LOST [1/2] KEY

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ART M
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 2:08 pm
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LOST [1/2] KEY

Post by ART M »

Does anyone else out there miss the 1/2 key? Its found on older high end Swiss CNC mills, and seems to have been
lost in time. What does it do? Quite simply, divides the present part value for a specific axis half way back to part zero, and
re-sets part zero for that axis. Anyone who has ever used an edge finder to set zero on the center of a part would appreciate
not having to stop, and divide the distance between the first touch (set zero) and the second side touch by 1/2. Then to
have to move there to set the part center zero (in that axis). Then do it ALL OVER AGAIN for the next axis.....
Think about it ,.1. edge touch first side, push two hard keys .... [X], then [ZERO] ..2. edge touch
opposite side and push [X], then [1/2]. You did not have to move back to center to set zero, and the control divided a value by 2, and
re-set zero on center, instead of you, looking for a calculator, while your spindle is wearing out your edgefinder!..... Don't laugh,
we have all been there so many times we are conditioned to tolerate the lost time, and worse yet the ERROR, this practice leads to....
The auxiliary keys could read 1, [X]....2, [Y]....3, [Z]... 4, [ZERO]...(set specific axis to part zero)... 5, [1/2] (divide specific axis
location by 1/2 and set value)...... The keystrokes are [x] then [zero], (just two keystrokes) or [x] then [1/2].
When your spindle is running, your head is in the machine,your hands are full of cutting oil, and you are only making one part,
that someone is waiting for, you want to minimize working with a K.E.Y.B.O.A.R.D. These are some of a very few commands that deserve their
own place on a pendant close to the point of operation. You don't want to have to look away from that edgefinder, indicator,or probe
any more than necessary when setting up. I suppose the probe is already doing this in some fashion somewhere in a program, but
if you ever used a [1/2] and a [O] (zero) key you would not want to give them up easily.
willpwrd
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Re: LOST [1/2] KEY

Post by willpwrd »

It looks like you are using Mach3.
If you are doing the Y axis, just mouse over and click the Y axis in the DRO, it will change color some. Type /2 then(enter). Same for any other axis.
diycncscott

Re: LOST [1/2] KEY

Post by diycncscott »

Hi Art,

To add the 1/2 key functionality to the Aux 4 key, please see below:

Configure the control to run a macro on an Aux key press. Do this by pressing
(from the main screen) F1-Setup->F3-Config(pw = 137), F3 Params and then use
either F7 or F8 to page to parameters 188-199. These parameters control the
behavior of Aux1 (parm188) through Aux12(199). NOTE: Aux10-Aux12 are not
labeled.

To set an aux key to run a macro, set the parameter for the aux key you
wish to configure to ##11, where ## = the macro you wish to run. For ex:
To configure the Aux 1 Key to run M71 (selects the X axis), set parm 188
to 7111. To configure the Aux 2 Key to run M72, set parm 189 to 7211 etc..

With the standard control configuration, you will be prompted to press
cycle start after each aux key press if the aux key is configured to run a macro.
To eliminate this, press F1-Setup->F3-Config(pw = 137), F1-Control and use the
arrow keys to highlight "Jog Panel Required" and then use the space bar to
toggle it to "No". Press F10 to save.


In a text editor, create 4 Macros -we'll use mfunc71.mac - mfunc74.mac.

NOTE: All macros must be saved in the c:\cncm directory if running a Mill, or
in c:\cnct if running a Lathe.

Each macro should contain (include semi-colons) as follows:

;Macro name: mfunc71.mac
;Purpose: Selects X axis to change part position

#29000 = 1

;Macro name: mfunc72.mac
;Purpose: Selects Y axis to change part position

#29000 = 2

;Macro name: mfunc73.mac
;Purpose: Selects Z axis to change part position

#29000 = 3



PLEASE NOTE: The Line containing the M225 below MUST be entered on 1 line in your text editor or it wont work.
Unfortunately the forum software won't allow me to post it all on 1 line here so please include this operation" on the
same line as the M225 in your text editor

;Macro name: mfunc74.mac
;Purpose: Sets part position of selected axis
#29001 = 0 ;Set M225 timer variable to zero (requires cycle start to continue)

;Check to be sure an axis has been selected
N100
IF #29000 == 0 THEN M225 #29001 "No axis has been selected for this operation\nPress cycle cancel and then select either X, Y or Z before using this operation"
IF #29000 == 0 THEN GOTO 100

;Set selected axis part position to 1/2 of it's current DRO position
N200
IF #29000 == 1 THEN G92 X[[#5041]*.5]
IF #29000 == 2 THEN G92 Y[[#5042]*.5]
IF #29000 == 3 THEN G92 Z[[#5043]*.5]

;Reset axis select variable to 0
N300
#29000 = 0

If you wanted to create button that set the selected axis to 0, create an mfunc75.mac and assign it to aux 5.

See parameters 188-199 in the operators manual for additional options relating to Aux keys


Scott
polaraligned
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Re: LOST [1/2] KEY

Post by polaraligned »

Wow! Fantastic post Scott!
Thanks
ART M
Posts: 6
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Re: LOST [1/2] KEY

Post by ART M »

It appears the axis zero function was available thru parameter 188 =1, 189=2, 190=3, 192=4 ( x,y,z, & set absolute zero)
Once again I am impressed with this system! And if that was not enough Scott provided the new macros above to take it a step
farther and put "The iceing on the cake" with the posted macros in this forum. The lost 1/2 KEY has now been found.......!
One small detail, using the parameters described at the beginning of this post will allow you to select an axis(x,y,or z), the
pop up menu defaults to "0" and a push on aux5 will zero the axis. If you set a value other than zero on the popup, and then
push aux5 the axis will set at that value. This option is not present when using the mfunc71.mac thru mfunc75.mac. In this
case the "SET" key should actually read "ZERO"
My exposue to AjaxCNC has been brief, but I can't say enough good things about the system, or the people at Ajax.

Thank you verrrrry much, Art
HALF KEY.jpg
ART M
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 2:08 pm
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CNC Control System Serial Number: A900003
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: LOST [1/2] KEY

Post by ART M »

mfunc75.mac (set zero)
----------------------------------------------------------------
;Macro name: mfunc75.mac
;Purpose: Sets part position of selected axis
#29001 = 0 ;Set M225 timer variable to zero (requires cycle start to continue)

;Check to be sure an axis has been selected
N100
IF #29000 == 0 THEN M225 #29001 "No axis has been selected for this operation\nPress cycle cancel and then select either X, Y or Z before using this operation" ................... (make sure this is is on the M225 line above when you save)
IF #29000 == 0 THEN GOTO 100

;Set selected axis part position to 0
N200
IF #29000 == 1 THEN G92 X0
IF #29000 == 2 THEN G92 Y0
IF #29000 == 3 THEN G92 Z0

;Reset axis select variable to 0
N300
#29000 = 0

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AND mufnc76.mac ( zero all key aux6)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Macro name: mfunc76.mac
;Purpose: Sets part 0 of all axes

;Set all axes to 0

IF 1 == 1 THEN G92 X0Y0Z0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
save both macros to root directory cncm.
Parameter settings should look like photo, good luck, Art
parameters 188 - 193
parameters 188 - 193
polaraligned
Posts: 231
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:03 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 1030090103
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: No
Location: Montvale, NJ

Re: LOST [1/2] KEY

Post by polaraligned »

Thanks Art.
I am going to try this out this weekend if I can get some time in my shop.
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