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Engraving

An-112, Copyright © by Gil Hagiz
Last updated Jun-29-2006
For version 6.02.1 and higher
(For version 5.11)

Introduction

The engraving sub program can be called from any program for engraving characters.
The program is provided by the installer/retrofitter.
The text to engrave is written in English characters and its source can be plain text, received from a data entry program, functions that return text, e.g. date$, or a variable, e.g. part number.

Engraving Explained

The text to engrave is entered in a string variable A$.
The associated numerical data is entered under letter addresses.
A$ must be defined in the beginning of the user program before other arrays:

dim A$(80)

This statement allocates memory for an 80 character string A$.
A$ is set by the user program and read by the engraving sub-program.
To assign text to the string use plain text or functions that return strings, e.g.:

A$='TODAY IS '+date$
A$=str$(123456)         \converted according to the last programmed Format
A$=str$(#10)            \#10 can be set as a part counter

To call the engraving sub-program a line like this is used:

g210 x-140 y-70 z10 f1000 r0 P12 g80 R2 Z-2 Q.8 D2 f200

Where:

G210 Engraving (non modal)
XY Beginning of line or center of circle
Z  Z at start and leave
F  Cutting feed
R  0 for line, otherwise radius of circle
P  Slope or direction of first character in a circle
After g80 (same as for drilling canned cycles)
R  R-plane
Z  Cutting depths (absolute)
Q  Scale
D  Spacing
F  Down feed

Notes:

The assigned values are modal and can be used for subsequent text.
XYZ data is given in the current unit (inch-mm).
The programmed feedrate applies to all motions except Z-down. If no F is entered after g80 then Z-down feed is same as cutting feed.
The character size depends on the scale and not on the current unit.
The default character box is 10x5 mm plus 2 mm spacing.
Q Scale: if zero the default is 1:1. Use negative scale for mirror in Y.
P Angle of rotation in degrees (CCW).
D Additional spacing in mm, 0 if not entered.

Once all variables have been assigned, for the next text the most likely changes are the position, so it is enough to enter:

A$='NEW TEXT'
g210 x-5 y-1 z.4

The available character set is:

Space, 0 to 9, A to Z,  +  -  :  .  /

Other symbols may be added by the user. Lowercase alpha characters are converted to uppercase and undefined characters leave spaces.

Sample Program

This program engraves the text shown in the picture above.
Notes:

A$ should be defined and must be the first if more than one array is defined.
That way A$ is identical to A$ in the Engrave sub-program (The same memory is allocated to both, regardless of the name).
A$ can be used in the calling program for other purposes, as long as it holds the desired text before calling Engrave.
Engrave uses Scale and sets it to 1:1 before terminating, therefore if the calling program uses Scale it should be re-defined after calling Engrave.
Engrave uses Rotate and clears it before terminating.
Engrave preserves user's local coordinates (g52). R and P are preserved as well.