Copyright (C) 1986-2008 by Daniel H. Hudgins, All Rights Reserved.
No part of "This Web Site" (HTML document), including associated files, may be: distributed, sublicensed, transmitted, copied, archived, mirrored, modified, bundled, embedded, sold, given away, rented, loaned, or shared in any form without express written permission in a formal Vendor agreement contract dated and signed in ink obtained directly from Daniel H. Hudgins by registered postal mail. All agreements for permission to distribute expire after a period no greater than one year from the date of the signing of the agreement by Daniel H. Hudgins. See the current "EULA" for information regarding limited copying and storage for the purpose of "Beta Testing" "This Web Site."
To view or use the current version of this Web page you may need to reload or refresh the display of this page by your browser. Just clicking on the browser's [Reload] or [Refresh] icon may not be enough to insure that all of the page's most current contents have been cached and displayed. Some browsers may have additional commands to help display the page's most current contents such as: holding down the [Shift] key and clicking on the [Reload] icon, holding down the [Control] key and clicking on the [Refresh] icon, holding down the [Control] and [Shift] keys and clicking on the [Refresh] icon, pressing the [Control] and [F5] keys, pressing [Control] and the [R] key, or some other combination of keys or clicks. Check to see which commands your HTML browser uses to load the most current page contents into its cache and then to display them onto the screen.
This Web site is dedicated to the thousands of "users" of my programs, those who have helped test my programs over the last 22 or so years, and especially those who shared their experiences with me.
You must read this notice: This is a licensed Web site (HTML document and associated files). You must read and agree to be legally bound in contract by the Terms of Use and conditions given in the End User License Agreement ("EULA"), Legal Notices, Instructions, Warnings, Disclaimers, and all other text in "SECTION: 0" of "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) before reading or using any of the information, software programs, and or files, contained in, linked to, and or associated with, "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files). Any use or "Beta Testing" of "This Web Site" constitutes your acknowledgment of your full agreement with the current End User License Agreement ("EULA") and your decision to have this current license supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings. Information and files in "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) have been placed here so that long time users of "The Author's" programs DANCAD3D.COM (tm) , DANCAM.EXE (tm) , or DANPLOT.EXE (tm) could help proofread the text of the documentation files or screens displayed, and also help test data files, example files, and or any software programs that might be made available from time to time, to aid "The Author" in finding mistakes, bugs, and other errors, omissions, defects, mistakes, and faults. Everything in "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) is "Beta Test", "Beta Code", Experimental, Preliminary, requires proofreading, or is being evaluated for possible revision, and is NOT warranted to be free of defect. To help "The Author" report any bugs, foul-ups, defects, or mistakes that you find, see "SECTION: 8" for instructions. "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) and all other files and programs by Daniel H. Hudgins are made available "AS IS" without warranty of any kind express, expressed, or implied. All offers and specifications are subject to change or discontinuation without notice of any kind. Please read "SECTION: 8" of "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) before trying to contact "The Author."
This documentation section has text mostly about DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm), my CAM programs, and might be looked to for information on some of the CAM program commands. See also the other documentation files, and pages in this Web site, for additional information. The disclaimer and most of the other legal text has been moved to SECTION: 0 , you must read the disclaimer, End User License Agreement (EULA), and other legal text, before you read any of the other documentation or use any part of this HTML document or associated files and programs. Be sure to read all the Warnings in SECTION: 3.2.10.0 , and the other documentation, before running, installing, testing, or using any of my programs, and especially before using DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm).
The text in this section was derived from the CAMPLOT.DOC file that was in the original v2.6 distribution, and has been updated somewhat so that some of the changes made in v2.7 are reflected. It may take me some time to get back to work some more on this section, but you can help proof-read what is here now. Some adjustment may be required for versions prior or subsequent to v2.72 since there are variations between versions and the various revisions of versions.
You may not distribute, sell, rent, share, or give away these HTML documentation files or printed copies of them. You may not extract text from these HTML documentation files for distribution, sale, rent, sharing, or giving away. You can use the [Print] option in your browser to make one copy for yourself to mark up in order to help me proofread the text for mistakes.
Documents may be available to download from time to time, you can check SECTION: 9 to see what the current situation with regard to downloadable files is. The names of these documentation files may change, and they may be edited, combined, or eliminated in the future, without notice.
You may need to adjust your browser for best viewing of the pre- formatted text by changing the "font" size using the commands in your browser (see the help in your browser, or use the pull-down menus in your HTML browser.) If some letters in words on the screen appear to be missing or scrambled try changing the font size in your browser as this sometimes happens even though the words are spelled correctly in the HTML code.
Use the "Edit, Find in page Ctrl+F" or "Edit, Find (in this page)... Ctrl+F" command in your browser to search for keywords within the documentation text in this HTML page. You will need to search over again in the other pages in this HTML document for the same keyword since your browser may not search for a keyword beyond the current page that is loaded.
To use DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm) to manufacture something you need to have a tool path file. The tool path file consists of the coordinates of end points of line segments. Quasi curves and such shapes are produced by groups of short line segments, the line segments can be shorter than one motor step, and so do not limit the smoothness of quasi curves. You can use DANCAD3D (tm) or DANCAD87 (tm) to make the tool path file. DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm) can also be used to make a tool path file, by use of their "teach" mode and their scanning "replicate" modes. Other programs that make HP-GL sub-set, BMP sub-set, PCB drill sub- set, STL sub-set, or G code sub-set type files might possibly also be used to make the required tool path file, if DANCAD3D (tm) is able to be used to convert your particular file into an ASCII tool path file. DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm) read the tool path file and drive stepper or servo motors by sending signals through the parallel port of your computer.
Steps for general operation of the CAM programs:
Think through how the tool will need to move to make your part.
Draw out your tool path file with DANCAD3D (tm)'s drawing editor, or use DANCAD3D (tm) to convert a file into an ASCII tool path file.
Inspect the line segments in the tool path with DANCAD3D (tm)'s drawing editor and Preview commands to make sure that the tool path file is correct and will make the motors move in a safe and desirable way.
Quit DANCAD3D (tm).
If you are running the CAD programs under Windows (tm) shut down your computer and re-boot your computer in non-multi-tasking mode from a "DOS 95" floppy disk at this step, in order to have the CAM programs work better is some situations.
Run DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm). If the CAM programs have not been configured to your machine enter the proper values in the configuration sub-menu and use the automatic self calibration command to calibrate the feed rates and timing to the speed of your computer.
Clamp the work-piece into your machine.
Close safety shields on your machine.
Turn on the power to your machine.
Home up the machine for the desired starting point.
