User input variable - best way?

[markkirby]

Hi,
I want to record the unique serial number of each part machined prior to printing the inspection/probing results for the part. I can get operator to enter part number as a macro variable, eg #800=123.456, but would be interested in user experiences with best way to do this. I'm not keen for user (varying skill levels) to MDI the variable (Mazak controller, Fusion640). I can run an ISO sub prog, which the operator could edit, but again not very keen on that. Any ideas?

[ProProcess]

How is the Unique SN derived?
If the parts are production parts and run sequentially, then the setup person could enter a variable #800=123.456 once then your program could "count" each part #800=#800+1 yielding 223.456 then you could print #800.
Good Luck

[markkirby]

Hi,
Nice idea, and would work well (only 1 chance to get it wrong, and could error check), however all the serial numbers are effectively random since parts come from several forge batches, and not necessarily in sequence by the time they arrive at this machine. I see there is a Haas M109 code (this machine is a Mazak CT4500 with Fusion control) which is designed for user input of a single character at a prompt. Sort of what I'm looking for? But I doubt the Mazak will recognize this as an ISO subprog M code?

[markkirby]

Maybe the lowest risk way is to have the operator edit a "two line" Subprog that just has say:

#800=123.456 (Edit this to be part number)
M99

[ProProcess]

I see.
sounds like you'll we working around individuall user input unless you get into a more elaborate "part staging" technique coupled with a spradsheet or some such device.

How many parts at a time are you dealing with?

[markkirby]

Hi,
Approx 30 parts a week, all different serial numbers.

[ProProcess]

30 is not too many...
You could put the parts into some type of organized rack system in a known order.
You or someone in charge could write this in a program and run it, setting the machine variables to the corresponding unique part S/N's

#800=123.456
#801=23.189
#802=9823.123
so on and so forth in the same order as the parts...
at the end
#100=800(set the variable that will be used in your probing/inspectig code)

in your probing/inspecting code...

##100(get the current part's S/N)
(first time through ##100 is same as #800)

(do your probing/inspecting...)


now increment to the next S/N...
#100=[#100+1]
(now ##100 is same as #801)

HTH.
Good luck.