NCPlot v2 beta 21 now available

[MetLHead]

You can download it at:

www.ncplot.com

New for beta 21:


General
=======

The Initial State setting was not being saved when saving a machine configuration. This is fixed.

Commanding an M98 with an L repeat count while a canned cycle was active was causing an error. This is fixed.

Changed the work offset table on the machine configuration dialog. The work offset table now switches between a 4 axis table for Mill and a 2 axis table for Lathe.

Added Address Swap tool to the Tools menu. This tool will exchange any two addresses excluding "G".

Added support for G28 return to reference point.

Added support for extended work offsets G54.1 P1 - P300. This also required support for extended system variables. You can now use system variables up to #50000. The defined variables are:

#7001 - #7948 Extended work offsets P1 - P48
#14001 - #19984 Extended work offsets P1 - P300

Variables not used by NCPlot may still be assigned and used in expressions.

Added an option to allow saving the common and system variables on exit. This is found on the menu Setup | Preferences. When checked, the variables are reloaded the next time you start NCPlot.


Macro Support
=============

Some changes have been made to the expression evaluator:

The SQRT function name was not being recognized, this is fixed.

Variable indirect expressions were causing errors when using variables that contain non-integer values. This is fixed.

Added a Macro tab to the Machine Configuration dialog. This tab contains a setting that allows selecting between two different formats for the ATAN macro function.

Added support for the Fanuc style ATAN function. This is a setting in the machine configuration, you can select between the one or two operand formats:

The one operand format is:
ATAN[exp1]

The Fanuc two operand format is:
ATAN[exp1]/[exp2]


Subprograms
===========

Added support for multiple M98 command formats:

Type 1: M98 P_ L_ P = Program number, L = Repeat count
Type 2: M98 P_ K_ P = Program number, K = Repeat count
Type 3: M98 Pxxxxyyyy xxxx = Repeat count, yyyy = Program number
Type 4: M98 P_ H_ L_ P = Program number, H = Block number, L = Repeat count

The M98 format is selected in the Machine Configuration on the G/M Code tab

Added support for M97 local subroutine call:
M97 P_ L_ P = Block number, L = Repeat count


Renumbering
===========

Improved the support for macro program renumbering. NCPlot will now update block numbers referenced by these commands:

GOTO macro keyword
M99 "P" address when used as a jump command in the main program
M97 "P" address
M98 "H" address when type 4 is selected
G70 - G73 Lathe cycles "P" and "Q" addresses


As always, questions and comments are welcome.

Regards,
Scott

[I.C.O.N.]

Improved the support for macro program renumbering. NCPlot will now update block numbers referenced by these commands: GOTO macro keyword M99 "P" address when used as a jump command in the main program M97 "P" address M98 "H" address when type 4 is selected G70 - G73 Lathe cycles "P" and "Q" addresses

That is VERY cool.

I ran into this just the other day. A machinist called me out to work on a program I made. They said the program was BAD after running it for a year.

After investigating I found that someone had deleted a N# that was called out in a statement.

I will have to run the scenario thorugh NC plot and see how it does.

Andy

[MetLHead]

Thanks Andy, let me know how it goes.

By the way, how is the macro coming along?

Scott

[I.C.O.N.]

It got stalled... ...But the machine it is going into is needing it in two days now so it is just about Race-Day.

I'll post some of the results. It's really pretty simple and it will put 17 parts in the machine with the same program.

Later,
Andy