Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => VB and the development of wizards => Topic started by: poppabear on December 26, 2006, 11:37:37 PM
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Here is the Re-uploaded Wizard, (I Forgot to populate the files :-[ )
I just built a Lathe Threading Wizard called "Quick Turns", you can do Multiple threads, clearances, directions, hands...etc.
I added that nice little "Free Ware" Thread calculation Wizard that was posted up here so You can have an easy access Thread form calculator chart!! It has a Help file for how to use it, please read the "Read Me 1st".
I hope you like it, tell me what you think,
Scott S.
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Hi Scott,
I just tried that and got a blank screen when I tried to pick your wizard. Also got an error on the pick wizard tab. I attached a screen shot. In the zip file, bitmaps, there where no bitmaps. I may have gotten a bad download. Just thought I would let you know.
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You are not alone...
I guess there are a couple bugs in the uploading process....
Both the bitmaps folder and the "quick threads" folder were empty after unzipping.
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I'm sure he will get the bugs out. I don't even have a lathe but had to look at the wizard. It sounds very nice. ;D
Brett
Keep up the good work Scott.
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I don't even have a lathe
I know where you can get one for cheap!!!
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LOL. I had a look at it today as well as the 55. Will you deliver for that price? ($10.00) I'm in SC. ;D
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Ok, I fixed it, I had didn't populate the files when I made a file to Zip and upload.......duh.
Go back to my 1st original post, and re-download it from there.
Scott
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Scott,
Good job. I downloaded a few minutes ago and seems to be fine. I wonder if I could use this wizard as an excuse to buy a lathe? ;D
Brett
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Thanks,
And yes, you could use it as an excuse!! The Wife just NEEDS those threaded, romantic candle sticks at the Hot tub.....hehehe
"I was thinking of you, honey, thats why I got it......"
Scott
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This screen shot doesn't show any labels for the numeric entries. Although the wizard appears to work and can generate the G-Code.
I put the bit map files in MACH3/Bitmaps/TurnBitmaps. Am I missing something?
Thanks.
John Dammeyer
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LOL. I had a look at it today as well as the 55. Will you deliver for that price? ($10.00) I'm in SC. ;D
Of course that's the delivered price.... IF bundled with the 55. Both delivered for $30K ;)
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Yes, the BITMaps go into the Mach General Bitmaps files.......not the turn bitmaps.
Scott
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Revision 1.1 Of Quick Threads:
Added:
1). I added M6 for tool changers, the M6 comes out with the Tool number.
Fixed:
2). Double posting M (direction and coolent) codes.
Proposed added feature if you think it would be worth it.
1). A button to make the "H" DRO the Same as the "T" DRO, (I don't) really know if it would make that much of a speed difference since the H dro is directly below the T dro.
Scott
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hi Scott,
No joy. Even deleted the files from all the other places. Then downloaded the latest rev. Bitmaps were then put in C:\Mach3\Bitmaps. Still when I run MACH3 and select your wizzard the bmp doesn't show up.
John Dammeyer
Yes, the BITMaps go into the Mach General Bitmaps files.......not the turn bitmaps.
Scott
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jcdammeyer,
Sorry about your lack of joy. I don't know why yours isn't working, I have gotten serveral emails from others that are working.
So, lets figure out why not you. 1st Are you using standard Mach install and directory path?
If yes then I have enclosed a file for you with JUST the bitmaps in them. Open the file, copy the files (3 of them), navigate to Mach3 then to Bitmaps, click on it (use windows explorer). make sure you see lots of little pictures (thumbnails) in the window to the right of the directory tree. Then right click into the standard/general Bitmaps Window (the one on the right with the little icons/pics), then hit the "Paste" option after you right click in that window. You should see your three pictures appear in this window.
The Wizard looks for these bitmaps in this directory path: C:\Mach3\Bitmaps
Let me know how that works for you, download files attached here.
Scott
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Scott,
Can you give us a screen shoot of yours? I don't know what is missing. Mine looks like Johns.
Brett
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here's what I did to get the bitmaps to show up....
