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Scanning is a feature that enables the workpiece, fixture, work offset, tools and holders to be automatically loaded upon starting Backplot. Please follow the steps below or watch the videos at the end of the article for more details.
Scanning can be configured under Global Setup by going to Editor tab -> Global Setup -> Machine Configuration -> Scanning. Three sections appear in the Scanning window: Scanning Mode, Read/Write Settings and NC File Placement Settings.
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Scanning mode has three options.
Scan active nc file reads the scanning commands that are currently in the nc file.
Scan setup file reads an external file which contains the same scanning commands that would be located within the nc file, but using default settings so that it is neutral to all controls. The setup file should be located in the same location as the nc file and have the same name, but the '.setup' extension.
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Disabled, no scanning is done.
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Within this section there are three columns, Definition, Read and Write.
Definition column contains the objects that can be scanned, Geometries, Holders, Stock, Tools, Work offset.
Under the Read column there are check boxes corresponding with each definition. Check the box beside the definition to automatically read its description from the nc or setup file.
Under the Write column there are check boxes corresponding with each definition. Check the box beside the definition to automatically write the description into the nc or setup file.
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NC File Placement Settings mode has three sections,
Definition contains the objects that are scanned, by clicking on each of the definitions it allows its 'placement' to be selected.
Placement of selection definition allows the end user to choose the placement of the scanning commands from default options.
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Custom Placement allows the end user to choose the placement of the scanning commands.
Sample below show scanning commands in a Setup file.
TOOL 1 "BORING BAR" HOLDER=H1 UM D10 FL=20.5 SL=30 BL40 AD=10 A10 CR4 TOOL 2 "END MILL SPHERE" HOLDER=H1 UM D10 FL=20.5 SL=30 BL40 AD=10 A10 CR4 HOLDER BEGIN H1 "BT50" 69.85, 69.85, 3 100, 100, 12.5 100, 85, 4.33 85, 85, 6.34 85, 100, 4.33 100, 100, 7.3 HOLDER END WORKPIECE ID1 "workpiece_1.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 WORKPIECE ID2 "workpiece_2.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 FIXTURE ID1 "fixture_1.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 FIXTURE ID2 "fixture_2.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 WCS ID0 X100 Y100 Z0 WCS ID1 X300 Y200 Z0 WCS ID2 X300 Y300 Z0
Load .stl model as fixture or workpiece.
<TYPE> ID<ID> "<FILENAME>" X<NUMBER> Y<NUMBER> Z<NUMBER> A<NUMBER> B<NUMBER> C<NUMBER>
<TYPE> : Either of the two strings: WORKPIECE FIXTURE <ID> : Integer <FILENAME> : String with an ".stl" extension <NUMBER> : Integer, Float : X,Y,Z Coordinate : A,B,C Euler transformation
WORKPIECE ID1 "workpiece_1.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 WORKPIECE ID2 "workpiece_2.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 FIXTURE ID1 "fixture_1.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 FIXTURE ID2 "fixture_2.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 FIXTURE ID3 "fixture_2.stl" X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0
Load tool.
TOOL <TOOL NUMBER> "<TYPE>" <UNIT> <DIMENSIONS>
or
TOOL <TOOL NUMBER> "<TYPE>" HOLDER=<HOLDER ID> <UNIT> <DIMENSIONS>
<TOOL NUMBER> : Tool number or ID. <TYPE> : String with tool type <HOLDER ID> : Optional, Alphanumeric string [a-zA-Z0-9_-] <UNIT> : Optional parameter with two possible values: UM for Metric UI for Imperial <DIMENSIONS> : List of tool dimensions, described below.
