Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: engraversoflight on July 30, 2014, 12:58:54 PM

Title: Part Counter/Limiter
Post by: engraversoflight on July 30, 2014, 12:58:54 PM
Ok so we are having a problem with our operators in the shop.  They are getting in the habit of waaaaaay overrunning certain parts.

For instance, say we have a certain part that we are selling 180 of on a particular order.  Sometimes the operators will over run this by 60 pcs before realizing they are over running the parts.

This costs me time, money, and many headaches.  You would think that they would learn, but the problem has persisted for years. 

Therefore I need a more fool proof way of limiting the number of parts that can be run.  A simple counter that counts the number of times a toolpath is run is NOT enough.  They will just continue to over run.

So, is there any way that I can program something into Mach3 that every time a new toolpath is loaded it asks "How many times to run this part?" And then you enter a quantity.  Then after that many runs, it WILL NOT ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO RUN IT ANYMORE until a new toolpath is selected from the load g-code option?

All of our toolpaths end at the last line and do not have the rewind M code at the end.  So when a part is done, if they are still running it, they hit Rewind, then cycle start twice.

I desperately need a fool proof way to limit their over runs.  The latest one cost me several hundred dollars.

 :o ???
Title: Re: Part Counter/Limiter
Post by: engraversoflight on July 30, 2014, 01:46:20 PM
Would there be a way to code in there if a counter gets down to zero the cycle start button no longer works?  I have no idea how to program that kind of stuff! Please help!!!1
Title: Re: Part Counter/Limiter
Post by: engraversoflight on July 31, 2014, 08:47:17 AM
What about making a counter where you enter the amount you want to run, it counts down instead of up, and once it reaches zero, it turns a blinking red light on??