I created a new folder in the quickwizard folder, then
I collected the three bitmaps in the quick wizard folder and put them into the new bitmaps folder.
Then I transferred the quickwizard folder(with the bitmaps folder within) to the turnaddons folder.
Now I get all the stuff when I open mach3turn and ask for the wizard.
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Hi,
What you say doesn't make sense. If Scott's wizard is looking for the three .bmp files in C:/MACH3/Bitmaps then adding a folder called 'Quick Wizard' under Bitmap isn't logical.
What's the 'exact' path to your .bmp files?
John
here's what I did to get the bitmaps to show up....
I created a new folder in the quickwizard folder, then
I collected the three bitmaps in the quick wizard folder and put them into the new bitmaps folder.
Then I transferred the quickwizard folder(with the bitmaps folder within) to the turnaddons folder.
Now I get all the stuff when I open mach3turn and ask for the wizard.
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here's another shot to see the turnaddons folder with quickthreads folder in it.
note the added "bitmaps" folder within that holds the three bitmaps that Sergeant Poppa sent.
...this should be all that you need...at least for my machine here....
ALSO, note the icon for the .set file... :) the icon is assigned to a different program that also uses .set extensions...but I have learned to live with it... :D as long as I don't click on the icon......
By the way, Scott, Nice wizard!!!
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Yes!!!
Creating a bitmaps directory under the Quick Threads and putting the bitmaps in there works.
Thanks
John Dammeyer
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Yeah, that was waht I came up with, too-the bitmaps need to be in a Bitmaps directory under ther Quick Threads directory in Turnaddons.
Scott, any chance you will give us an optioon of using a sharp threading tool and calculating the different minor diameter(for an external thread)? I don't know about you, but tryiung to grind those little tiny flats on the tool si not for me.
Andy Wander
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Thanks,
That did it for me also.
Scott, it looks even nicer with the bitmaps. ;) You did real good! Now I gotta get a lathe. When I'm talking to the wife about it I'm going to blame it all on you. ;D
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Well it looks like the solution for the uploaded Wizard is to put the Bitmaps for the Wizard in the Quick Threads, folder under Turn Addons.... I don't understand why that works here, I have it working on mine as described.....oh, well another mystery.
I am glad you guys figured it out........since, what was working for me was given everyone else grief, I just got to much crap on my computer.......
awander: I didn't understand a word about what you was wanting with the thread point tool, can you elaborate in "Little step by step words?" If I can understand what you want, I can try and do it, (The little threading calculator isn't what your talking about?).
BTW: Any chance any of your Screen designer Guru's can figure out why the Clearance DRO on the internal page keeps changing back to
"3" when you exit/post the wizard and return again from mach??
BTW2: I use Screen 3 alot, since you can do the VB right there, When I am in screen 4, any dro existing on the page is counting upwards all of them in synch.....anyone else notice this? Is it a bug, or is there a fix?
Scott
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Well I posted Quick Threads Rev 1.2 (only documentation changes...)
I only changed the "Readme 1st" instructions, to reflect putting the Bitmap folder(with the bitmaps), into the Quick Threads file.
Basically you just copy and paste the Quick Threads file into your TurnAddons and thats it.
Could a second party on here download the Rev., and see if my instructions above are correct?? Please?? (Just in case).
STILL haven't found what is changing the Clearance DRO on the Internal thread page when you close and come back to the wizard. Not a major issue, you just have to remember to check it, when you navigate back to it.
Scott
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Seems to be fine Scott. I downloaded again. Extracted quick threads to my desk top then copied an pasted into turnaddons. I didn't even have to do anything with the bitmaps folder this time. I had extracted it to my desktop as well, copied, went to paste and it was already there. I deleted everything to do with your wizard before I downloaded this time.
Brett
Hope this is what you were asking.
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Brett,
Thank you,
Scott
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Well I have posted up Version 2.0 of Quick Threads in this post.
Would you'all that have downloaded and gave feed back, would you look this on over also?? I changed alot in the "Read Me 1st" doc, if you have the time look it over.
Fixes:
1). Fixed the Clearance DRO on the internal page!!!!!!!!! (Thanks to John Prentice for pointing out that the M1076 Macro also uses this one and cause problems......well he was right!!! I changed the dro to a new number, problem gone).
