Tips & Tricks: Calculate Machining Time with the simple UDE in NX CAM

Follow these steps to add this simple UDE to a post processor to calculate Machining Time in NX CAM:

• Start Postbuilder.

• Select the custom command tab

• Select the Create option

• Right mouse button on the new custom command and rename it. To PB_CMD_estimated_machine_time.

• Highlight everything in the right window, as displayed below.

• Once every thing is highlight, select the delete key.

• Select the lines below:

#=============================================================
proc PB_CMD_formatted_machining_time { } {
#=============================================================
#This Custom Command will output the estimated machining time

global mom_machine_time

set hours [format %2.0f [expr [format %2.0f $mom_machine_time] / 60]]
set minutes [format %2.0f [expr $mom_machine_time - 60 * $hours]]

MOM_output_literal "Estimated Machining Time:HOURS:$hours MINUTES:$minutes"
}

• Copy the lines selected above and paste the lines into the right side of the dialog. It should appear like this:

• Select the Program Tab

• Select the Program End Sequence 

• Select the name of the custom command you just created. In this case it should be PB_CMD_estimated_machine_time

• Select the Add block option

• Drag the command after the rewind stop code.

This will add the machining time to the end of the CNC program after your stop rewind code. The time must appear at the end of the CNC program in order to receive an accurate time. The custom command calculates the time as the tape is being generated.




Brian Brown
Application Engineer
Swoosh Technologies & Solutions