OT I've been a bit busy with other things.

I've had a lot going for the last couple of years including Sterno-Clavicular Joint failure, eventual repair surgery and recovery, losing my Father and dealing with his estate and some other distractions.
I have spent very little time making things over the last year or two, but that's about to change.
I'm getting to the end of installing and commissioning my new mill, I eventually settled on a Syil X7 as the largest thing which would fit in the space available to me.
I went with the full enclosure Combo model, the Siemens 808d Advanced controller with Siemens axis servos, drivers & spindle servo, a 12 tool auto tool changer, 4th axis and flood coolant and 10000rpm spindle.
The factory very kindly added to my order at no additional cost an air blast nozzle, laser mapping of the ball screws and 12000rpm spindle.
I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things sometime next month,
Regards,
Nick

I'm still running V25 BTW ;-)

For fun or for money or both ?
I am still running V28 and it is still great
Sorry about your pa

Thanks JR.
Hopefully it's for both.

I find myself in a situation reminiscent of my days programming the Z80 processor and using a ZX Spectrum as the platform for this and also of the time when I manually analysed the data and coded a merge for two databases from two Rockwell telephony switches to give Dixons Stores Group the multi-site reporting for their new call centre operation in Sheffield.

I'm sitting cross legged on my living room floor surrounded by reams of A4 print out trying to determine why BCC still make available Post Processors which don't work properly and which have never been fit for purpose.

The Siemens Sinumetrik_ 802-840_OEM POST is a prime example of this, I'm working on the assumption that most of their offerings are the result of tasking a slipshod trainee who is being let go due to to lack of aptitude to write a Post Processor on their last Friday afternoon before they move on to designing the rear end of new cars on their Friday afternoons.

I can see where some of the errors crept in, a quick shuftie of the Siemens documentation reveals that they too use reference_plane as a variable and if you went no further you might just bang in the nearest looking BobCAD variables in place and call the job done.
Comparison of diagrams in the Siemens documents with BCC GUI screens and the BCC POST Parameter list, cross referenced with PP output for various sets of values reveals some interesting variance as follows;

Siemens Term______BCC Gui Term______BCC Post Term
Retraction Plane_____Clearance Plane_____initial_plane
Safety Clearance____ Rapid Plane________reference_plane
Reference Plane_____Top of Part_________Not Available (part_height is what I tried but this just yields a zero when it's not zero)

BCC never published full advanced posting documentation for V25 although some of their later documentation suggests it did exist, it would seem that all I need to do is add a dialogue to the relevant wizard and pass a variable through to the POST but the documentation is alas secret, as far as I can determine :D

don't know if this will help

Thanks JR,
I've got as far as getting an extra dialogue page at the end of the Drilling Wizard with a labelled box that's contents are defined as a Real Number but the documentation stops there and doesn't even hint at how the value is passed to the Post Processor, I've tried all variations on the box label with no luck, I honestly don't think I'm that thick, but I can't work it out from the documentation.

I've just found one of Al's early After Dark videos on exactly this, I had to turn off "Use Web Help" for the V25 built in help to show (I don't think I've ever seen it before!) and there's some info there, with that plus everything I now have I can add advanced posting tabs to V25 Wizards and Al's video fills in the gaps on the PP side for grabbing the information.
We'll be millionaires by Christmas Rodders! :D

I've found the file extension list for the files used in the format PostName.Extension and can now create Advanced Posting tabs in the Wizards with the requisite input boxes and check boxes for data input, the input box is created with the following in a file named with PostName.CustomHole

EDIT_BOX,1,REAL
TEXT_LABEL,1,Drill Job Start Plane
DEFAULT_REAL,1,0.0

I've worked out how to call the custom posting Program Blocks using the variables program_block_1, program_block_2 etc.
Can anyone suggest why this program block always yields a zero value?

2007. Program Block 7.
dim dtoh
dtoh = Mill_GetUserEditRealVariable(1)
msgbox(dtoh)
Mill_SetReturnString(dtoh)

The Message box pops up and confirms that dtoh is not being assigned the value entered in Edit Box 1

OK, I think I'm sorted now! :D
Turns out the boxes run (1) to (25) but the numbers to call them run (0) to (24) and the documentation doesn't mention that!

magicniner;

Per your post #4...

BobCad's postprocesser download site/ page is something I would really like to see improved, and have asked BobC. about in the past. Downloaders have little idea what they are downloading, if it might work, what areas are most likely in need of tweaking. Using the software comes with a learning curve, but learning how to make intelligent mods to the postprocessor files is much harder to find documentation on, and fraught with potentially disastrous/ unforeseen consequences.

Example: On BobCad's download page, clicking on "How to Edit a Post" takes me to a site that hasn't been edited since 23 January 2013.

My 2 cents...

Oh, best of health to you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShortTrack

My 2 cents...

Oh, best of health to you.

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All good points and thanks, the shoulder is now not perfect but is far more functional than pre-surgery and pain free, which is nice.

I'm putting together an aide memoir for Advanced Posting and Scripting in which I hope to incorporate the hard to find nuggets of information with which everything seems to fall into place.