2). Changed how The M6 cycle post.
3). Fixed other minor bugs.
Added:
1). On the Settings page, I added a Tool Change postion, and you can click a button to have your machine goto the tool change position between ops.
2). On the Int/Ext thread pages, added a button that Will set your Tool offset number = to your Tool number, fill in your tool number and put the button, and it will load the same number as your tool.
As far as I can tell, This should be the last of the BUG revisions, I will do single or multiple threads on a work piece, no problems.
If you find a bug or want a feature, let me know. If it is something I can figure out, I will add it.
Please respond those that use this wizard and let me know what you think?
Scott
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Hi Scott,
I've tweaked your help file a bit to make it more readable.
Any chance you could add the wizard version # to the screen somewhere?
Cheers,
John Dammeyer
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John,
Here is an updated version that has you "Edited" Help file, (don't know what you changed, but I take your word for it).
Also, put the Version "2.0" that shows up in the Wizard discritption.
NOTE: Users of the Wizard don't need to download this, unless you want these tweeks done.
Scott
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Hi Scott,
I changed a few spelling mistakes and a bit of sentence structure. Not much. Mostly formatting.
In the attached jpg, the help file on the left is the original, the one on the right with my changes which I think is easier to read.
John
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John,
Well, I did what you did, (formatting), origially as well, BUT, when you pull up the Page from the Help button in Mach, the help file crams all together, and you lose all formatting!! Yours, does the same thing mine did...... I wish there was a way that when Cypress pulls in a .htm file that it would retain the formatting, but it appears it is not to be. Thanks for trying anyway. Thanks at the least for fixing the spelling/grammer errors....
Scott, (BTW: How are you liking the Wizard?? Saw there was several down loads, but not much feedback on it, with the exception of the few below).
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Hi Scott,
Both those images were a result of clicking the help button on MACH. So it seems there is a problem. Not sure what. But there is obviously a problem if the file I posted doesn't format for you and yours does format for you.
The wizard looks pretty nice. I don't know if you are aware of the fact that I'm the nutcase writing the E-Leadscrew software. I've been examining the different ways these systems cut threads. It seems the restriction is really the G code itself rather than the wizzards.
In my ELS case, I've implemented a constant area progression up until a certain percentage of depth which by default is 75%. After that any number of spring passes which are really important on my flimsy Gingery Lathe.
I really like your pictorial and it does make it easy to set up to cut just about any thread including the run out area. At the moment I don't have the PC connected to the lathe to actually try the wizard. I'd have to steal a monitor from a different project and then clean a space to put the keyboard down. However, before the ELS was built I did cut threads using MACH.
What the wizzard doesn't address is automatically calculating the start and end X values which is what I've had the most trouble with and the Machinery Handbook isn't totally clear about. The H value of the thread is based on the sharp triangle but the top part of the sharp thread actually extends past the OD of the thread. I find it all very confusing. Many times, my threads have ended up being either too shallow or too deep; the nut goes on tight or only halfway or rattles.
I can't see how your wizzard helps figure this out since you allow a user to set both start and end X. Shouldn't a change to 'X Start' based on pitch automatically recalculate X End? Since you don't have a tool tip radius or the amount it's shorter than the sharp thread I can see determining 'X End' would be difficult.
Sorry if I'm babbling. I'm really not expert enough at threads to be able to make myself clear.
Have a good new year.
John
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John,
What I said, was that mine also Un-formats when it post. I did mine with formatting, but when I would pull it into Mach, through the cypress engine, it would Un-format it, and cram it all together. I suspect it has something to do with the way Cypress brings in files. There is no setting that I am aware of in cypress to retain your fommating..........Unless someone can point out different.
