Router "Turn on" command in V carve pro?

[myxpykalix]

My router is wired into my control box and the files i have don't include any way to turn router on/off. When saving a file in V carve pro is there a way to insert a "turn router on/off" command?

[srwtlc]

Jack, you can manually edit the file with a SO,1,1 to turn it on and a SO,1,0 to turn it off if you want, but if you look at the list of post processors, you may see one called "ShopBot_alpha_Arc_inch_router_control.pp" and that one should control the router for you. I don't know if you have an Alpha or a PRT, a spindle or a router, but I think it will work for both. I have a PRT w/router and I just customized the regular "ShopBot_Arc_Inch.pp" myself. If you open it in an editor, you should be able to figure out what's going on and where to put in the SO,1,1 and SO,1,0.

If you don't have them, here's a zip file that contains three of them. If you would like to take a look at my custom one, let me know. I have mine put in a header and some extra info such as the material size, toolpath name, tool type, etc.

As always, test them out first before cutting up the good stuff.


Scott


ShopBot PostP
ShopBotPostP.zip (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/312/ShopBotPostP-16792.zip) (3.6 k)

[myxpykalix]

He saw the post processors in the folder but on the list under "save toolpaths" the post processor is listed as "ShopBot_alpha_Arc_inch.pp"
without the "router control" as part of the name. Maybe it is the same processor just shortened the name in the menu. That is the one he used and it didn't start the router for me.
I am a newbie so i haven't learned the "language" yet on editing files so if you could send me yours that would be great. I have a prt alpha with a PC router.
I recall in artcam training there was a place where you could edit info at the header to identify relevent info about the file. If i saw yours it might help.
he opened up the "ShopBot_alpha_Arc_inch_router_control.pp" in the shopbot editor and found this:
"'File created in VCarve Wizard"
"'"
"'UNITS:Inches"
"'"
"'For ShopBot Control: SB3 Alpha"
"'"
"'Set router RPM to [S]"
"PAUSE"
"'"
"'Turning router ON"
"SO,1,1"
"PAUSE,2"
"'"
"MS,[FC],[FP]"
"JZ,[ZH]"
"J2,[XH],[YH]"
and this at the end of the file:
JZ,[ZH]"
"J2,[XH],[YH]"
"'"
"'Turning router OFF"
"SO,1,0"

so it looks like the commands are there within the post processor but maybe he's not selecting the right post processor but the "ShopBot_alpha_Arc_inch_router_control.pp" is not on the post processor drop down list.

[srwtlc]

Yup, that one should work. It's possible that your router is hooked up to a different output (maybe SO,2,1 or another). An easy way to check would be to flip the toggles on the (K)eypad (the yellow thing that comes up when you hit K on your keyboard). If you find that #2 turns it on, then just edit the .pp file to be SO,2,1 for on and SO,2,0 for off. If that doesn't work, then something else must be wrong and since I don't have an Alpha, someone that does will have to jump in here and help out on that.

The name that comes up in VCP's list is controlled by what is stated in the file next to POST_NAME = "Post Name".

I'll attach my custom one and if you use it to generate a file, open up the .sbp file in the editor and also open the .pp file in another editor and that way you can see what one does to the other much easier. You should be able to edit either mine or a copy of the Alpha one and save it as a .pp with a name of your choosing. Remember to give the name of the post in the file next to POST_NAME = so you can easily identify it in VCP's list (.pp files go in the C:\Program Files\VCarve Pro 3.1\PostP folder). Take note of the quotation marks and the apostrophe marks. Quotations contain what is stated or make a blank space and the apostrophe makes it a comment so that SB3 doesn't try to read it. It's easy to miss a ' between two " sometimes.

I have VS and VR in mine for speeds and ramps. I like to hard code the ramps sometimes if I want a certain setting to be used that I've found to work best. If you don't want to mess with that, just stick with the MS that is used in the standard pp's If you need some help, drop me a line.

Scott


TLC VCP Post

7131 (4.9 k)