Re: Alphacam Cnc Program Examples
Gifford Brickley
Hey all, I'm a machine programmer for a company using AlphaCam. I noticed that AlphaCam allows for addins to be programmed in using C# and VBA, and I was just wondering if anybody here has made some relatively simple tools/commands in either language that can help me learn how to create my own tools, so I can get started in lightening my workload a bit. I'm the only programmer at my company and nobody else knows how to work any kind of CAD software so lightening my workload is something I'm very interested in doing. I just dont know much about software development aside from the basics. Any tips or examples that will help me get started?
RoboDK is a robot programming software. It is compatible with robot machining, which can have better performance than CNC machining in some aspects. The post processor editor allows you to quickly and easily configure over 700 robot models with over 80 post processors.
I use Alphacam on a regular basis for CNC programming (stone cutting).
Gonna buy a kit and wondering can I use for the Maslow. Can the Maslow follow the Gcode generated for my current machines? What file type does the Maslow read? .mpf is the extention of the files created for my shop.
Edit: Reading again, it seems you are asking if Alphacam would run the Maslow. If so the answer is -> No. MaslowCNC currently runs only with GroundControl (grbl programs hopefully soon)
If you are using it for design only and can export gcode, it depends what post processors Alphacam has to offer and if you can add others.
3 The VBA interface is shown below 1. VBA menu and toolbars 2. Project Explorer Window displays a list of the currently loaded projects 3. Properties Window displays a list of properties for the active control 4. Userform Window used to design and modify dialog boxes for the active project 5. Toolbox Window used to add new controls to the active form i.e. command buttons, labels, text boxes, etc. 6. Code Window the program for the VBA macro is written in this window as a series of subroutines and functions 7. Local Watch displays values for all local variables at runtime, used in debugging 8. Watch Window displays values for specified variable at runtime, used for debugging Page 3
4 VBA Directory Structure AlphaCAM Introduction to VBA The following structure has been established so that AlphaCam and programmers can find their VBA projects easily. There are two locations available for saving, the first is primarily for projects written by Licom Systems and the second is for projects written by customers. Licom Projects Alph99\ Add-ins\ Licom DLL s selected with UTILS Add-ins Autotas Microscribe Swsketch StartUp\ Licom VB projects selected with UTILS Add-ins SysMacro\ Licom VB projects loaded up when AlphaCam is initialised Customer Projects Licomdir\ VBMacros\ Customer VBA projects selected with UTILS VBA.. Open VBA project StartUp\ Customer VBA projects loaded up when AlphaCam is initialised VBA Extensions MacroName.aab MacroName.amb MacroName.arb MacroName.atb MacroName.aeb MacroName.alb MacroName.afb MacroName.apb MacroName.asb FormName.frm FormName.frx ModuleName.bas AlphaEdit VBA project AlphaCAM milling VBA project AlphaCAM routing VBA project AlphaCAM turning VBA project AlphaCAM wire EDM VBA project AlphaCAM laser VBA project AlphaCAM flame VBA project AlphaCAM punch VBA project AlphaCAM marble VBA project Exported VBA form Exported VBA form additional information Exported VBA module Page 4
5 VBA Macro Structure A VBA Macro is known as a project and can be split into 2 sections 1. UserForms Forms are essentially dialog boxes used to obtain information from the user executing the macro. This information is passed into the module. A project can contain more than one form. Forms contain a series of controls which are placed on the form at design time by the programmer using the toolbox. A control can be divided into 3 sections. ( i ) Properties these define the appearance of each control. Some of these can only be set at design time, and some of can be modified at runtime. The most important property is the name property, it is essential that this is set to a meaningful name so that it can be referenced at any time later in the code. Recommended VBA prefixes for control names Cmb Combo box Lbl Label Chk Check box Lst List box Cmd Command button Opt Option button Fra Frame Pic Picture box Frm Form Txt Text box Img Image box ( ii ) Methods these define the behaviour of each control. Example methods are Move Method (Moves a form or control, or moves all the controls in the Controls collection ), SetFocus Method (Moves the focus to this instance of an object ) and Zorder Method (Places the object at the front or back of the Z order). ( iii ) Events these define the actions performed by the control i.e. mouse events. Events are small subroutines which are performed when the control is selected. Examples of events are Click Event ( performed code when the user clicks on the control with the mouse ), BeforeUpdate Events ( perform code before the display of the control is updated ) and Change Event ( perform code when the value of the control changes ). Page 5
6 2. Modules Modules contain the main bulk of the code and are split into subroutines and functions. This is done so that the programmer can reuse code in different userforms without having to rewrite it. A project can contain more than one module. A subroutine is a program which performs a set task without returning a value. A function is a program which performs a set task and can return one or more values for use in another part of the project. An important module is the Events module. This module is used when the programmer wishes to add a new item to one of the AlphaCAM menus. Below is an example of an events module to add a new menu. Option Explicit Function InitAlphacamAddIn(acamversion As Long) As Integer Dim fr As Frame Set fr = App.Frame Dim PopupName As String, ItemName As String, MenuName As String MenuName = "Standard Doors": ItemName = "Cathedral Door" With fr.addmenuitem2 ItemName, "ShowfrmMain", acammenunew, MenuName End with InitAlphacamAddIn = 0 End Function Sub ShowForm() Load frmmain frmmain.show End Sub Page 6
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Horizontal aggregates, available on nearly all CNC routers, for machining hinge reliefs and lock mortices for example, are easy to control using Alphacam. Standard operations can be created and saved and inserted on to work planes when required, saving programming time.
Head mounted rotary axes on CNC routers can be programmed at any orientation. Aggregates with a programmable rotary axis and manual tilt are fully supported, as well as routers with fully interpolating 5-Axis heads. Safe rapid moves between planes are automatically controlled and verified using advanced solid simulation.
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