Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions Page. Here you will find answers to common questions about Custom Macro Programming and our products. If you are looking for specific examples of using Custom Macro look at our Tips & Tricks Page and our What is Custom Macro page. Thanks and we hope you find something useful!
- Why Should I Learn Custom Macro?
- What are the Benefits of Buying Our Products?
- Who Should Purchase Our Products?
- Is Custom Macro Hard to Learn?
- What's Covered in the Manual?
Custom Macro is the best kept secret in your control! With Custom Macro you can: - Add Canned Cycles to your control that the Machine Tool Builder would charge thousands for, like Bolt Circle, Thread Milling or Pocketing Routines.
- Create canned cycles that are specific to your operation and aren't even available from the Machine Tool Builder. For Example, Fixture Indicating, Pallet Loading or a Custom Probing Cycle.
- Add Programmable Inputs/Outputs to your control. You can activate swing clamps or verify part location automatically. Reduce operator intervention for safety and higher quality.
- Use Custom Macro to reduce setup time. You can easily automate tool setting, especially if you have a tool setter on the machine, Fixture offsets, pallet offsets and other setup tasks.
- Best of all, most controls use a compatible Macro language. The skills you learn can be applied to Fanuc, Haas, Mazak, Okuma and other controls.
None of this can be done without Custom Macro programming. Because Custom Macro is poorly documented in most Machine Tool builder’s manuals, you don’t hear much about it. In fact, there are relatively few people that even know what Custom Macro is, much less know what it can do.
Our easy to use products will make you more productive in record time! Lots of Real Life examples
The Machine Tool Builder's manual does a poor job of explaining Custom Macro and has very few examples. The Programming Unlimited manual uses complete examples to explain Custom Macro features, not the "one liners" in the control manual. No Jinglish Allowed
The Programming Unlimited manual explains Custom Macro features in CNC programmer's terms, not Jinglish. Don’t waste time trying to figure out what “When 5 in #5 is replaced with #30, it does not become ##30 but #[#30]” means in the Fanuc manual. Let us explain it clearly.
An Easy to use Manual
With our easy to understand Custom Macro manual, you will learn the basics of Parametric Programming using real life examples. After mastering the basics, you'll move to topics like WHILE-DO and custom menus. For a complete list of topics covered click here. Forget the confusing Machine Tool Builder’s manual. Our’s is written in real English! Benefits of Buying our Manual
1. Expand your knowledge of CNC to include topics like:
Local, common and system variables.
Arithmetic, Boolean logic and Relational Operators.
Overriding switches like feed hold and single block.
Custom alarms and messages.
Output data as the program executes for real time SPC.
Access to offsets and positions.
2. Learn to write special Utility macros like:
Bolt Hole Cycles
Updating fixture offsets
Tool life management
Part counters
Activate hydraulic clamps or verify part position.
3. Learn to write Tooling macros from our examples!
Bolt Circles
Circular Pocketing
Array of holes, Line of holes.
Slotting-radial, circumferential
Great Windows Software
Macro Pro is the only Microsoft Windows package for Fanuc and compatible Custom Macro languages (Haas, Yasnac, Mazak Etc.). Macro Pro puts the power of Windows to work for you. You might never need the Control manual again! What is it, What Does it Do?
Macro Pro is the fastest, easiest tool available for writing CNC Custom Macro programs. Using the Microsoft® Windows environment (3.1, 95, NT), you point and click instead of searching through a poorly written control manual. You can even use Drag & Drop editing. Word Processing Power
Macro Pro has all of the features of a Windows word processor including Cut, Paste and Search/Replace. The integrated Code Library Database allows you to create and manage a library of often used code. No need to go to searching through existing macros looking for the right code. When finished, the macro program is saved in standard ASCII format so you can import it into your CAM or DNC system. System Requirements
Macro Pro requires Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Windows NT and approximately 3.5MB of disk space. If Macro Pro is installed on a Novell or Microsoft Network the Code Library can be shared among several programmers.
