applied to the circle. Fixed this.

Also, a while ago a changed the circular pockets from a segmented path to a path made up of G2/G3 arcs. It uses a Mach3 trick to get a true spiral from G2/G3's.

Version 0.43

[geoff3881]

Hi Gerry,
I have moved from the Mach forum as per your suggestion.
I have downloaded the files etc. as per the guidance manual and intended to run the program from the "tools menu" as suggested ie. macro>load project.
Question "which tools menu are you referring to ?"

Geoff

[ger21]

AutoCAD's "Tools" menu. Should be between "Format" and "Draw".

[geoff3881]

Have now found the macro screen in AutoCAD. ( I was looking in Mach !! - brain not engaged !) On the macro screen the RUN button is not active so I cannot progess further. Any suggestions ?
Geoff