I now have the basic drilling cycle finished and working nicely, understanding the terminology for Clearance, Rapid and Top of Part planes helps a lot so I drew myself a diagram.
Siemens, BCC GUI and BCC POST variable terms all differ, with the one exception that Siemens use the variable reference_plane for Top of Part and in Posting BCC use reference_plane for Rapid Plane :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magicniner

All good points and thanks, the shoulder is now not perfect but is far more functional than pre-surgery and pain free, which is nice.

I'm putting together an aide memoir for Advanced Posting and Scripting in which I hope to incorporate the hard to find nuggets of information with which everything seems to fall into place.

I now have the basic drilling cycle finished and working nicely, understanding the terminology for Clearance, Rapid and Top of Part planes helps a lot so I drew myself a diagram.
Siemens, BCC GUI and BCC POST variable terms all differ, with the one exception that Siemens use the variable reference_plane for Top of Part and in Posting BCC use reference_plane for Rapid Plane :D

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Try to get "sbs cycle" "RTM ****" user on this with you. Havnt seen him around on this forum. May still be on other forum...

You 2 may be helpful to each other!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BurrMan

Try to get "sbs cycle" "RTM ****" user on this with you. Havnt seen him around on this forum. May still be on other forum...

You 2 may be helpful to each other!

---

Thanks Burr,
Some of his old posts helped me along, plus some otherwise undocumented hints from old posts from Al DePaulo and I'm sorted.
I'm just going through the Siemens peck drilling cycle variables in the post, correcting the ones which are wrong and adding any missing ones through Advanced Posting tabs in the GUI and then incorporating them through scripting,
Regards & Thanks,
Nick

Hi Nick

Glad to see you back, your expertise with the coding has been missed :D :D :D

Regards
Rob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Engine Guy

Hi Nick

Glad to see you back, your expertise with the coding has been missed :D :D :D

Regards
Rob

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Cheers Rob!
Good to be back.
I've just made my first cuts on 6082 with the Syil X7, it sounds relaxed but the speed of the moves is still putting the wind up me, especially the Z rapids after a tool change! :D
ATB,
Nick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by magicniner

Cheers Rob!
Good to be back.
I've just made my first cuts on 6082 with the Syil X7, it sounds relaxed but the speed of the moves is still putting the wind up me, especially the Z rapids after a tool change! :D
ATB,
Nick

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Z rapids after tool change I have to set to 20 because Haas's coolant takes its sweet ass time to turn on again and reposition,,you must not have that problem,,,that's great

Be Super nice to have an option for Z Rapids after the 1st initial Rapid that I have to set low so the Coolant catches up.In other words each rapid after that point balls to the wall.Is that out of the realm of Scripting ?

No non-return valve or anti-siphon valve in the coolant line so yes, I do, until I fit suitable valves. :D
I've put a pause in after the tool change for the time being but that's a good idea on slower Z rapids!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jrmach

Be Super nice to have an option for Z Rapids after the 1st initial Rapid that I have to set low so the Coolant catches up.In other words each rapid after that point balls to the wall.Is that out of the realm of Scripting ?

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I have a bunch of manual turning to do but I'm looking at that option, a pause only after the 1st tool change or a pause that's near zero after the first tool change, let me see what I can come up with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magicniner

I have a bunch of manual turning to do but I'm looking at that option, a pause only after the 1st tool change or a pause that's near zero after the first tool change, let me see what I can come up with.

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Yeah,I imagine it to be a common problem for most machines,if you get an Einstein moment,please share

Do you have a
(FIRST CUT - FIRST TOOL)
comment in block 2 of your post processor?
If so you can add a pause command long enough for your coolant system to prime and start delivering good flow, after the line in that block with
coolant_on
insert a line with
"G4","?##"
Where ? is the character used for your machine to define a pause time in seconds and ## is the number of seconds, the post processor will pass through the characters in inverted commas and the comma between the two groups of characters will be parsed as a space.
Any use?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jrmach

Yeah,I imagine it to be a common problem for most machines,if you get an Einstein moment,please share

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James

Does you HAAS have the programable coolant nozzles that point the coolant to the end of each tool no matter what the length, if so if memory serves right I did hear somewhere that there should be a built in delay in the control where the nozzles are set to the tools that can be toggled on/off/set, don`t know the age/level of your control so if yours is an early one it may not have that facility or I may have got it all wrong and it was a different make of machine !! (Playing the "age card" here:D :D :D)

Regards

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by magicniner

I've had a lot going for the last couple of years including Sterno-Clavicular Joint failure, eventual repair surgery and recovery, losing my Father and dealing with his estate and some other distractions.
I have spent very little time making things over the last year or two, but that's about to change.
I'm getting to the end of installing and commissioning my new mill, I eventually settled on a Syil X7 as the largest thing which would fit in the space available to me.
I went with the full enclosure Combo model, the Siemens 808d Advanced controller with Siemens axis servos, drivers & spindle servo, a 12 tool auto tool changer, 4th axis and flood coolant and 10000rpm spindle.
The factory very kindly added to my order at no additional cost an air blast nozzle, laser mapping of the ball screws and 12000rpm spindle.
I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things sometime next month,
Regards,
Nick

I'm still running V25 BTW ;-)

---

It sounds like you've had a lot going on. Very sorry to hear about your Father, I could only imagine the loss. I'm glad it sounds like you've weathered most of the storm and came through upright. And of course it's great to hear you are back to making things! The machine sounds very cool and capable for your space limitations. I would love to see what it can do.