Enter the name of the tool path to execute.
When done, turn off machine power.
Remove finished part.
Inspect finished part for errors. Parts that have errors should not be used, sold, or given away.
To use DANPLOT.EXE (tm) and DANCAM.EXE (tm) you will need to create a the ASCII tool path file that contains information on the end points of line segments, such that the line segments define the path you want your tool (or work-piece as the motion between the tool and work-piece is relative) to move through space. The easiest way to create the necessary file of line segment data is to use DANCAD3D (tm) or DANCAD87 (tm) to draw the line segments in the order you want the motions of your machine to have and in the direction from point to point that you want the motion to proceed.
The necessary line segment data for an ASCII tool path file can also be entered manually by using a text editor program, and saved by using the DOS *.TXT file type option. The Write command in DANCAD3D (tm) can be used to create tool path files manually.
You can write a program to convert some data file type into my ASCII tool path file type. Several sub-sets of Industry file types such as BMP sub-set, HPGL sub-set, PCB Drill sub- set, STL sub-set, and G code sub-set might be able to be converted into ASCII tool path files by being processed in DANCAD3D (tm) or DANCAD87 (tm).
The CAM programs can also produce tool path files, or files that can be converted into tool path files, by using their teach and replicate modes. The teach mode lets you jog the machine and mark the movements you want to have repeated. The replicate mode scans the object in order to make a quasi copy, or produce an image of the object.
The format of DANCAD3D (tm)'s ASCII file is formatted as ten numbers in ASCII floating point across each line of text. The first three numbers on a line of text are the X1, Y1, and Z1, values for a line segment. The fourth, fifth, and sixth numbers are the X2, Y2, and Z2 coordinates of the same line segment. The seventh number is the line color. The remaining numbers are line attributes not currently used in the CAM programs and would be set to: 1 0 0. The first line of text in the ASCII file contains the macro commands VERSION and ENTER. The last line of the ASCII file contains ten spaced zeros to flag the end of file. Therefore you see that the ASCII file has two lines of text more than the number of lines segments described. You can use the Write command in DANCAD3D (tm) or some other text editor, such as windows WORDPAD (tm), to look at or edit an ASCII tool path file. The values in the ASCII file are absolute position coordinates The number values do not need to be tabulated, but they must be spaced with a space character. Sometimes to make the dots (line segments of no length) in the tool path file used to control the special functions such as the pause for machine operator, dwell, and auxiliary relays can be made to stand out in the display of the tool path in the CAD programs when the WYSIWYG is active the line with and line end cap shape attributes are used, i.e. not 1 0 0.
EXAMPLE: VERSION v2.7A { Example } ENTER
-3 -2 -4 2.25 2.5 0 1 1 0 0
2.25 2.5 0 3.125 -1.125 0 2 1 0 0
3.125 -1.125 0 -3 -2 -4 1 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
You can write your own computer programs, in any computer language, to create the ASCII files to use with DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm). DANCAD3D (tm) or DANCAD87 (tm) can be used to edit the ASCII tool path files by loading the line segments into the drawing workspace and then using the various drawing commands to make changes. DANCAD3D (tm)'s macro language can be used to create application programs in the form of macros running within DANCAD3D (tm) to automatically produce ASCII tool path files without having to do any manual drawing.
The overall scaling factor in DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm) can be used to change the size of the part made, e.g. a scale of 2 makes the part twice as large, a scale of 0.5 makes the part half as large. Normally the "world scale" in DANCAD3D (tm) is set to 240 when working in inch units so drawings will print out at the proper size, i.e. one drawing unit to one inch on the drawing, but in DANCAD3D (tm) the display scale has no effect on the values saved to an ASCII file. ASCII files made in DANCAD3D (tm) only contain the values represented at the top of the drawing editor screen, that is, one workspace unit ends up as 1.0 in the ASCII file. The numbers in the ASCII file only relate to amounts of distance by means of the various numbers and values you enter into DANCAM.EXE (tm)'s or DANPLOT.EXE (tm)'s configuration menus. If you have the motor steps configured to 2000 steps per inch, and the X axis value in the tool path file changes one unit then the X motor will move 2000 steps when the overall scale in DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm) is set to 1.0.
The location of the 0 0 0 point in your machine relative to the values in the tool path file can be shifted by changing the location values of the home point in DANCAM.EXE (tm)'s or DANPLOT.EXE (tm)'s configuration menu. For the machine backlash compensation to work properly you need to have the machine home point at one "corner" of the working volume or area, i.e. at the extreme corner of the machine's motions.
Mirror images can be produced by using the Flip command in DANCAD3D (tm) to flip all or part of the tool path. Changing the sign of the steps per unit entered in the CAM programs, i.e. -1000 steps per inch in place of 1000 may invert the home point value as well and make the tool go the wrong way and off the end of the machine.
The maximum speed the program sends pulses to the motor driver circuits needs to be limited to a speed that the motors can physically keep up with. The programs let you enter a pulse width factor (p.w.f.), a pulse rate multiplier, and a p.w.f. increaser to speed up or slow down the maximum step pulse rate.
DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm) have motor testing utilities built in for determining the fastest speed the motors can reliably be used at. The start and stop test is used to send an uneven pulse rate to test stepper motors to determine the motors safe pull-in speed, so that when the tool path file is run the motors will probably not be run faster than they can accurately operate at. The motors should be tested when they are connected to your machine and a full load of the weight of the work-piece is being moved around.
The feed rate, or movement speeds, can be automatically controlled by the line color of line segments in the tool path file. The configuration menus let you select the feed rate for different line colors. Auxiliary relays can also be set to turn on or off automatically when special line colors are read. The dwell and pause for machine operator can also be triggered by using some special line colors. The calibration of the time to distance of the feed rates is done with some of the commands in the configuration menu. There is an automatic calibration configuration command that matches the feed rates to your computer's speed, this command needs to be used to calibrate the programs to your computer before you execute any tool path files, or use the jog, teach, or replicate commands.
In general the lower the value of the maximum resolution you design your machine for, i.e. the larger you make the step size, the faster you maximum feed rate will be. Your design sets the resolution of your machine by your choice of the motor type, and the pitch of the lead screws, sprockets, or rack used, and the ratio of the timing belt pulleys between them.
In general the set-up and use of DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm) follows these steps:
Build or buy a machine to automate. Generally you will want your lead screws to have about 5 threads per inch so that using stepper motors with 200 or 400 steps per shaft rotation you will get a movement of 0.001 or 0.0005 inch per motor step. Chain or timing belt drive in place of a lead screw is a good choice for drives that require less resolution and faster feed rates. Always try to minimize inertia in components that must be driven.
