You can use parameters to create setup sheets for a project.
Common parameters
There are a number of common parameters that can be used in both setup sheets and macros:
- Project header — Contains the parameters project.* or powermill.*.
- NC Program header — Contains the NC Program parameters entity('ncprogram', ncprogram.Name).*.
- Toolpath page — Contains toolpath and tool parameters such as entity('toolpath', toolpath.Name).* and entity('toolpath', toolpath.Name).Tool.*.
- Summary page — Contains the parameters <summaryrow> or <toolrow>, in addition to toolpath and tool parameters.
Parameters only used in setup sheets
There are a parameters that can only be used in setup sheets. This is due to the nature of setup sheets: they aim to achieve a goal within a single statement. There are also other restrictions:
- You cannot use if statements.
- You cannot re-use variables.
- Every statement is independent and does not flow as it does in macros.
- Statements do not start with the entity(…)syntax.
The following table summarises the differences between the use of parameters in macros and setup sheets.
> Parameters > Documentation > Setup Sheet Summary.
|
Parameter |
Use in macros |
Use in setup sheets |
|
Parameter definition |
REAL r = 10 |
Parameter definition is not supported. You can only use previously defined parameters. |
|
Parameter printing |
PRINT “Stepover is ${entity('toolpath', '1').Stepover}” |
Stepover is ${entity('toolpath', '1').Stepover}. |
|
Commands |
PRINT “Stepover is ${entity('toolpath', '1').Stepover}” |
You cannot use commands. The effect of putting parameters between ${} brackets is similar to using the PRINT command. The difference is that only the value is printed, and it is printed to the setup sheet file. |
|
If statements |
IF (${error(Workplane)} == 0) { PRINT ${Workplane.Name} } ELSE { PRINT “World” } |
Not supported. However, you can use a parameter function to perform simple things which require the same behaviour: ${select(“error(Workplane) == 0”, Workplane.Name, “World”)}. |
|
While, For loops |
Consult the macro manual. |
No supported. However, the syntax of <summaryrow> mimics looping over toolpaths. <toolrow> mimics looping over tools. |