Probing for Automated Setups
Custom Macro is the language of probing. To get the most from your expensive probe, you need a through understanding of the Custom Macro language. Use our book to learn and our Macro Pro V3.1 software to automate your probe programming!
CNC programmers
We think that all CNC programmers should have a basic understanding of parametric programming. At the very least, a programmer should be able to recognize good applications for this powerful feature.
CNC Programming Instructors
Since this feature is so helpful, and seldom taught, why not include parametric programming in your curriculum? The Programming Unlimited manual and software package makes it easy to add parametric programming to your curriculum. Manufacturing Engineers
CNC Machinists
Supervisors
Anyone who uses or evaluates CNC equipment should be familiar with Custom Macro. Manufacturing Engineers that are looking for low cost ways to automate and improve quality will be especially interested in the advanced features that Custom Macro provides.
Imagine being able to use simple proximity switches to verify that a part is loaded correctly and then automatically activating the clamps to hold the part in place! Or activating a swing clamp to move out of the way of the cutting tool and then reclamping it, all without operator intervention or stopping the cycle.
If you opened up the control builder's manual and started reading about macro you might think that learning to use macro is difficult. That's because the builder probably translated the manual from Japanese and used very few examples. Our manual is written in plain English and has plenty of examples. We use complete programs to illustrate programming concepts. With are manual as a guide you will find that Custom Macro is easy to learn.
Introduction to Parametric Programming
What Custom Macro can do for you and why you should learn it.
Why use Custom Macro instead of a CNC Subprogram.
Comparing Custom Macro’s advanced automation features to a simple CNC subprogram
Applications for Custom Macro
Family of Parts programming
Automating Fixture offset updates during pallet changes.
Sending real time data to an SPC program or panel mounted printer
Activating accessories like clamps and switches.
Developing custom machining or probing menus on the control
Parametric Features
Variable capabilities
-passing arguments
-local variables
-common variables
-system variables
Arithmetic/Mathematical Functions
-addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
-sine, cosine, tangent, arctangent, square root, rounding, ADP, LN
-special functions like BCD, BIN, FIX and FUP
-AND, OR and XOR function truth tables, binary/decimal conversions
Statement labels for GOTO’s
Unconditional program branching
Conditional program branching
-setting flags to branch on
-using Boolean operators
-using relational operators
Program looping
-indefinite looping
-WHILE DO looping control
Error trapping
-anticipating errors - Sometimes they just don't listen
-generating custom alarms - Don't waste time wondering what is wrong
-displaying custom messages - Keep the operator informed
Writing Macro Programs
How to get started!
Reducing mistakes
Breaking the problem into easy to handle steps
System Variables Explained
#1000/#1100 Variables - Interfacing to the outside world
#2000 Variables - Using Tool Offsets
#3000 and #3006 Variables - Generate alarms and messages
#3001 and #3002 Variables - Read system timers
#3003 and #3004 Variables - Control overrides and modes
#4000 Variables - Read the control’s current status
#5000 Variables
-Read ABS coordinate position
-Read machine position
-Read skip signal position
#5200 and #7000 Variables - Read/Write fixture offsets. Whether you are using a touch trigger probe, want to update offsets after a pallet change or simply want to use multiple part fixturing, you need to understand fixture offsets.
#6000 Variables - Create control resident menus for calling your macros
Advanced Techniques
Protecting macros from deletion or editing
Creating custom G, M & T codes for Custom Macros
Create tool life management based on time in cut or number of parts
Optimize palletized multiple part machining using #500 variables
Create Named variables #500-#519
Use DPRNT to output data
Besides the easy to understand examples, this manual includes complete program listings for: Bolt Circle, Circular Pocket, Radial Slotting, Array of holes drilling, Line of Holes drilling and More! Don’t wait, put the power of Custom Macro to work in your shop today.
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