Install stepper motors on your machine. Use timing belts or flexible shaft, e.g. bellows, couplings between the motor shafts and lead screws to reduce noise and lost steps caused by vibration in the motor coupling. Stepper motors get hot (perhaps 80C to 85C) in operation so proper mounting would allow the conduction of heat from the motor and circulation of cooling air. Used or surplus stepper motors might be purchased for a fraction of what new motors cost. In general stepper motors should have a rated holding torque that is at least four times the torque that will be required at the operating RPM (the torque of stepper motors falls off as the motor turns faster, so that a motor rated at 500 oz-in holding torque might only have 200 oz-in at 60 RPM, and only 100 oz-in at 120 RPM, with the torque falling completely to zero at 180 RPM.) Using stepper motors that are two small, and or running the motors faster than they can reliably go may be a major cause of problems people have with stepper motors. Also stepper motors need to be operated at 4 to 8 times their rated voltage to give satisfactory results (a constant current stepper translator module or resistors in series with the motor windings are required to prevent the motor from overheating when operated at high voltages, i.e. 48 to 96 volts.) The type of constant current driver circuit used: resistor, bi-level, or chopper, does not reduce the need for the motor coil power supply to be 4 to 8 times the motors rated voltage (holding torque voltage), a 5 volt motor needs at least a 24 to 35 volt supply to operate well.
Buy or build the motor driver modules and motor power supplies. Stepper motors generally operate with two coils (phases) on at the same time so the current draw is double the rated motor's current per coil, e.g. three motors rated at 2 amperes will require a power supply that can deliver at least 12 amperes (i.e. 2 amps * 2 coils * 3 motors = 12 amps). The stepper translator/driver modules that you will need might be available from your local motor distributor. Most stepper motor manufactures may supply driver modules optimized for their own brand of motors. Surplus or used stepper motors might sometimes be purchased for a fraction of what new motors cost, so shop around if you want to save money. If you want to use solid state relays to control the spindle motor of your machine or other auxiliary device buy solid state relays that are rated for input of 3 volts DC or less since the parallel port cannot supply more than about 3 volts. If you need to boost the power available from your parallel port you might try using a TTL buffer chip such as the 74H07 and pull-up resistors of approximately 330 ohm on the output of the 74H07. You can build your own stepper driver modules for about $20 to $100 or more depending on how fancy you want to get, or you can purchase ready made translator modules that cost from about $50 to $600 or more per axis depending on the power and speed required. Different drivers are required for different motors, so be sure you tell the people you purchase your driver from what kind of motor you have, or you may purchase a driver that is incompatible with your motor. Be sure the current (amps) and voltage rating of the driver are higher than the motor's ratings, that the current limiting is adjustable to what your motor uses, and that the driver will work with a motor that has as many wires as your motor has. Most stepper motors are "two phase" Bi- polar or four coil Uni-polar, but some are three or five phase and require special drivers.
Use the port pin Hook-up information to connect the stepper motor translator driver modules to your computers parallel port. If four auxiliary relays are to be used a 5 volt 500 milliampere power supply (about a $10 item) will be required for the pull-up bias, otherwise the auxiliary relay C and D outputs can be used to pull-up the home and limit switch inputs (X, Y, and Z home switch inputs being pulled up through 10K ohm resistors to auxiliary C output, and the pause/limit input being pulled up through a 5K ohm resistor to the auxiliary D output pin of the parallel port connector.)
Run DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm) and install the values for speed and resolution that correspond to your machine. Test the motors under load to make sure they can keep up with the movements they will need to make. If the motors "lose steps" (that is slip and fail to rotate to the proper position) under load use a larger Pulse With Factor (p.w.f.) to give the motor time to complete one step before another is requested (if a stepper motor loses steppes the rotor will no longer have the proper rotational position (until the motors are sent home again which is a good reason for installing the home switches.)) Reducing the motor current to about 80% to 90% of the rated current can sometimes reduce lost steps caused by resonance in the middle speed range. Be sure to use the feed rate automatic calibration command to adjust the program timing to your computer's timing.
Run DANCAD3D (tm), draw a tool path, and save the tool path drawing as an ASCII data file. DANCAD3D (tm) can sometimes be used to convert files saved to disk with some other programs, see the current commands in DANCAD3D (tm)'s Files Load Industry and Files Utilities sub-menus. The CAM program's teach mode can also be used to make tool path files. The CAM program replicate modes can be used to make files for processing in the CAD programs in order to make tool path files as well.
Run DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm), select menu option #1, select load tool path from disk, and enter the file name of the ASCII (*.ASC) tool path file you just saved from DANCAD3D (tm). If you did the installation properly your first part should come out as designed, if your first part is not what you wanted you will need to correct the configuration files for the CAM programs, and edit your tool path file as needed.
The CAM programs have many "command line" equivalents to their menu commands. The command line commands can be typed on the command line at the DOS prompt as a shortcut when you are running the programs manually, but they are mostly meant for use in Batch files so that the CAM programs can be run automatically.
It is preferred that the CAM programs be run from Batch files under a "real" DOS OS, since it is possible that when the CAM programs are run in a DOS window of a multi-tasking operating system information required by the programs may get disrupted preventing the programs from operating automatically from a Batch file as they were designed. The chief symptom of this being a problem would be the CAM programs asking for you to enter the password more than once since the DOS window was opened while the Batch file is running. You may be able to run the CAM programs from a Batch file in a Windows 95 (tm) DOS window if you open the window, run the program, then quit back to the DOS prompt, and then run the Batch file without closing the window, since closing the window essentially erases the DOS environment and when you open another DOS window you need to start over again.
Be sure that you make back-up copies of any files that will be used in batch files or as command line parameters to programs used in batch files since files accessed from batch files or as command line parameters can be overwritten or erased without the programs asking you, and you might find that some important file has been erased or overwritten.
Changes have been made to operation of the CAM programs from the DOS command line from one program version to another. Before the CAM programs can be run from the DOS command line, or from Batch files it is best to run them, then quit back to the DOS prompt since they need to have their password entered manually the first time they are run after the computer has been turned on, or the DOS window was opened, each time. After the correct password has been entered the CAM programs can be run from a batch file without entering the password again. Be sure to turn your computer off when you are through running the CAM programs to prevent them from being run from batch files, or command line parameters e.g. SKIP, by unauthorized persons, i.e. someone other than yourself.
Mode options corresponding to the CAM program's main menu selections 2 and 8 are not currently used in v2.72, although some of the network commands are available using option U or UTILITY, see below. In the examples below, you can generally use the program name DANPLOT.EXE (tm) in place of DANCAM.EXE (tm) since they both have mostly the same parameters in v2.72. If you have another version, check for differences before writing any batch files.
