Editing Post-Processors

[Rcnewcomb]

What is involved in changing the post-processor (for ShopBot) to add the SO 1,1 at the beginning and SO 1,0 at the end? I hate it when I forget to add them and try to start cutting without turning on the router.

[CRFultz]

What is involved in changing the post-processor (for ShopBot) to add the SO 1,1 at the beginning and SO 1,0 at the end? I hate it when I forget to add them and try to start cutting without turning on the router.

I know what you mean....there's been a couple of times I forgot to put M9 at the end...I got home from work and the router is setting at the Z's running....it would be nice if there was a way to get M7 and M9 automaticaly.

[js11110]

Editing the posts are pretty easy, its just a text file. If you try to edit one, just be sure to test it first with your hand on the e-stop! I'm sure Tony could hook you up with a custom post if your uneasy about editing your own.


Jason

[CRFultz]

Editing the posts are pretty easy, its just a text file. If you try to edit one, just be sure to test it first with your hand on the e-stop! I'm sure Tony could hook you up with a custom post if your uneasy about editing your own.


Jason

Jason i think maybe he was referring to having it done automaticly...
I have to edit everyone in notepad to get the machine codes in place...it would be nice if they were already there
from the start.

[Tony Mac]

Randal,

Paco modified a postp for the Alpha Controller and this includes the automatic Spindle On / Off.

See > http://vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4500#4500

Copy the attached file into the folder,

C:\Program Files\Vector Art 3D Machinist\PostP

The new option will then be available from the pull-down list on the Save Toolpaths form,

Shopbot(inch)(alpha_control)(*.sbp)


Chuck,

Let me know which postp you are using and I'll update it for you.

Tony

[js11110]

Editing the posts are pretty easy, its just a text file. If you try to edit one, just be sure to test it first with your hand on the e-stop! I'm sure Tony could hook you up with a custom post if your uneasy about editing your own.


Jason

Jason i think maybe he was referring to having it done automaticly...
I have to edit everyone in notepad to get the machine codes in place...it would be nice if they were already there
from the start.

Thats what I mean too. You can edit the post so it automatically puts in any code(s) you want in any order anywhere.... At the begining, the end, whatever. I edited mine so it takes out the unesscessary codes at the top and also deletes all the "n" numbers at the beginning of each line. Open up the post in notepad and you should be able to figure it out. Just remember to save the original post somewhere in case you make a mistake. And again, remember to test it on a dry run with the e-stop ready.

Jason

[Rcnewcomb]

I received the following dialog box when I started up VectorArt 3D Machinist after putting the new post processor file in the PostP directory:
begin
Unknown section name for begin
On line 139 of file
C:\PROGRAM FILES\VACTOR ART 3D
MACHINIST\PostP\ShopBot_alpha_inch_router_control.pp
begin NEW SEGMENT

[Tony Mac]

Oops - Sorry about that.

Please try this updated postp.

The error message is related to an additional command that was added to the
postp when VCPro 3.0 was released, which isn't used in VA3D Machinist.

Tony

[CRFultz]

Randal,

Paco modified a postp for the Alpha Controller and this includes the automatic Spindle On / Off.

See > http://vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4500#4500

Copy the attached file into the folder,

C:\Program Files\Vector Art 3D Machinist\PostP

The new option will then be available from the pull-down list on the Save Toolpaths form,

Shopbot(inch)(alpha_control)(*.sbp)



Chuck,

Let me know which postp you are using and I'll update it for you.

Tony

Tony I use the Mach2/3 ATC (inch) (*.txt)

Thanks...

[Tony Mac]

What is involved in changing the post-processor (for ShopBot) to add the SO 1,1 at the beginning and SO 1,0 at the end? I hate it when I forget to add them and try to start cutting without turning on the router.

I know what you mean....there's been a couple of times I forgot to put M9 at the end...I got home from work and the router is setting at the Z's running....it would be nice if there was a way to get M7 and M9 automaticaly.

Chuck,

Can I just check what commands you need at the end of your files as M7 and M9 are
typically used to switch the Coolant On / Off - Is this what you need?

Tony

[islandcutter]

Hello,

I'm rather new to using 3DVector Art files, but I have had my ShopBot for many years now. I am sure that this question may have been answered elsewhere, but darned if I can find it, so here goes...

I want to limit the number of decimal places in the .sbp files created by the post processor. It seems to create a needlessly large file, and it also seems that my SB program takes some time to read the extra digits.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Michael

[Rcnewcomb]

DISCLAIMER:
ALWAYS make a backup of your post processor before you change it.
READ the output before you run it.
AIR CUT before you try it on material
I do not work for Vectric or VectorArt3D. Implement at your own risk.

The Post processor files are in the PostP subdirectory where the program is installed.
Look for a file called ShopBot_inch.pp and open it with Notepad or the Shopbot Editor.

The Shopbot post processor supplied with 3D Machinist defaults to 6 decimal places. To change it to 3 decimal places make the following change:

In the section of the post processor that reads:

Code: Select all

+------------------------------------------------
+ Tool position in x,y and z
+------------------------------------------------

var X_POSITION = [X|A||1.6]
var Y_POSITION = [Y|A||1.6]
var Z_POSITION = [Z|A||1.6]

Change it to read:

Code: Select all

+------------------------------------------------
+ Tool position in x,y and z
+------------------------------------------------

var X_POSITION = [X|A||1.3]
var Y_POSITION = [Y|A||1.3]
var Z_POSITION = [Z|A||1.3]

[gravirozo]

the

the pp -s has a syntax... some of them simple, like to put a character in a line, or place a g command but some variables are hidden...
might be better if we don't know all...
a bad modification can crash the machine...
i should give some more to randalls disclaimer...

before you modify, read trough more postprocessor, to find out what line what will do...
and make sample files to check the output, really what you wishing... i have some idea about it's working, i just don't want to give anyway advice.. everyone need to find out theirself...

but anyway... some description really would be good about the variables, and what available to set...
just like the arcmovement, some pp contain, some don't...

and the digits after the zero, in inches might need 3 and in mm might need 2 of them..because the machines are using them, they are already not for woodcarving... but in case, like i made the last supper, just reduce the digits, the output file was less by one mb...

[Woodbutcher-59]

Hi,

On this topic I'd like to add that while you're in there changing the PP, its real easy to put some spaces in all the right places so that the generated gcode has spaces between the commands and such....It makes reading the code much nicer when you DO have to edit it by hand....

Here is a copy of my modified Mach 3 PP....has an SCC in added to the name...
Compare it to the original to see the changes....