Running multiple part programs

[CNCLUMP]

I would like to fixture a family of parts on the CMM and then execute all the programs at one time going from one program to the next. There would be a total of 7 parts with seperate programs for each part. Can anyone help?

[Don Ruggieri]

Are you comfortable with BASIC?

I've done this sort of thing with BASIC, Visual BASIC in my case. I've seen other postings here and elsewhere of people who've developed a sort of User Interface that allows them to pick and choose which program to run. It is a small step to just name all the programs in advance and then jump from one to the next.

Are you comfortable with BASIC?

[CNCLUMP]

Not to comfortable with BASIC or VISUAL BASIC.

[#2#]

You could always create it as one long program. Then if you are missing parts or only want to run certain parts you can create different marked sets. If you do this I would align on the fixture and then recall that alignment before each part segment.

[toffield]

What version are you using?

We are currently using 3.5mr2. We write each program individually, then change them to subroutines. We create another program that gives you the option of running one or more programs. The 2nd program contains the recall subroutines.

Hope this helps.

Teresa

[Sean Steele]

I wrote a program that would check a fixture that has a right and left and the right has two variations. It was a long program that had yes/no questions for skip blocks. I would love to hear how to make a program into a subroutine. I think this would save a lot of time when calibrating fixtures and running annual layouts of parts at the same time.

[CNCLUMP]

toffield's post helped a lot. Thank you. You want to keep the original program and make a copy first. If the parts are hard fixtured on the table you can do a part alignment in dcc mode. After you change your alignment go to the top of the program and insert a subroutine statement(flow control). At the end of the program add a end sub statement(flow control). Then you make another program that calls the subroutines and bingo. Last night I was able to link two long running programs together and let it run unattended. Came in this morning and check the printouts. Bingo.