Be sure that you create a sub-directory named \XFER\ off of the sub-directory or disk my CAM programs are being run on so that some of the network commands have the right sub-directory to use, not having the right sub-directories can give a error when doing file transfers and cause the network to need to be reset manually. Before using the network commands you should check that each computer on the network has a unique "network id" code assigned to it, if two codes are the same you will need to change them so that they are not the same. Also you need to configure the BAUD rate and other settings so the computers on the network can all communicate using compatible settings before you try to operate the network using batch files.
You should try to only make file transfers between the \XFER\ sub-directories since files can get overwritten or erased by accident. If you keep a back-up copy of your files in a sub-directory far away from the directories that my programs use, and you do not access the back-up sub-directory with any of my programs you will hopefully have a back-up of your files to go back to if you accidentally erase or overwrite a file because of a mistake or program operation.
Below is a list of the command line parameters that work like the commands in the main menu of the CAM programs. You cannot use LOCAL, SERVER, NUL, or SKIP as disk filenames since those strings are used to flag special options.
DANCAM NUL 0 = Run then Quit back to DOS.
DANCAM SKIP = Bring up main menu for user
selection, after the password has
been entered once each boot. This
lets you bypass the password check
once you have entered the password
once, until you reboot your
computer, or close the DOS window.
When you are going to be away from
your computer for a while, or you
need to prevent non-password
access to my CAM programs after
they have run once since the
computer was turned on, you should
shut down your computer and re-
boot in order to reset the
password checking so that the SKIP
command line parameter cannot be
used to bypass the password
checking.
DANCAM toolpath.asc = Execute *.ASC tool path, no mode
sets to default mode 1.
DANCAM toolpath.asc 1 = Execute *.ASC tool path from file
on local disk.
DANCAM toolpath.asc 1 SERVER port = Execute *.ASC tool path file on
server connects to server at COM
port = 1 to 8.
DANCAM NUL 3 = Bring up Jog to move manually.
DANCAM NUL 4 = Bring up configuration menu.
DANCAM NUL 5 = Bring up the help screens.
DANCAM teachout.asc 6 = Bring up teach to ASCII file mode.
DANCAM repliout.asc 7 = Make replicate scanning to file mode.
DANCAM NUL 9 = Home up to switches, if configured to.
The replicate option, 7, probably uses the last configuration entered into the programs menus manually and saved in the current configuration file, option 7 starts directly with the scanning when activated from the command line or a batch file. You might be able to select the scanning configuration from a batch file by renaming the CAM program configuration files from the batch file with the DOS RENAME command before you start the CAM program.
The network commands are divided into LOCAL and SERVER. LOCAL commands generally work on the computer the batch file is being run on but sometimes might be local to the server in some cases, SERVER commands effect the server generally unless the local computer is being used to control the server and such, or a computer connected to the server other than the local computer.
The serial port(s) used on the network are set-up by the menus in the CAM programs. Be sure that you select and enable the port you want to use for sending commands to the server last, the ports you enable before the last one are just used in server mode and to receive files. So think of the order you are enabling the serial ports in, as well as if they are to be enabled or not. If the computer will not be used as a server to more than one computer, you would only enable one of the serial ports. Be sure that each computer on the network has a different network ID code, if two or more are the same change them.
The descriptions below the command line parameters shown as [p4] or p4 and such would mean that is where command line parameter number 4 goes, counting from the left. Access to the network commands is flagged by the keyword UTILITY as parameter number 2, i.e. [p2]. Since some of the network file utilities are LOCAL and some are SERVER the value of the first command line parameter, [p1], is used to select that file utility option.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY [p3] [p4] [p5] [p6] DANCAM SERVER UTILITY [p3] [p4] [p5] p6]
You can also use U in place of UTILITY, this contraction is needed in some cases to make room on the command line string since under some operating systems the length of the command line string may be limited.
DANCAM LOCAL U [p3] [p4] [p5] [p6] DANCAM SERVER U [p3] [p4] [p5] p6]
Using U in place of UTILITY may let you get longer filenames on the command line.
DANPLOT.EXE (tm) can also be used like:
DANPLOT LOCAL UTILITY [p3] [p4] [p5] [p6] DANPLOT SERVER UTILITY [p3] [p4] [p5] p6] DANPLOT LOCAL U [p3] [p4] [p5] [p6] DANPLOT SERVER U [p3] [p4] [p5] p6]
Command line parameter number three, i.e. [p3] is generally the utility command name keyword, [p4] is the command mode code, [p5] and [p6] are strings, generally file or directory names.
There are several command options, some only work on the SERVER or LOCAL mode, and others work on both depending on which one you select. Where both modes are supported, the file operated on would be LOCAL to the computer where the command is issued generally, but with some options you should note the particulars below since a LOCAL command can sometimes effect the SERVER locally and such.
If you forget to start up the server, and one of the remote computers has already initiated a command that is trying to access the server, when you start the server, the server will ask you if you want to clear the serial port [Y]es or [N]o, you should usually answer [N]o and the server will accept the request without making a data error. The option to clear the serial port is used when there has been a data error from one of the remote computers, and you need to restart and clear the server after all of the remote computers have also been aborted and are not sending any more data. Clearing the server when a remote is sending a valid request will cause a data error on both the server and the remote.
The keyword FETCH_FILE is used for the Fetch a file from the server command line option. The server must be running for FETCH_FILE to work.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY FETCH_FILE mode server_filename local_directory_path
WHERE: mode = 0 for regular files at current bit
setting, use 8 bits.
= 1 for compress my *.ASC tool path.
= 2 for limit *.ASC tool path to 4
places & compress.
= 10, 11, and 12 same as 0,1,2, plus
compare after transfer. Modes 11,
and 12 compare the compressed
files, not the un-compressed file
and the original file since the
un-compressed file is usually a
different size from the original
file due to losses in the
compression. If you need to have
the copy and the original match
use mode 10 to compare them.
server_filename = Is the full path and filename of
the file on the server. e.g.
XFER\DANCAM.ASC
local_directory_path = Is the local directory to put the
file into, the filename portion
will be the same as it was on the
server. e.g. XFER\
The local directory path must end
with a backslash in order for the
program file name to be added to
the directory path and form a
proper full filename for use on
the local computer. In some of
the other command you do not add
the backslash, so pay attention to
where the parameters are being
used.