About the Wizard:
It doesn't figure it out (the X start/end), that is what the little Thread calculation wizard is for. There is NO WAY, for me to know what kind of tip someone is using, i.e. sharp, hand ground flats, what ever. So the Wizard is only looking at the controlled point. YOU, buy knowing what your tip dimensions/profile is, and using the Wizard to set up your Min/max diameters you set up your thread. I could probably add another page that you could program in your Tip geomtry but again, that would be over kill since you already know what your threading insert or what ever looks like and its dimensions since you bought it or made it. They also make bits that have little Thread tip toppers.. (a little flange of the cutting tip that also cuts the sharp v point off of your thread. but they are made for specific depth of thread only).
Brain, and others are far deeper into the VB, than I am, This is a far as I currently want to go with it.
Steve Blackmore of the mach yahoo group would be a far, better resource than me, to go into Threading science. I do simple internal/external threads, I know what my tips will do, so I just cut them, and they work.
Perhaps Steve would grace us both with an indepth "How to" on the subject. I leaned by trial and error, I was never taught the science of thread cutting.
Scott
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Hi Poppabear,
Bear here ,some of "us" thankyou!
Bear
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Hi Poppabear,
I know it's been along time since you did the Quickthreads Wizard, but I've only just got around to trying it. A thing I've noticed, being a metric sort of person, is that the G20/G21 changeover doesn't seem to work. I always get G20.
Also the tool selection is that for a mill I think. Mach turn uses T101 etc. This is V 2.01, which I think was your latest version.
Another thing, which is just my preference, could the bright green be something a bit less glaring - it hurts my poor old eyes!
I'm not moaning, it looks a useful tool & I want to try it for real.
Tony
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Tony,
OK, here is an updated screen set just drag and drop it, into your Turns addon folder in the Quickthreads wizard.
I fixed the G21 issue, ALSO redid the Sore-eye colors for you.
NOTE: The tool posting format, only puts out what you put in it. If you want it to post "T101", then in the Tool Number DRO put "101" and in the H offset DRO put a "0".
Tell me what you think,
Scott
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Scott,
thanks for sorting that out, I think it looks much better. G21/20 works fine & I see what you mean about the tool code, but it might be better to default to the standard Mach T101 format. Machturn just ignores T1 style changes.
Where should I put the help file? I don't get it coming up with the help button? I also don't get the Thread Calculator Table.
A 'nice to have' thing would be an indication of how many passes the code will generate, as in the other threading Wizard. I often find I'm being too timid with my cuts and generate far too many passes.
Tony
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Scott,
I sorted out the help & Thread calc Table. Or rather when I installed the wizard on my lathe PC everything worked. The install does bury the files a directory or so too deep & it's necessary to copy it back up a level or so.
Should be able to try cutting some metal now.
Tony
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Right,
that didn't take long. I cut quite a nice M6 x1 thread in mild steel - nut fitted first time! Used the Thread calc table to get the numbers. It occurred to me while I was getting the numbers, that it would be really smart if you could just click on the ones you wanted & transfer them into the appropriate box in the wizard. Don't know how easy that would be, but most people would want to produce standard threads.
Tony
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Currently, doing other projects that take priority. If you want that stuff, now is the time to learn how to do wizards, look on the Wiki, and modify my Wizard to your needs!!
I am under Two Large projects now, that both need to be done yesterday, so kinda gonna float that one out to you.
I am glad to hear that it worked well for you. If perhaps I get freed up and have some extra time, and you havent fixed it, I will fool with it again.
Scott
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You're quite right, of course, it might be a good opportunity to do something that won't have disastrous results if I get it wrong.
Thanks for the work so far.
Tony
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Scott,
I've had a first try at editing your code, so see what you think. I found that it was not possible to do a second operation on internal threads so I've fixed that. I've also altered the tool change format so that putting say tool 1 in gives T101. I'm still not sure about code H & how it works in turning. Anyway, Mach picks up the tool change now ok.
An extra bit of code that I put in is G4 P10 to give my spindle time to get up to speed before the threading starts. A nicer way would be to only start when the set speed was reached, but I'm not sure how to do that yet.
I'ts all quite instructive & interesting to use some of the bits of the software that I hadn't looked at before.
Tony
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A few questions:
What did you fix for cutting more than one internal thread?
Also, there are 256 posible tools in the library, so if you had tool 137, would you post out T1370137???
