Messages

51

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 06, 2011, 10:27:45 AM »

Chris,

I have had an overwhelming amount of requests to test this. It this time the slots are full. It will be released "soon". I hope I don't sound like Brian too much there? I plan to release two versions. One with the conversational programming interface and one without. 

Wes

52

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 06, 2011, 10:19:36 AM »

And since with your screen, setting the tools seems to be done from the Cycle screen I figured I needed to set the feed mode before programming something like G1 Z-10.

Dan,

The manual screen will have most of the same functions. The biggest difference is it will be geared towards using MDI. It wont have the stuff to load or edit a file. It will however it will have the ability to set up tools directly from that screen as well as play with offsets and a few other things geared to manual operation. On the cycle screen the only thing you can do from the screen directly is set the Z work offset or go to the tool setup screen directly. Basically each screen has a purpose and there shouldn't be a need to be in the incorrect one when it a one button operation to switch between them. You are correct. This screen is geared to be used with a touch screen as I feel a mouse doesn't belong in a shop environment. That doesn't  mean you can use one however.

Wes

53

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 05, 2011, 08:35:27 PM »

I have 800 steam pump flanges to make and would really like to run this screen on our lathe.

When will you be doing this job? Will you be using cad/cam to create the code? IPS still has a lot to go. I want it perfect before I charge anyone for it.

Question, will all buttons that are active ie. M01, Single block, etc. be highlighted somehow (LED, COLOR CHANGE) when active?

If the button is a toggle (this includes all the ones you listed above and many more) they will glow when ON. This even includes the rapid rate , jog increment etc.

54

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 05, 2011, 08:29:36 PM »

Not sure why id have a mist coolant button, guess I would have called them "Coolant"  &  "User Output" and then have them Glow like you just did with the Block Delete.

Ya-Nvr-No ,

Many lathes have both flood and mist style coolants. The great part is I will be including quite a few buttons that you can just change the file name on the put them in that spot. They will have an external script that can be modified to your liking. If the button is a toggle of any kind it will indicate with a glow that its on. Even the user modifiable buttons can be toggled with glow indication or standard buttons without a glow. The code to do each will be fully commented in the code. This will allow you to configure it how ever you like.

Wes

55

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 05, 2011, 12:20:09 PM »

Ya-Nvr-No... Fixed that little issue for you. Block delete has been added. Button glows when it is enabled.

56

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 05, 2011, 11:44:20 AM »

I have an automatic turret and I must call my custom M6Start macro to change tools.

This is the reason for this feature...

*The "Next Tool" and "Prev Tool" will change to "Turret FWD" and "Turret REV" when "use turret" is selected in the options tab. Both buttons can be modified for there functions by an external script.

You can use any script you want. Just needs to be in my macro directory and named correctly.

57

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 05, 2011, 11:24:16 AM »

Dan,

MDI wont ever be on the cycle screen because its just too dangerous. When your code is running and you input something in the MDI and press enter it will inject it into your running code.  Just about everything you said is right there on the cycle screen in the form of a button or DRO. If you need to change feed per rev or feed per min that's something that should be done by editing the G-code. Say your feed is 6 inches per min and you change it to feed per rev. I hope you tool has a big appetite because its gonna have lots to eat quickly. All the overrides are monitored so it would be hard to crash the machine. MDI is for "Manual Data Input" and that is why it is located on the manual screen.

58

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 05, 2011, 10:51:30 AM »

Ya-Nvr-No,

Here is how its handled...

1)Go to the tooling setup screen. (Settings main tab - Tooling lower tab)
2)Put in some scrap stock.
3)Input the tool number you are setting. (tool one is the master tool and should be capable of facing and turning)
4)Manually face the stock with the jog feature.
5)Press Z measure
6)Jog back to the approximate diameter of your stock.
7)Take a light skim cut on the diameter of the stock and stop the spindle.
8)Measure this diameter and input it into the X set DRO then press enter. This will complete the master tool setup.
9)Insert the next tool and inter in the new tool number.
Jog the tool to the stock using the lowest increment until it just touches the Z face of the stock. You can rotate the spindle by hand to see when it makes contact. After contact back off 1 increment.
10)Press Z measure
11) Do the same for X.
12)Repeat for all of your tools.