FETCH_FILE modes 1, 2, 11, and 12 only work with my *.ASC drawing and tool path file type, if you are fetching other file types use modes 0 and 10 only. The compressed modes make a temporary *.ACF file from the *.ASC file, transfer the *.ACF file, then decompress the *.ACF file back to a *.ASC file. The decompressed file using modes 1 and 11 does not suffer too much in the way of losses, but if you use modes 2 and 12 the *.ASC file will be limited to four places to the right of the decimal point, so do not use modes 2 and 12 if you do not want the values in your tool path file altered.
The keyword STORE_FILE is used for the Store a file from the server command line option. The server must be running for STORE_FILE to work.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY STORE_FILE mode local_filename server_directory_path
WHERE: mode = 0 for regular files at current bit
setting, use 8 bits.
= 1 compress ASCII,
= 2 for squeeze to 4 places & compress.
= 10, 11, and 12 same as 0,1,2, plus
compare after transfer. Modes 11,
and 12 compare the compressed
files, not the un-compressed file
and the original file since the
un-compressed file is usually a
different size from the original
file due to losses in the
compression. If you need to have
the copy and the original match
use mode 10 to compare them.
= 101 to 108, move to server, print
from server.
= 111 to 118, move to server, print
from server, erase afterward.
In modes 101 to 118 the printer
port on 1st server is:
101, 111 uses LPT1
102, 112 uses LPT2
103, 113 uses LPT3
104, 114 uses LPT4
105, 115 uses COM1
106, 116 uses COM2
107, 117 uses COM3
108, 118 uses COM4
= 201 to 208, forward from 1st
server to 2nd server using
selected port on 1st server, the
2nd server automatically finds the
port that has incoming data on it,
but you need to tell the 1st
server which port to forward the
file out of.
In modes 201 to 208 the COM
port on 1st server is:
201 = COM1 on 1st server.
202 = COM2 on 1st server.
203 = COM3 on 1st server.
204 = COM4 on 1st server.
205 = COM5 on 1st server.
206 = COM6 on 1st server.
207 = COM7 on 1st server.
208 = COM8 on 1st server.
local_filename = Is the full path and filename of
the file to make on the local
computer, e.g. XFER\DANCAM.ASC
server_directory_path = Is the directory path on the
server where you want the file
stored, the filename portion will
be the same as on the local disk,
e.g. XFER\ The server directory
path must be a valid sub-directory
on the 1st AND 2nd server, and end
with a backslash. When you use
forwarding with STORE_FILE the
file is leap frogged through the
1st server, and so the directory
used needs to be valid on BOTH
servers, so you should use the
XFER\ directory since you should
always have the XFER\ directory
valid on all computers on the
network. If the sub-directory is
not valid you will get error
messages, some of which may not
look like they are telling you
that the sub-directory is the
problem. Also with forward the
check for overwrite may not check
the second server, it may just
report the file found on the first
server, so be sure that you have a
back-up copy of any files you
forward or store in case you
overwrite the wrong file.
When the COM1 to COM4 ports are used to print you may need to use the DOS MODE command to set up the serial port before you run the program, so that the COMx port matches the baud rate and other settings that your printer uses. The LPTx printer ports should not require use of MODE beforehand.
The difference between STORE_FILE and PRINT_FILE and FORWARD_FILE when using modes 101 to 208 is that STORE_FILE takes a file off of the local computer, moves it to the 1st server and then prints the file, or forwards the copy to the 2nd server. When PRINT_FILE and FORWARD_FILE are used they act by using a file that is already on the 1st server.
Make a file directory, i.e. create folder, works on the SERVER or LOCAL computer. The keyword, used for command line parameter three, MAKE_DIR, is used to flag the make a file directory file utility.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY MAKE_DIR 0 directory_name
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY MAKE_DIR 0 directory_name
WHERE: mode = 0 default mode.
directory_name = Name of new sub-directory to make.
With MAKE_DIR the command line parameter five the directory_name should NOT END IN A BACKSLASH, e.g. C:\DC27\XFER and such. The only mode is mode 0 as of writing this, so command line parameter four is just a place holder in this use.
The rename file file utility, keyword RENAME_FILE, works on the SERVER or LOCAL computer.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY RENAME_FILE 0 old_name new_name
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY RENAME_FILE 0 old_name new_name
WHERE: mode = 0 default mode.
old_name = The current name of the file.
new_name = The name you want file to have.
On some operating systems the new_name should include the full path and filename from the current directory, otherwise the new file will be placed in the current directory rather than the directory you want to put it in, so if some of your files seem to "disappear" look for them in the root or current directory. This may lead to needing to adjust batch files when using some OS's and some versions of DOS, keep this in mind and check what happens before using RENAME_FILE on any important files. Always keep a back-up copy of your files in a safe place outside of the directories you use with my programs.
The erase file file utility, keyword ERASE_FILE, works on the SERVER or LOCAL computer.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY ERASE_FILE 0 filename
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY ERASE_FILE 0 filename
WHERE: mode = 0 default mode.
filename = The full name of the file to erase.
With ERASE_FILE the filename includes the full path and filename for the file to erase, e.g. XFER\DANCAM.ASC. Be careful not to erase the file at the wrong end of the network, and always keep a back-up copy of your files in case you erase the file at the wrong end of the network and forget to check before you erase the other copy or to see if any data errors corrupted the transmitted file.
The squeeze file utility, keyword SQUEEZE_FILE, works on the SERVER or LOCAL computer. The input and output files are both type *.ASC my format ASCII tool path file, squeeze just changes the number of digits and formatting to make the file smaller if it can. Do not use squeeze on the compressed files. Files that have been squeezed are still *.ASC files, and so will work with the execute tool path from server command, and the fact that they are smaller might improve the speed of transmission from the server a little.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY SQUEEZE_FILE digits ascii_filename name_for_squeezed
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY SQUEEZE_FILE digits ascii_filename name_for_squeezed
WHERE: digits = 0 to 12, use 4 digits right of
decimal point normally.
ascii_filename = Is an *.ASC ASCII tool path file,
this includes the full file path
to the filename, e.g.
XFER\DANCAM.ASC
name_for_squeezed = Is the name for the squeezed *.ASC
copy, this includes the full path
for the new file,
XFER\SQDANCAM.ASC
The compress file utility, keyword COMPRESS_FILE, works on the SERVER or LOCAL computer. The input is *.ASC and output file is *.ACF, compress changes the filetype. The compressed file is generally smaller than the squeezed file, (perhaps half as big or so) but needs to be converted back to *.ASC for use as an *.ASC tool path type file. The compressed filetype speeds up tool path file transmission, but can only be used to compress my *.ASC tool path file type, other ASCII or text files will probably not work properly, so do not try to use compress on them.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY COMPRESS_FILE digits ascii_filename name_for_compressed
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY COMPRESS_FILE digits ascii_filename name_for_compressed
WHERE: digits = 0, or 1 to 12, use 4 digits right
of decimal point normally. 0
digits does not alter the number
of digits in each number in the
original file, it just compresses
what is there. 1 to 12 digits
actually changes all of the
numbers in the data to limit the
size of the numbers to get more or
less compression. Once the number
of digits has been reduced, the
data lost cannot be restored. Use
0 digits mode if you do not want
lost digits.
ascii_filename = Is an *.ASC tool path file in my
format, as source. This is the
full path and filename, e.g.
