[chrisryn]

Whats the best way to learn parametric. Anysites or books recommened I have a general understanding but want to learn more before I start using it on production machines.

[deanrach]

Go to the attached link. http://www.programmingunlimited.com/macman.htm

[g-codeguy]

Go to the attached link. http://www.programmingunlimited.com/macman.htm

Are these guys still in business? Sent an email to the sales address, but it bounced. I'd like to purchase one of the manuals if possible.

[dpuch]

For Fanuc Macro B, take a look at cnczone forums post
Also http://www.cncci.com/
There are quite a few atricles and samples of macro programing by mike lynch that you can find on the web for free. He is the big name in teaching macro programing that I know of. But with the manual, and some samples to learn from you can do a lot on your own if you have an aptitude for general programing. (aka non CNC stuff)

Dale

[mark c]

I took this class taught by Mike Lynch from CNCCI:

http://home.universalclass.com/i/crn/8888.htm

I would reccomend it highly. I learned a lot! You can do it at your own pace
HTH

[g-codeguy]

For Fanuc Macro B, take a look at cnczone forums post
Also http://www.cncci.com/
There are quite a few atricles and samples of macro programing by mike lynch that you can find on the web for free. He is the big name in teaching macro programing that I know of. But with the manual, and some samples to learn from you can do a lot on your own if you have an aptitude for general programing. (aka non CNC stuff)

Dale

I've made some master programs using macros and arguments. I want to learn more. Thanks for the links.

another Dale

[deanrach]

My contact at Programming Unlimited is Michael Hubbard - I have attached his contact information below.

"Michael Hubbard - Programming Unlimited" <mwhubbard@programmingunlimited.com>

[g-codeguy]

My contact at Programming Unlimited is Michael Hubbard - I have attached his contact information below.

"Michael Hubbard - Programming Unlimited" <mwhubbard@programmingunlimited.com>

Thanks. An email has been sent.

[g-codeguy]

I took this class taught by Mike Lynch from CNCCI:

http://home.universalclass.com/i/crn/8888.htm

I would reccomend it highly. I learned a lot! You can do it at your own pace
HTH

This course looks like the cat's meow, "purrrfect". Maybe I can get my company to pay for it. They did agree to pay for any college classes I took as long as I wasn't trying to become a lawyer, doctor, etc.

I will get in touch with them, but was wondering if it is skewed towards mill programming. I only program for lathes, although the company said I would be given the opportunity to program mills a couple years ago when I gave my 2-weeks notice. Didn't happen, nor was it a surprise to me. We have 29 CNC lathes and 2 programmers. Both of us also do set-ups. Doesn't leave much free time.

Anyhoo...just curious about the mill side of the class as my knowledge is limited in that area. Programming is programming, but I am not familiar with all the tools available for mills like I am with lathe tooling. Nor am I familiar with some of the mill canned cycles.

[gar]

070602-1307 EST USA

g-codeguy:

Lookup the word parameter in www.dictionary.com .

Basically parametric programming is where you write a subroutine or a section of code to do some general function, but instead of having specific numeric values in spots where you want to change the values from one useage to another you insert a variable instead of the numeric value. Before you call the subroutine you load the variables with the constants you want to use for this particular call.

This is what you do all the time in computer programming.

Therefore there is not anything fundamentaly different between a lathe and a mill.

.

[mark c]

The course will work well for lathe and mill and there are exercises for both in the course. You also get to download lessons and reference materials for what will become a 8.5" x 11" binder about 1.5" thick.
I ended up paying for it myself, cuz I didn't want to jump thru the hoops to get my company to pay for it

[g-codeguy]

Thanks, Mark C. I plan on taking it even if I have to pay for it myself. Thanks to all that responded to my questions. You were all a big help.

[slavetothemetal]

Has anyone seen something similar for OSP controls?

[g-codeguy]

My contact at Programming Unlimited is Michael Hubbard - I have attached his contact information below.

"Michael Hubbard - Programming Unlimited" <mwhubbard@programmingunlimited.com>

It has been several days, and I still haven't heard back. Are they still in business? Kind of makes me leery about sending them my money.

[deanrach]

g-codeguy,

Hold off on sending money. I just dropped a note to Michael. It's been a while since I have talked to him.

[g-codeguy]

g-codeguy,

Hold off on sending money. I just dropped a note to Michael. It's been a while since I have talked to him.

Thanks for the reply. Will wait on you.

[gar]

070610-1555 EST USA

How do you folks define "parametric programming"?
How does this correlate with the definition of "parameter", or "parametric"?
For one reference see
www.dictionary.com
This expands to a number of other dictionary references.

How do you define "macro"?
How do you use the word "macro"?
Again I would refer you to dictionary.com .

There seems to be a tendency to equate "paramteric programming" on a one-to-one basis with Fanuc "Custom Macro A & B", or HAAS "MACROS", whereas these are an extension of the basic CNC machine language that allows one to do "parametric programming" in the true sense of the words.

.

[dpuch]

Actually the basic programming without macros is not parametric. You get 1 result per program. Without the macro language stuff enabled the functions to replace a variable in your code is not there.

One way to look at parametric programing is the G-code is your 'formula' By changing the input parameter you change the finished part. The basic idea is you write 1 program that can produce different versions of a part by changing a parameter. An easy example would be a lathe program that you can change the length/diameter by changing a variable on the control. Either by making predefined configurations 1, 2, 3, ect. or by entering the diameter 1.5, 3.0 4.0 directly in the parameter. What you can do with it is largely up to your imagination.

Other uses are to write a sub program that can be used many times in different conditions. The fixed cycles built into controls are an example of this. I don't count these in my first argument above because you can't change them. Bout you can recreate them with a sub using macros. This allows you to make your own custom fixed cycles.

[gar]

070610-2`126 EST USA

dpuch:

Do you consider the following to be a parametric program?

Initialization stuff

G01 X0 y0
X [25 * sin 30.] Y [25 * cos 30.]
X [25 * sin 32.] Y [25 * cos 32.]
etc.

end stuff.

If so, then why? This is to provoke answers form others as well as you.

.

[Sump Cleaner]

Gar,

I would not consider this to be parametric. This to me is just trig in a program. To me parametric is all about mathamatical equasions that 'relate' everythig together. An example would be on a 4th axis. If you have a part with a set of co-ordinates, then any work done to the part at any other angle would be an expression of the main co-ords. If you move the main co-ords, all others update automatically. Or lets say in the case of your code, if you wrote everthing as an expression of an angle (like polar co-ords) and if you change that angle, all machined features automatically update. This is what parametric is all about to me.

Just my 2¢

Jon K