Once all of your tools are set all you need to do is set the work offset. For most you can manually face the stock with jog and then press "Z Face Measure" on the cycle screen. You also have the option of using an offset for this in the settings page. This will allow for a go/no go gauge pin if you choose to use it.

Say you break a tool and you need to reset a tool. Or you need to add a tool. You go to the tool setting page, insert tool 1 and press position master tool zero. This will move tool 1 to X and Z zero with zeroed work offsets so you can use it as a stop to position scrap stock to face. Jog the tool out in X until the stock is just past it and clamp it in the chuck. Now manually face it with Jog. Now your ready to set any tool you need using the above method.

59

Works in progress / Re: New IPS (Interactive Programming System) Professional Screen for Turn

« on: September 05, 2011, 09:43:34 AM »

Just wanted to give a quick update as I have finished the cycle screen. If you see something that is not there please let me know. Feedback is always welcome.

Features that may not be apparent in the screenshot.

* Jog functions are now smart. They are tuned by a table in the settings tab. Say if you select .0001 and select "Jog Continuous" you will actually move at a realistic rate to be accurate in .0001 increments. As the increments get larger the feed also increases. This also works the same for the MPG. Everything is tunable to your machine.
*Override buttons are smart. They monitor Machs status and will not allow you to cause a crash condition. An example is : You are running a program and press the "Next Tool" button. It will alert you that that function is not possible while the machine is in motion.
*Buttons that will cause machine motion will alert you of what they are about to do and confirm that you want to complete the task. No unwanted moves due to a mistake.
*All toggle buttons will glow with the appropriate indication color when they are activated.
*The top portion of the display is for indication only. You cannot select nor input anything there. They have many smart indicators showing you the different states the control is in. You can however press the "X" and "Z" at the top left corner to home the machine. Once again these are smart buttons that will not allow you to home the machine while it is running a program. They will also ask you before making a move. When the axis is homed they will individually change color. Not homed will be red and homed will be blue.
*"Current Tool" Can use the new or the old version DRO to display the tool number. This option is in the settings tab.
*All control overrides can be set by the buttons or directly editable via the DRO to the right of the buttons.
*The "Next Tool" and "Prev Tool" will change to "Turret FWD" and "Turret REV" when "use turret" is selected in the options tab. Both buttons can be modified for there functions by an external script.
*"CSS Mode" Puts the spindle into constant surface speed mode. This will also change the "Spindle Set RPM" to Spindle Set SFM" in the "Control Overrides box". This button toggles this mode.
*"Wizards" Button will bring up the external wizards dialog
*"Verify Machine" Will send the machine home to verify its position against the home switch and report how far off the machine is.
*"Send Home" Will rapid the machine back to machine zero.
*"Aux Function" Is settable via an external script. This button has the option to glow if you desire to use it as a toggle.
*"Z Face Measure" Sets the Z zero for the current part. Setup all of your tools once. Use this button to move all tools zero you the position the machine is in when you push the button. Just jog the tool to the face of the stock and push "Z Face Measure" and you ready to go.
*"?" at the top right corner will take you to online help for the page (tab) you are on.
*The lower "Tool path" tab will take you to a large tool path view.
*The lower "Dry Run" tab will put you into a fully functional dry run mode with large tool path view. This will allow you to test the code without actually running the machine.
*Current time and date are on all screens. This allows you to still have a clock and get rid of the windows toolbar to gain more screen space.
*There are many more things not listed here. Please let me know what you think.

Wes

60

General Mach Discussion / Re: setting - continous jog

« on: September 04, 2011, 12:54:20 PM »

I might be releasing my screen for free (without the IPS system). I have built in a way to make the jog features perform like a real CNC control. They will also be tunable to your machine.


http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,19353.0.html