D = Diameter : Integer, fraction or decimal A = Taper Angle : Integer, fraction or decimal CR = Corner Radius : Integer, fraction or decimal FL = Flute Length : Integer, fraction or decimal SL = Shoulder Length : Integer, fraction or decimal BL = Body Length : Integer, fraction or decimal AD = Shaft Diameter : Integer, fraction or decimal TL = Taper Length : Integer, fraction or decimal BD = Bell Diameter : Integer, fraction or decimal BA = Bell Taper Angle : Integer, fraction or decimal AT = Tip Angle : Integer, fraction or decimal PD = Pilot Diameter : Integer, fraction or decimal PL = Pilot Length : Integer, fraction or decimal SD = Shoulder Diameter : Integer, fraction or decimal TD = Tip Diameter : Integer, fraction or decimal CD = Chamfer Distance : Integer, fraction or decimal TP = Thread Pitch : Integer, fraction or decimal TCD = Top Chamfer Distance : Integer, fraction or decimal CRT = Top Corner Radius : Integer, fraction or decimal NTT = Number of Thread Teeth : Integer, fraction or decimal
TOOL T1 "BORING BAR" HOLDER=H1 UM D10 FL=20.5 SL=30 BL40 AD=10 A10 CR4
Load holder.
HOLDER BEGIN <ID> "<NAME>" <UNIT?> <NUMBER>, <NUMBER>, <NUMBER> # Holder Segment: (Upper diameter, Lower diameter, Length of the segment) <NUMBER>, <NUMBER>, <NUMBER> # One holder segment per line ... <NUMBER>, <NUMBER>, <NUMBER> HOLDER END
<ID> : alphanumeric string [a-zA-Z0-9_-] <NAME> : alphanumeric string [a-zA-Z0-9_-], must be encapsulated with double quotation marks <UNIT> : Optional parameter with two possible values: UM for Metric UI for Imperial <NUMBER> : Integer, Float, Fraction
HOLDER BEGIN H2 "B2C4-0011" 42.9514,1.524,45.9994 45.9994,6.0706,45.9994 45.9994,2.00406,39.0652 37.9984,4.0132,37.9984 39.06012,2.00406,45.9994 45.9994,3.1242,45.9994 45.9994,1.27,43.4594 22.225,3.175,15.875 15.875,31.75,15.875 15.875,1.4478,12.7 12.7,5.334,12.7 14.986,0.508,16.002 16.002,11.43,16.002 16.002,0.508,14.986 HOLDER END
Load work offset.
WCS ID<INDEX> X<NUMBER> Y<NUMBER> Z<NUMBER>
<INDEX> : Integer referring to the work offset index. <NUMBER> : Integer, Float : X,Y,Z Coordinate
WCS ID0 X100 Y100 Z0 WCS ID1 X300 Y200 Z0 WCS ID2 X300 Y300 Z0
Load stock.
<TYPE> X<NUMBER> Y<NUMBER> Z<NUMBER> A<NUMBER> B<NUMBER> C<NUMBER> <ORIGIN> <AXIS> <UNIT> "<FILENAME>"
<TYPE> : Either of the four strings: STOCK RECTANGLE STOCK MIN/MAX STOCK CYLINDER STOCK STL
<FILENAME> : String with an ".stl" extension <NUMBER> : Integer, Float : X,Y,Z Coordinate : A,B,C Euler transformation : W,L,H,D Width, Length, Height, Diameter
<ORIGIN> : Top Bottom Top X+Y+ Top X+Y- Top X-Y- Top X-Y+ Bottom X+Y+ Bottom X+Y- Bottom X-Y- Bottom X-Y+
<AXIS> : X,Y,Z Coordinate <UNIT> : Optional parameter with two possible values: UM for Metric UI for Imperial
STOCK CYLINDER X0 Y0 Z0 D=200 H=28 ORIGIN="TOP" AXIS="Z"
STOCK STL X0 Y0 Z0 A0 B0 C0 UM PATH="C:\CIMCO\CIMCOEditMachineSim8\Workpiece.stl"
STOCK RECTANGLE X0 Y0 Z0 W=165 L=102 H=40 ORIGIN="TOP"
STOCK MIN X-101 Y-58 Z250 STOCK MAX X101 Y58 Z278
Scanning is used in the sample nc programs for Machine Simulation included in the installation 'Samples\Machine Simulation\'.
Using the option Scan active nc file, (Geometries | Tools | Holders | Work offset)
Using the option Scan setup file, (Geometries | Tools | Holders | Work offset)