XFER\DANCAM.ASC
name_for_compressed = Is the name for the compressed
*.ACF copy to make. This is the
full path and filename, e.g.
XFER\DANCAM.ACF
The de-compress file utility, keyword DECOMPRESS_FILE, works on the SERVER or LOCAL computer. The input is *.ACF and output file is *.ASC, de-compress changes the filetype. The compressed file is generally smaller than the decompressed file, (about half as big or less) but needs to be decompressed back to *.ASC for use as an ASCII type file. The compressed filetype speeds up tool path file transmission, but can only be used to compress *.ASC tool path files, other ASCII or text files will probably not work properly.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY DECOMPRESS_FILE 0 compressed_file ascii_filename
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY DECOMPRESS_FILE 0 compressed_file ascii_filename
WHERE: mode = 0 only for now, the program
automatically tries to figure out
if you saved the *.ACF file using
0 digits mode, or 1 to 12 digits
mode, and then tries to use the
right decompression method.
compressed_file = Is the name for the compressed
*.ACF copy, as source. The file
to decompress can only be a *.ACF
file made by COMPRESS_FILE from
an *.ASC file, the full path and
filename are required, e.g.
XFER\DANCAM.ACF
ascii_filename = Is an *.ASC ASCII tool path file,
as result, this must be the full
path and filename for a new *.ASC
file, do not use the name of the
original *.ASC file or you will
destroy the original *.ASC file,
e.g. XFER\DEDANCAM.ASC
The compare files utility, keyword COMPARE_FILES, is typed LOCAL, but compares a local file with one on the server.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY COMPARE_FILES mode local_filename server_filename
WHERE: mode = 0, no pause if OK.
1, pause to tell if OK.
local_filename = Is a file on the local computer,
this includes the full path and
filename, e.g. XFER\DANCAM.ASC
server_filename = Is a file on the server computer,
this includes the full path and
filename, e.g. XFER\DANCAM.ASC
The change bits utility, keyword CHANGE_BITS, is typed LOCAL, but changes the data bits on both the local and server computers that are currently connected.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY CHANGE_BITS bits
WHERE: bits = 7, use 7 data bits for COM port(s).
8, use 8 data bits for COM port(s).
The *.ASC files can generally be sent by 7 data bits, but the *.ACF files need to be sent by 8 data bits. Many file types require 8 data bits, so you should reset the data bits to 8 after using the 7 bit mode.
The shut down server utility, keyword SHUT_DOWN_SERVER, is typed SERVER.
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY SHUT_DOWN_SERVER mode WHERE: mode = 0 is the default mode.
This shut down server utility lets you shut down the server by remote control from another computer from a batch file, the server may be able to re-activate itself if a loop is made in a batch file on the server, that might be of interest since a computer can act as the server, accept files, be shut down from remote, and then machine parts, and then go back into server mode to accept more files, or something like that, all automatically run from batch files.
The start up server utility, keyword START_UP_SERVER, is typed LOCAL.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY START_UP_SERVER mode WHERE: mode = 0 is the default mode.
The START_UP_SERVER command must be issued on the computer that will become the server, and so it is LOCAL to the computer that becomes the SERVER.
There are also some internal utility modes, the keywords used for those modes are also reserved words. These commands are in flux, and so may not be quite the same in the version you have, check them with junk files before you try to do something.
The receive file utility, keyword RECEIVE_FILE is typed LOCAL because this command originates on the computer that will receive the file.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY RECEIVE_FILE mode directory_name A_or_B
WHERE: mode = = 0 only, automatic decompression is
not supported, use the COMPRESS_FILE
and DECOMPRESS_FILE commands if you
need compression.
directory_name = Is the name of the file directory
to save the incoming file data to,
the name will come from the file
sent. The directory name must end
with a backslash, e.g. XFER\
A_or_B = A or B, controls the screen
prompts and pause mode, if you use
A the program checks to see of the
file will overwrite a file of the
same name and ask you Yes or No.
If you use B the programs will
overwrite with the received file,
unless there is an error which
will result in both the received
file and the file being
overwritten being lost. Mode A
will tell you that the file
transfer went OK if it seems good,
mode B will not pause when done,
but will continue with the batch
file or go back to the DOS prompt.
The receive file utility, keyword RECEIVE_FILE, is different from STORE_FILE because it does not request the file to save, it just waits for a file to come from the server. RECEIVE_FILE also differs from START_UP_SERVER in that it quits after receiving one file from a computer using SEND_FILE, where in START_UP_SERVER the server continues until shut down. You can start the server and then shut it down after the transfer from the other computer, so roughly the same thing can be achieved with store and fetch, but send and receive work slightly differently and so give you more options. Do not mix send and receive with using the server mode on one of the computers since they work differently.
If the computer you are sending a file to with SEND_FILE has not had the RECEIVE_FILE command issued yet, SEND_FILE will wait until the file is ready to be received. If the computer you are receiving a file from with RECEIVE_FILE has not had the SEND_FILE command issued yet, RECEIVE_FILE will wait for the file to be sent.
The send file utility, keyword SEND_FILE is typed LOCAL because this command originates on the computer that will send the file.
DANCAM LOCAL UTILITY SEND_FILE mode filename A_or_B
WHERE: mode = 0 only, SEND_FILE does not
automatically compress the file,
if you want to you can use the
COMPRESS_FILE and DECOMPRESS_FILE
commands in your batch files to
compress the file before you send
it, and decompress it after you
receive it.
filename = Is the full filename and path of
the file you want to send, this
includes the full path on the
computer that the file is being
sent from, not the directory you
want the file in. The directory
the file ends up in is controlled
by the RECEIVE_FILE command on the
other computer. e.g.
XFER\DANCAM.ASC
A_or_B = A or B, controls the screen
prompts and pause mode, Mode A
will tell you that the file
transfer went OK if it seems good,
mode B will not pause when done,
but will continue with the batch
file or go back to the DOS prompt.
