RE: Bin Files comments and suggestions - Very long

[Ethan Vos <ethan-at-forward.ca>]

I understand all of this except #9. I have the .ini file set to inches, not 
auto. What else do I need to change?

Also, just be make sure that I'm explaining myself correctly on the A axis. 
I rotate it to 30, 90, 150, 210, 270 and 330 degrees, at which time my 
program ends. I don't want the axis to move, just have the display go to 
zero. Will the G92 do that?

Ethan

-----Original Message-----
From:	Ray [SMTP:rehenry-at-up.net]
Sent:	Wednesday, August 29, 2001 10:11 AM
To:	Multiple recipients of list
Subject:	Re: Bin Files comments and suggestions - Very long



On Wed, 29 Aug 2001, Ethan wrote:
<s>
> 2. Is there a way to reset the A axis using a G code command? I don't 
want
> to rotate it back to 0, just reset the position.

G92 a0 should do it or if you have no home switch, home in manual mode
should do it also.  Wrapped linear getting to you?

> 3. Has anyone added a clock or cycle timer to the Tkemc? I'd like to
> compare program differences to the second.

Don Libes at NIST has written a nifty little Tcl/Tk stopwatch.  I modified
it to run stand alone.  I'll send a copy off list.  We could make this a
popup by putting it in emc/tcl/scripts

> 4. Where is the good backplot? In all my fooling around I seem to have 
lost
> it.

Good is negotiable.  Paul's is in emc/tcl/scripts/tkbackplot.tcl.  The one
I wrote should be in emc/plat/nonrealtime/bin/tkbackplot.  Since you are
using the bin file from linuxcnc.org you will not have a second copy in
emc/src/emctask/tkbackplot.tcl.  If you have lost yours, I can send one.
Contact off list.

> 5. Can I edit the Tkemc file to set the default font and "World" instead 
of
> "Joint"? I also need to default "Commanded". I changed the "commanded" in 
> the .ini file but it doesn't change the default.

They were read in from the ini until a recent change from caps to lower
case.  Yes you can change these in tkemc.  Actual is default about line
537.  Font defaults are set around 1026.  World will come up as default if
the motion module that you are using allows it.  Freqmod will Steppermod
won't.

> 6. Why does the rotation on axis A only show in "commanded"?
>
> 7. For the script "Set_Tools" the probe dialog box comes up.

My error, sorry.  I never really finished writing this.  Just delete it 
from
your emc/tcl/scripts directory.  It does not exist in the repository, only
in the bin you are running.

> 8. The manual homing does not work properly. I am using X,Z and A axis. 
To
> home the Z axis I have to highlight the Z axis and the Z axis will move.
> It's kinds weird.
>
> 9. The "Set-Coordinates" script uses engineering units rather than 
inches.
> If I set the change to 1.0, it changes the axis by .039...

The var file uses dimentionless units.  They are interpreted as being
whatever unit is in effect at the time they are read.  You must be reading
mm and displaying inches.

> 10. Also on the "Set_Coordinates" script, Tkemc should update on the
> "Write" button and not the "Close" button.

You can change this.

-----snippet of emc/tcl/scripts/Set_cordinates.tcl-----
# loads parameter file into interpreter and closes window
proc closeWindow {} {
    loadVarFile
    destroy .
}
-----end of snippet-----

Remove or comment out (#) the line loadVarFile in the snippet above.  If
this is a common feeling, I will remove it from the repository.

> 11. The Tkemc display for coordinate offsets seem to be hard coded to X,Y 
> and Z. how difficult would it be to have them read the .ini file? Can
> someone tell me what to do so I can do it?
>
> All minor issues to an excellent program.

I'm glad that you are getting it going and putting it to the test on the
shop floor.

HTH

Ray