It sounds like you have sorted out most of your issues. Nice work, the documentation wasn't as good as it is now. I rarely have to use scripting these days but I was always trying to push BobCAD to the limits. Now it's all kind of built in! The scripting is still invaluable for machine specific limitations as you all seem to have discovered.

I also have had a run of it lately after my grandfather passed a few years ago. My father suddenly had a lot of things to deal with, much like you describe and I know how tough it was for him so again I think I understand a bit what you have been going through.

That kind of left the shop for me to take care of and we now have 10 people and 14 machines with 2-3 trucks a day of material coming in and parts going out. I wasn't ready and I didn't think I had the experience (20 years in but I was in my late 30's) but I managed with a great crew of people, patient customers, and great software at my hands.

I'll look for a few simple scripts that could be modified to solve some of your issues. Jr you have some sample code for me to look at? I also have Haas machines and I understand the slow coolant problem. I approach parts by default 2" above the part before starting the coolant, but I also rarely run the machines at full rapid so it's just enough time for the coolant to make contact unless it's early in the mornings. I run the coolant as part of the warmup to prime the pump.

I don't get back here as much as I'd like to gang! I still try to peek in from time to time but I'm learning the hard way what kind of time it takes to run a business like 10 other peoples lively hood depend on it. I still probably spend too much time on social media but it's a nice outlet. Glad to hear you are still at it Nick, enjoy the new machine :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BurrMan

Try to get "sbs cycle" "RTM ****" user on this with you. Havnt seen him around on this forum. May still be on other forum...

You 2 may be helpful to each other!

---

It's good to see you and thank you for the kind words old friend. I don't really use many forums at all these days other than Facebook to keep up with local friends, it seems that's the only way people communicate these days, no one makes a call anymore. To be fair, I don't do much but work these days :D

I hope all is well and you are still making your beautiful reels. Your talents have always been appreciated and your personal advice and help can never be repaid. Some day we have to tip glasses :cheers:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Engine Guy

James

Does you HAAS have the programable coolant nozzles that point the coolant to the end of each tool no matter what the length, if so if memory serves right I did hear somewhere that there should be a built in delay in the control where the nozzles are set to the tools that can be toggled on/off/set, don`t know the age/level of your control so if yours is an early one it may not have that facility or I may have got it all wrong and it was a different make of machine !! (Playing the "age card" here:D :D :D)

Regards

---

Greetings Rob! I have the programmable coolant on a few of machines, I'll try to check that out tomorrow. It is painfully slow and you can hear the pump "dead head" when it comes on if it has been sitting for a while. There is a setting that will delay movement until the spindle comes up to speed, it makes sense there may be a coolant delay as well. Good thinking and hello!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SBC Cycle

It's good to see you and thank you for the kind words old friend. I don't really use many forums at all these days other than Facebook to keep up with local friends, it seems that's the only way people communicate these days, no one makes a call anymore. To be fair, I don't do much but work these days :D

I hope all is well and you are still making your beautiful reels. Your talents have always been appreciated and your personal advice and help can never be repaid. Some day we have to tip glasses :cheers:

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Well, that'l warm a guy up. Thanks! Right back at you!


Everything on hold for us right now. I have v31 and havnt been able to dig in... puts my brother on pause too.

SBS TY
if I could the first Z rapid as I program at 20,that is just the right time for coolant to be working

Now if if I could get all the Z rapids that follow to go say 50 that is what I was after

Without hand editing that is

I am on V 28

I've just re-worked the plumbing on my VMC and it now takes 1s to good flow and 2s to full flow after leaving it overnight!
Bonus! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magicniner

I've just re-worked the plumbing on my VMC and it now takes 1s to good flow and 2s to full flow after leaving it overnight!
Bonus! :D

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never happen on a Haas,,,never
and if the coolant does not start by the time you begin cutting .......you probably know the rest

I kinda figured as much :D
That pause I described hard coded into the first tool change block of your PP as I described will allow you to set the correct delay for fluid to lift prior to your first cut though.
Regards,
Nick

It appears to have worked Nick.By that I mean the posted code looks good.
I will find out Monday for reals.
TY very much

I should add,also along with your fix in block 2,you must also do it in block 3,which pertains to after a tool change.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jrmach

I should add,also along with your fix in block 2,you must also do it in block 3,which pertains to after a tool change.

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Cool, sounds good!
A shorter pause after the system primes at the first tool perhaps?
ATB,
Nick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magicniner

Cool, sounds good!
A shorter pause after the system primes at the first tool perhaps?
ATB,
Nick

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yeah,it is not just a prime thing after not running overnight,,just takes a couple seconds to start again after it is turned off

One way Solenoid Valve fired by the same relay/contactor that does the coolant pump maybe ??? :D :D :D
The line would remain full, no drain back.

Regards
Rob