Scott
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Scott,
the fix for the internal multiples was adding an 'appendTeachfile()' to the start of the internal second operation code. I also put in the LED inidcator increment code, as in the external version.
Not sure about the tools, as I can only envisage about 8 in one setup. In the Txxyy format xx is the tool & yy the offset in the tool table. I haven't worked out a situation yet where I would want to use another tool's offset, but I'm fairly new at this game. The main point is that mach ignores entries of the T1 sort. M6 goes & looks at the toolchanger macro so that's fine, but I don't know about the H word.
I've got a fairly crude extra page of standard threads working now, accessed by an extra button on both threading pages.
Its just a lot of buttons with standard threads on them. Pressing one inserts the Pitch, OD & ID into the appropriate DRO on internal & external pages. You can, of course, still alter them manually before posting.
The thing was easy enough to do, but it's rather tedious entering the data. A proper system would use a table setup in Exel or something like that & access it from a drop down menu. I'm a bit rusty on the VB front so I'll have to think about that a bit.
Don't want to hijack your code so tell me to back off if it bothers you.
Tony
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Hi Tony, Scott,
You do not need tables of threads. All threads are calculated from the pitch, it is possible to calculate all the dimensions from 3 inputs, type (Whitworth, UNC etc.), pitch, diameter. 4 If you include the internal/external option.
If you want the formulas I will send you them.
That way any size of thread could be cut and the screens could just have buttons for the common ones that insert the relevant data into the calculation fields.
Graham.
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Hi Graham,
That might be useful. It's only me starting off this idea of standard threads, I just find it a bit tedious looking up numbers & typing them in. There are enough choices to make, without things that should stay the same.
By the way, have you got anywhere with your drives yet?
Tony
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Tony and Graham,
Tony: Please go ahead and adapt away!! I released this in the hopes that it would help others, if you add more functionality the better, just post up your work So I and others can benefit from it.
Graham: Yes!!! Please send your calculation fromulas (Include the ones for Imperial), and Tony and I could use them!!
Scott
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I want to write a wizard to do rope and barley twists on my indexer. the profile is cut with custom router bits. I need to be able to enter pitch, depth and unlike threading I need to be able to enter of starts. It has been 10 years since I have written any code and I was wondering if I can get source code for you simple threading as a guide?
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Download the Wizard and open it in Screen3, and you can see the code behind the compile buttons, and thus you can modify them for your use.
scott
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Scott and Tony,
Thanks for all the work on this project, it's perfict for me in my little home shop. One problem, I can't get to post the Gcode. When I press the Post it Button it locks up. Obviously Iv'e done something wrong for no one else has talked about it. Iv'e got the files orginized as such Mach3->Turnaddons->QuickThreads with the set files->Bitmaps, all bmp files. Thanks for yalls help. Ben
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I seemed to have fixed it. I removed " While IsMoving() Wend" from the Post button script. I don't know what ekse that ruined but it seems to work ok. Ben
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Where can I find the file to download. Complex thread Turning Wizard
Vicke
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Graham, Tony, and Ben,
Graham: Please send the formulas for the threading calcs, and I will add them into the Wizard.
Tony and Ben: Please post up the "Fixed" (fully complete) wizard (or Email it to me), When I get Grahams Formulas
I Will add the DROs and another page that will give a data entry point for threading pitch/cut set up, and a selector
that will auto post the values into the correct Thread type: ie Internal or External.
NOTE: As I mentioned earlier, I dont mind AT ALL if you guys want to correct, modify, whatever, as long as you post up your
Mods so all can benefit. The Wizard was just a tool for others to use anyway.
Scott
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Can someone told me how can use that data from data chart to fill up the fields on wizzard?
TIA
Gabi
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Hi,
I'm trying to install the wizard, and all what I get is a grey screen when starting the wizard. I have to quit Mach3 then, and I have a popup "Error found, Art code 9991, Attempt recovery ?" and I have to click on "no".
Any idea ?
Thanks int advance
TPE
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Scott
I figured it out with some help from Scott Nichols that the file was corrupted when I first downloaded it. It was also going to the wrong directory. Thanks for the macro.
Joe