Cycle Start button with Shopbot

[BrandanS]

Hi again SBoters,

I am ramping up to some serious production in the coming days and was wondering if anyone had rigged a 'cycle start' button up. This would save loading via [FP] for the operator everytime to run a cycle. What kind of Setups are you using now?

Thanks as always,

Brandan

[srwtlc]

Hi Brandan,

There are a few ways to do so, probably easier to get into the details for your specific needs off forum if you'd like.

PM sent.

[ssflyer]

From ShopBot 3.x update features:

NEW! Button/Macro system for automating frequent tasks and for setting up production interfaces (at the moment this is relatively un-documented and still a bit 'alpha'). We'll put some examples in the next version, but if you want to give it a try got to Buttons in the Virtual Tool Folder and run Buttons.exe. Setting up a couple of buttons to run is relatively straightforward. After you "Set Production Mode" and close, the next time you run Buttons you just see them. To get back to the set-up system hit the "Shift" key immediately after starting Buttons. Data for Buttons is saved in under ShopBot in the Program Data folder.

[feinddj]

I use a bit of code to return to the top of the file

mill:

the rest of the cut file



msgbox(Set?,YesNo,Ready to Cut?)
if &msganswer="no" then end
goto mill

[Ryan P]

I have used these buttons. http://xkeys.com/XkeysSwitches/index.php (http://xkeys.com/XkeysSwitches/index.php) I used two buttons one programmed with ctrl + R for replay of last file and the second programmed with an enter. They are very easy to setup.

[srwtlc]

When you say a 'Cycle Start' button and production, my first thought is of a remote button where the operator can just push that button to recycle the code. This can be done with a simple momentary button along with a little editing of your code for said part.

If you're using version 3.8.XX, all you need in the code is...

REPEAT: 'At the top of your file

Body of file

PAUSE UNTIL (1,X) 'X being the input # that the momentary switch is going to be on
GOTO REPEAT

This way, the operator would load the file to start it (this could be with the button program that Ron mentioned so that the user doesn't have to find the file or work through any other prompts except to start the spindle) and from that point on, the user doesn't have to return to the computer until quitting the run.