Defining and Editing Macros

You can define macros to create a transition path between one machining operation and another. For drilling and riveting operations, you can also edit macros directly in the work area.

This task shows you how to:

Define Macros

You can define macros in an Axial Machining operation.

  1. Activate the Manufacturing Program.
    1. Select Axial Machining section.
    2. Click Drilling.
    3. Select the Macro Parameters tab in the Machining Operation dialog box.
    The initial status of all the macros in the Macro Management list is Inactive .
  2. Right-click the Approach macro line and select Activate.

    Note: You can also activate or deactivate macros by double-clicking an item in the list.

    The macro line is activated. Turns to , meaning some definition data exist but may require modifications.
  3. In the Current Macro Toolbox, click Add Axial Motion .
    A sensitive icon representing the elementary paths of the macro appears.

  4. Double-click 10mm to edit the distance (to 30mm, for example).
    The yellow light turns to green, meaning the data is up-to-date.
  5. Click Display or Simulate to check the axial approach.
  6. Under Macro Management, as described above:
    1. Activate the Retract macro line, and create a 30mm axial retract motion.
    2. Activate the Linking Retract macro line, and create a 25mm axial retract motion.

      The Linking Approach, Retract macros have a common behavior and are seen as the same object. It allows you to handle Activate, Deactivate for both Approach and Retract. Consequently, they share the same name and it is not possible to rename one independently from the other.

    3. Create a 25mm axial motion for the Linking Approach macro.

    4. Click Display or Simulate to check the defined motions.

    Note: If a jump distance is defined in the Machining Operation, it is used in preference to the linking macro. Similarly if local entry/exit distances are defined on the Machining Operation, they are used in preference to the linking macro.

  7. Click Display or Simulate to validate the tool path.
    The tool path is displayed with the following default colors:
    • Yellow: Approach feedrate
    • Green: machining feedrate
    • Blue: retract feedrate
    • Red: Rapid feedrate
    • Purple: Plunge feedrate
    • White: local feedrate.


    <p>You can modify the default colors in <ph conref="../../../Frame/FrameEntities.doc/src/ds-Preferences-Entities.xml#ds-Preferences-Entities/MenucascadePrefSimMach"/> <menucascade><uicontrol>&gt; General</uicontrol><uicontrol>Tool Path Replay.</uicontrol></menucascade></p>
  8. Click OK.
    The Machining Operation is updated with the specified macros.

Edit Macros in Drilling and Riveting Operations

You can edit approach and retract macros in drilling and riveting operations directly in the work area.

Before you begin: Open a drilling and riveting operation dialog box by double-clicking a drilling and riveting operation in the Activities Process Tree.
  1. In the work area, select a manufacturing fastener.
  2. In the context toolbar, do any of the following:
    • To edit an approach macro, click Edit Linking Approach Macro at Selected Position .
    • To edit a retract macro, click Edit Linking Retract Macro at Selected Position .
    A panel similar to the Macro Parameters tab described in the section above appears.
  3. Click Add instruction set to add the instruction set icon to the macro definition viewer.
  4. Double-click or right-click the icon in the viewer to open the Instruction Set definition dialog box, then edit the instruction set.
    The name of the selected instruction set is displayed as text in the macro editor.

  5. Modify the values of the macros as explained in the section above.

Copy and Paste Macro Paths

You can copy and paste the path of one macro to another macro.

  1. In the Macro Management area, select the macro which path you want to copy.
  2. In the Definition tab of the Current Macro Toolbox area, select the Build by user mode, then click Copies current macro motions .
  3. In the Macro Management area, select the macro where you want to paste the path.
  4. In the Definition tab of the Current Macro Toolbox area, select the Build by user mode, then click Paste copied macro motions .
  5. Click OK when done.

The copied path appears in the work area.