The RECEIVE_FILE command in mode A_or_B = B ends like a SHUT_DOWN_SERVER, so the sending computer will be ready to go on to other batch file commands, rather than remain in server mode after the file is sent.
The print file utility command, keyword PRINT_FILE, is typed SERVER since it prints a file that is not on the local computer. The difference between PRINT_FILE and STORE_FILE is that PRINT_FILE prints a file already on the 1st server, and STORE_FILE copies the file from the local computer, then prints it from the copy made on the 1st server.
DANCAM SERVER UTILITY PRINT_FILE mode filename_on_server
WHERE: mode = 101 to 108, print from 1st server.
111 to 118, print from 1st server,
then erase file afterward.
In modes 101 to 118 the printer
port is:
101, 111 uses LPT1
102, 112 uses LPT2
103, 113 uses LPT3
104, 114 uses LPT4
105, 115 uses COM1
106, 116 uses COM2
107, 117 uses COM3
108, 118 uses COM4
filename = Is the full path and name of a
file currently on the server that
you want to print on a printer
connected to the server, e.g.
XFER\SOMEFILE.TXT. The printer
and server must be on before the
command is sent.
When using the COMx ports to connect to your printer or plotter use the DOS MODE command to set up the serial port before you run the CAM program to work as the 1st server so that the ports are setup for the values the printer or plotter need. Do not enable a serial port used on a printer or plotter for the network server to scan, i.e. the server should be configured not to scan the serial ports that are connected to external devices such as a mouse, digitizer tablet, scanner, plotter, or printer.
If the files you are printing do not end with a form feed character ASCII code number #12, you can print a second small file that has a form feed (FF) character in it to force the page out, or you can use the off line and form feed buttons on your printer to eject the printed page. Check the distribution, e.g. DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm), for a file called FORMFEED.TXT, or make your own if there is not one included.
If you forget to turn the printer on, or have the printer off line the program running in server mode tries to prompt you to fix the problem and then press some keys to continue. If you abort the printing rather than get the printer going you will probably have to restart the server manually.
The forward file utility command, keyword FORWARD_FILE, is typed SERVER since it sends a file from the server rather than the local computer. This command may not check for overwriting, in the menu version or the command line version, of the files used during forwarding particularly the files on the 2nd server, so watch out that you do not overwrite some important file, and keep a back-up of all files in a safe place away from the XFER\ and other directories used by my FORWARD_FILE and the other commands in my programs.
DANCAM SERVER FORWARD_FILE mode filename directory_on_2nd_server
WHERE: mode = 201 to 208, forward from server to
server on COM1 to COM8.
201 = COM1 on 1st server.
202 = COM2 on 1st server.
203 = COM3 on 1st server.
204 = COM4 on 1st server.
205 = COM5 on 1st server.
206 = COM6 on 1st server.
207 = COM7 on 1st server.
208 = COM8 on 1st server.
filename = Is the full path and filename of a
file on the 1st server, e.g.
XFER\SOMEFILE.BIN
directory = Is the directory on the 2nd server
the file is being forwarded to,
e.g. XFER\ note that the
directory name must end with a
backslash. With STORE_FILE the
directory is used on both the 1st
and 2nd servers, and so the same
directory needs to be on both
servers, with FORWARD_FILE you can
use a different directory on the
2nd server.
For FORWARD_FILE to work at least three computers are required, the computer making the request, the 1st server where the file is, and a 2nd server connected to one of the COMx ports on the 1st server. You need to tell the 1st server which COMx port on the 1st server to use because there can be more than one 2nd server connected to the 1st server.
The BAUD rates you can try to select are:
50
75
110
150
300
600
1200
1800
2000
2400
3600
4800
7200
9600
14400
19200
28800
38400
57600
115200
The 115200 BAUD rate should work on most computers, but if you need, the server can be adjusted to use different BAUD rates on different ports. Be sure that all computers using a port on the server are set to the same BAUD rate. Also be sure that you select unique network ID codes for each computer on the network. The last port that you enable using the network configuration setup menu in the CAM programs is the one that will be used by the menu and command line parameters, you may be able to change the port used by using the DOS RENAME command to swap CAM program configuration files before the CAM program is run, you can use the menus to setup more than one configuration file. If you need to change the port you want to use, you can run the CAM program and use the network setup menu commands to edit the COM port settings.
To test the BAUD rate and IO delay settings try putting one computer into server mode, then use the message or chat feature from the other computer. If message or chat work, then try to get a file directory of the server's disk drive. If you can get a file directory try using STORE_FILE and FETCH_FILE, if those work the other commands will probably also work, if not check that your XFER\ sub-directories are on all of your computer's disks and also check that you are using valid filenames for files that actually exist of the various computers. Always keep back-up copies of any files that you transmit or use with my programs in case you accidentally erase, overwrite, or rename and then erase or overwrite the file.
Most errors on the network will probably occur from using invalid filenames or entering invalid parameters to the network commands. Try experimenting with the network using cables less than 6 feet long, once you get everything working as you want it to you can then try extending the cable length. It may be possible to use #12 gauge three wire cable for longer runs, but I have not done testing on the effect of cable gauge on run length yet. It may be possible to use amplifiers on the sending end from each computer to extend the cable length. The time delay for longer cables should not cause problems since the programs wait for an echo from the other computer, but I have not tested the effects of long cables on the pulse shape and so cannot say what the maximum length might be. Serial cables should be kept away from motors and other equipment that generate RFI and EMI, shielded cable might be needed in some cases.
The CAM programs create many temporary files while using the network commands, if one of the disks gets full on one of the computers on the network that can cause problems for any of the computers on the network, and may require freeing disk space and restarting all of the computers on the network. If you are having problems with the network, check all the computers to make sure that they have free disk space. On some OS putting too many files in the root directory of their disk will cause the same symptoms as a full disk even though the disk is not full. Under Windows (tm) you can get phantom errors if you try to access a file from one window that is being accessed by program in another window, these errors can be very confusing so I do not recommend using the same file from programs in different windows. Under Windows (tm) if a program crashes, or makes a file error, in one window and you use or open another window to gain access to the same file you can sometimes get phantom file sharing errors even though the program that opened the file was in a window that is not being used, the only way that might fix this is to re-boot the computer. You should not run programs in different windows that access the ports on the computer while the network is operating since you may get port sharing conflicts or other errors.
If you are going to turn on or off any computers on the network, you should wait until the server is not busy and then shut down the server, turn on or off the other computers and then restart the server. When computers are turned on or off random data can trigger the scanning by the server of all of the enabled ports to stop and wait for data that will never come. If when you restart the server it asks you if you want to clear a port, you might want to since unless legitimate data is incoming you will just be clearing random data made by switching one of the other computers on and off. In some cases you might need to run one of my CAM programs on a computer that has just been turned on and select server mode and then quit server mode in order to clear the serial ports, you might need to do this for all the computers on the network. To see if the ports are working try the message or chat feature, then try to get a directory of the server.
