If you wanted you could also create a custom command like
M123 X<your value> Y<your value>
They can enter the distance to the workpiece from xyz0 in those boxes, and run a program
This can also be done but is a bit more involved.
i'd rather spend the time now to figure out how to add the boxes. The operator gets too flustered and makes mistakes when it gets complicated. He JUST got used to the old controller before it took a dump, so i'd really like to make it like it was. Also, i am pretty fond of the way it was as well. The machine has a vacuum table so the workpiece placement is rather arbitrary and it's nice to just plop a piece of wood on the table, measure from the corner of the spoilboard, and just enter the values on the screen into the 3 boxes.
I can add the boxes via pyvcp, however i assume that somehow either needs to enter an mdi command or change the .var file? That's where i'm a bit lost.
Your pyvcp boxes should set a halpin value, say 'value_x' and 'value_y' you could then have another pyvcp button that executes an MDI command like this:
Normal workflow would be to go where you want to start your job and just touch off each axis.
With my plasma machine I had a laser pointer (offset from the torch) which I pointed to where I wanted to start and press one button that moved the cutting tool to the laser point and set the g54 offsets for X & Y. I also had another button called Zero XY which made the current tool position X0Y0. That sounds more like what you want rather than mucking about with entering coordinates.
Normal workflow would be to go where you want to start your job and just touch off each axis.
With my plasma machine I had a laser pointer (offset from the torch) which I pointed to where I wanted to start and press one button that moved the cutting tool to the laser point and set the g54 offsets for X & Y. I also had another button called Zero XY which made the current tool position X0Y0. That sounds more like what you want rather than mucking about with entering coordinates.
while that does sound handy for some stuff, what i want is to enter coordinates, just like our old controller, mainly to prevent incidents. Our operator is very new. The less changes the better right now until he gets more comfortable. I may add your button as a secondary thing though.
Your pyvcp boxes should set a halpin value, say 'value_x' and 'value_y' you could then have another pyvcp button that executes an MDI command like this:
Thanks! That's helpful. i'll do some reading and give it a shot. Sounds like what i'm looking for. I may try to add a button like Rodw mentioned as well.
