Toolchange message

[Mark81]

Hi, I searched in the old posts but I cannot find anything related. Perhaps I'm using the wrong keywords.
I want to display a messagebox every time a toolchange command is executed, reading the text in the gcode itself.
Of course I will configure the post processor to include a comment right before (or after) the M6 Tx instruction.

This would be very useful to me for a couple of reasons:

1. instead of manually looking at the gcode to remember what is the next tool to mount, it would be clearly stated in the message box (i.e. "Insert tool #3: 3 mm Z2 end-mill down-cut")
2. for some special application the toolchange instruction is just a way to let the operator to do some other operations (i.e. "Please, do this and that", or "Go ahead or end the job?")

Is it possible to read a comment on the line before (or after) the toolchange instruction and display a message box with that text?

[Vmax549]

Look in teh UCCNC tool box first line M56.

There are also many other ways to do it as well. But that one is an easy way. Note teh version number needed for it to work.

(;-) TP

[Dan911]

Keeping it even simpler would be adding a MessageBox to the start of your M6 macro, the Gcode would be paused where tool# is easily readable.

[Mark81]

Look in teh UCCNC tool box first line M56.

I'm sorry, what is the "tool box"? I looked in the Profiles folder for macro M56 but I don't have it.
Perhaps I didn't understand what you suggested

[Vmax549]

I believe he was wanting teh CAM to be able to POST the message and for UCCNC to be able to read it. BUT I could be wrong.

To use teh M6 method you would have to coordinate BOTH tool tables (Cam & UCCNC). Then UCCNC would have to be able to READ teh tool table to get description, etc. I dont think that currently works in UCCNC. You could read the desciption from teh PRO file BUT it may or may not be up to date.

I did do a function where teh CAM wrote teh CAM tool data to teh Gcode file and UCCNC used that to program teh UCCNC tool table on teh fly.

Like I said there are many ways to do it.

(;-) TP

[Vmax549]

The UCCNC Tool Box is on teh UCCNC website down near teh bottom of teh list of discussion topics.

(;-) TP

[Mark81]

I believe he was wanting teh CAM to be able to POST the message and for UCCNC to be able to read it. BUT I could be wrong.

To use teh M6 method you would have to coordinate BOTH tool tables (Cam & UCCNC). Then UCCNC would have to be able to READ teh tool table to get description, etc. I dont think that currently works in UCCNC. You could read the desciption from teh PRO file BUT it may or may not be up to date.

Yes, but on the CAM side I have no problem at all. Example:

Code: Select all

G21 G90 G64 G40
G0 Z3.0
( T2 : 2.0 mm ball-nose)
M6 T2
...


I would to read, in the M6 macro, the line before M6 Tx and display a message with the content of that line: "T2 : 2.0 mm ball-nose".
No needs to sync the tool-table.

[Mark81]

The UCCNC Tool Box is on teh UCCNC website down near teh bottom of teh list of discussion topics.

Found!
I'm reading the M56 macro code right now.

[Vmax549]

The M56 macro normally sends teh Message to teh Status line BUT you can change it to display teh message in a MessageBox with options as to how to proceed (ok,cancel,exit,etc)

As I don't think UCCNC has a global text variable for teh M6 to get access to teh message BUT you COULD write teh message to a label on screen and then read it into teh M6 macro as needed.

Just a thought for one way t do it.

(;-) TP

[Mark81]

Well it was very easy indeed. Basic example as starting point:

Code: Select all

// in M6 macro
int lineNo = exec.Getcurrentgcodelinenumber();
string myLine = exec.Getgcodelinetext(lineNo - 1);
MessageBox.Show(myLine);