Remember that if you have more than one serial port enabled on your computer, the last one that you enabled is used for sending and receiving data to and from the server, so if you are connected to more than one server you need to use the network serial port setup command to select the enabled port that you want to use last. In other words, if you enable COM1, COM2, and COM3 in that order COM3 will be the one most of the commands in the network menu will use. If you want to use COM1 you will need to go back into the COM setup and enable COM1 again, it will then be the last port enabled, and therefore the active one for commands other than server mode. Server mode scans all the enabled serial ports, without regard for the last one enabled. The command that reads the tool path file and operates the motors has an option to select the port to use, and might change the last selected port, so if you get errors when trying to use the network commands check that you have re-enabled the port that you want to use last before using the network commands. In other words you can have more than one serial port enabled so that when the computer is in server mode it will scan those ports, but when you take the computer out of server mode you can select which of the enabled serial ports to use for transmission by enabling one of the ports again, which makes that port the last port enabled and the one selected for transmission or other uses with another computer acting as a server.
If you open two or more DOS windows in Windows 95 (tm) and operate one of the CAM programs in one of the windows, then try to run the CAM program in the other DOS window you may get CAM network port errors even though there does not seem to be any reason for them. You should only use the CAM programs in a single DOS window, if you need to do that sort of thing. This problem with switching windows might come up even if you have quit the programs back to the DOS prompt in the other window. If you get things confused like this close all of the DOS windows and shut down the computer so that it is turned off, and start over using only a single DOS window.
Do not share the serial or parallel ports between programs running in different windows on a multi-tasking operating system.
Under Windows 95 (tm) you may have problems trying to enter all of the command line parameters at the DOS prompt if the file names are too long, since you may not be able to word-wrap onto a second line. To avoid this problem use shorter filenames and directory names.
DANCAM.EXE (tm) and DANPLOT.EXE (tm) are designed to be able to be activated from either the DOS command line, from a DOS batch file, or from their internal menus and prompts. The Batch file and command line commands feature lets you bypass the program's prompts for some tasks. In versions subsequent to v2.72 there may be some changes to how this feature operates, so be sure to check for any information about the version you are using.
Batch files also have uses in manipulating tool paths automatically so that your machine can run several tool path files on a single work-piece without you having to enter commands at the DOS prompt manually. Macros written for the Version 2.7 of the CAD programs can end with the HALT macro command allowing you to write macro programs to manipulate tool path files, and have the macros run from a Batch file automatically.
Steps to use DOS with the CAM programs:
Install and configure the programs.
Write a DOS batch file to prompt you to activate the programs, insert disks with tool paths on them, insert a work-piece into your machine, turn your machine on or off, and to press keys on your keyboard. See your DOS manual for information about the DOS PAUSE and other DOS batch file commands.
Create tool path files to be manufactured.
Run the batch file and follow the prompts you wrote.
DOS batch files are simply ASCII text files that have a list of DOS commands in them such that DOS can read the batch file rather than the keyboard to get your commands. So just about anything you can enter from the DOS command line can also be put in a DOS batch file.
You can use the Write command in DANCAD3D (tm) to write DOS batch files, just save the file with the extension *.BAT, e.g. MYFILE.BAT. You could also try to use the windows program WORDPAD (tm) to write DOS batch files, select save as DOS *.TXT file type and rename the file to have the extension BAT.
To operate DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm) from the DOS command line enter DANCAM.EXE (tm) or DANPLOT.EXE (tm) followed by a space and then the name of the data file to be executed and then followed by another space and the number 1. The 1 corresponds to the menu option to execute a file that is menu option 1 in the CAM programs main menu. For versions prior or subsequent to v2.72 the codes used may be different.
The number following the tool path filename is the filetype code number or letter. Code 1 is optional, i.e. the programs default to ASCII type if no code is given. Version 2.6 supported some other filetypes, but in v2.7 the CAD programs are used to convert other file types into the ASCII type for use in the CAM programs.
EXAMPLE: C:\>DANCAM A:\TOOLPATH.ASC 1
C:\>DANPLOT A:\TOOLPATH.ASC 1
C:\>DANCAM A:\TOOLPATH.ASC
C:\>DANPLOT A:\TOOLPATH.ASC
If you want to have one of the other menu options come up from the DOS command line you can use the dummy filename NUL.
EXAMPLE: C:\>DANCAM NUL 3
C:\>DANPLOT NUL 3
C:\>DANCAM NUL 6
C:\>DANPLOT NUL 6
The following DOS batch file will make parts from data files saved on floppy disks. Note that all the data files should have the same name. When you save the DOS batch file you should always use the filename extension *.BAT.
EXAMPLE: :START
ECHO OFF
CLS
ECHO PUT TOOL PATH DISK IN DRIVE A:
PAUSE
DANCAM A:\TOOLPATH.ASC 1
GOTO :START
Since the floppy drives are somewhat slow you can get faster and smoother plots by copying the data file to a harddisk or RAM disk. The delay for the floppy drive to come up to speed when data is being read will cause the cutter to idle for a moment periodically, a problem that can be avoided or reduced by reading the data file from a harddisk that does not go into power saving sleep mode or you can use a RAM disk.
EXAMPLE: :START
ECHO OFF
CLS
ECHO PUT TOOL PATH DISK IN DRIVE A:
PAUSE
COPY A:\TOOLPATH.ASC E:\*.*
DANCAM E:\TOOLPATH.ASC 1
GOTO :START
You can have DANCAM.EXE (tm) automatically run after you quit DANCAD3D (tm) by using a DOS batch file. To break a loop in a DOS batch file you need to press [Control] & [C], or [Ctrl] & [Break], while the batch file is operating. Press [Ctrl] & [C] while you are between commands listed in the batch file. If you cannot get the batch file to break, you may need to re-boot your computer to stop the batch file, or to close the DOS window by pressing [Ctrl] & [Alt] & [Del].
EXAMPLE: :START
CLS
DANCAD3D
DANCAM SKIP
GOTO :START
Before you run the above batch file you can run DANCAM.EXE (tm) once and enter your password, then quit back to DOS and run that Batch file, in that way you will not have to enter your password each time the CAM program starts. If you want to enter your password each time the CAM program starts leave off the parameter SKIP after the name of the CAM program.
See also the other sections for any information they might contain about running the programs from a batch file.