NCPlot v2 beta 19 now available for download

[MetLHead]

You can download it at:

www.ncplot.com

New for beta 19:

There is now some basic RS232 functionality.

Added a command line option that allows selecting machine configurations.

Added a tool to the File menu that will report a list of all programs in the active file.

Made the subprogram naming more flexible. Subprogram searching will now find programs with leading zeroes in the name.

You can now drag and drop files into the edit window. When NCPlot is open, you can now drop one or multiple files directly onto the edit window.

Added the Zoom Selected tool.

Added a new menu item to the Edit menu. This new item is called "Highlight and Zoom to Selected". This tool will select the entities on the viewport that correspond to the selected text in the edit window, and then zooms the viewport to the selected objects.

Added a marker icon to the viewport. This icon displays where the current plot endpoint is on the viewport. This makes it easier to follow the plot progress when animating or stepping through the program.

Added several new entity selection tools:

Window select - Click and drag a box around the entities you want to select.

Select Chain - This tool searches for and selects all entities that are connected to and on the same plane as the selected entities.

Select by Z - This tool selects all entities that are at the the same Z depth as the the selected entity.

Select Arcs by Radius - This tool selects all arcs that have the same radius as the the selected arc.

Z Step now works in DXF import. When enabled, each chain in the drawing is converted to G-Code multiple times at increasing Z depths. You can set where the top of the material is and how far to increment the Z after each pass.

Added a conversion settings dialog for converting viewport geometry to G-Code. This is displayed when the Tools | Convert Selected to G-Code tool is invoked. This dialog lets you set the Z height and feedrate settings for the selected geometry. This dialog also allows for stepping the Z height.

Improved the Offset tool. NCPlot will now attempt to join the offset geometry. This still needs plenty of work, but is definitely an improvement.

Added Default program folder setting to the machine configuration. When set, all file open operations will open to the specified folder. This is especially useful if you keep your programs separated by machine. Just specify the folder where you keep the programs and this will cut down on time spent browsing for files.

Fixed a bug in the subprogram setup dialog. The subprogram association list was not being reloaded on startup, so was being lost every time NCPlot shut down.

Fixed a bug in the Macro Stepping feature. If a new file was opened while macro stepping was active, an error occurred.

X/U Variables bug when Lathe Diameter config set. These address values were being divided by 2 when passed as variables to canned cycles or subprograms.

Enjoy!

Scott

[db258]

Hi
have not contacted Scott directly , but, the website still states V2Beta18 available.
the website does not reflect this post, maybe, Scotts just forgotten to update,
http://www.ncplot.com/ncplotv2/ncplotv2.htm (online doc) viewed on 07-03-2006@06:41GMT.

I will be downloading it, can not wait for beta 20.

db258

[MetLHead]

I get the updated page, like I should. Is anybody else having this problem?

Thanks,
Scott

[rippersoft]

Scott,

Great job. Offsets and Z depth are real important to what I do. How many more betas do you think are still out there?

[MetLHead]

Thanks,

There will probably be two more betas. For the next beta my plan is to finish up the DNC and concentrate more on the lathe side.

Then the final beta should be just fixing bugs and any loose ends.

Scott

[urs]

Hello Scott

The marker icon is great!!

I hope, you can develop the DNC-part further.

kindly regards
Urs

[MetLHead]

Urs,

Thank you!

I'm working on the DNC right now. Should be a whole lot better for the next beta.

Scott

[seymour]

After installing ncplot, I immediately get an error on launch. Error code 13 Type Mismatch. Anyone have any ideas for trying this out?

[MetLHead]

After installing ncplot, I immediately get an error on launch. Error code 13 Type Mismatch. Anyone have any ideas for trying this out?

Just an update on this. Seymour contacted me and it seems the problem was caused by using a config file created with an earlier version of NCPlot. So if anybody else runs into this, you will need to delete or rename the config file you are using and then re-set up and save it under the latest version.

Regards,
Scott

[Armageddon]

NCPlot is a great programm. But i missed something. Wish there was a page where i can set the axis number. Like X is 1, Z is 2, Y is 3 or something because in my macroprogramms i work sometimes with machine positions. Like #5001, #5021, #5041. You have writen me that some of the machine position parameters were in NCPlot. But i am to *lol* If you can make it that the parameters would work then NCPlot is my first choice. Hope you can understand what i mean.

Example:
X-Axis = first axis
Z-Axis = second axis

%
:1234
N1 G0 X250.0 Z250.0
N2 T0101
N3 G0 X100.0 Z0.0
.
and so on

Bevor i start the programm the machine positions are X150.0 Z100.0
In Line N1 #5001 should be 250.0 , #5041 should be the actuall position (150.0) and #5021 the distance from refpoint. #5002 should be 250.0 and #5041 should be 100.0
Can you implent this in NCPlot? Another question. Can you make it that NCPlot can preread a setable number of blocks? That would be very interesting by use of #504....

Markus

[MetLHead]

Markus,

Finishing the support for system variables is still on my list to do. Right now, only #5021 - #5024 is supported. The variables will change meaning when you switch between Mill and Lathe:

For Mill:
#5021 = X
#5022 = Y
#5023 = Z
#5024 = 4th axis

For Lathe:
#5021 = X
#5022 = Z

I still plan to add the other system variables. I've attached a variable map that covers the variables supported by NCPlot. These all work with the exception of the #5001 and #5041 variables.

Regards,
Scott

[Armageddon]

Sorry for my late reply but for me it would be better i can set the axis numbers variable. Because one lathe here have #5001=X-Axis, #5002=Z-Axis, #5003=Y-Axis and the other can have #5001=X-Axis, #5002=Z-Axis, #5004=Y-Axis.