How to Configure Predator MDC to Capture Details From NC Program

How to Configure Predator MDC to Capture Details From NC Program

Overview

Predator MDC has the ability to capture job, part, and operation information from a NC program when it is sent to a CNC machine using Predator DNC. We can also trigger start the Setup status based on a unique string found in the NC program. This can eliminate the need for operators to manually start a job, part, or operation as well as the Setup status. An indirect benefit to this is the requirement for operators to download a fresh NC program each time they need to run a job ensuring the most current revision is used. 

Requirements

  1. Access to Predator DNC Server
  2. Local Administrator Rights
  3. SQL Database Information
  4. Basic Knowledge of Predator DNC

Preparation of NC Program

  1. By default, Predator searches for the following strings to initiate the start of their respective components
    1. Job Time uses (JOB=XXXXX), e.g. (JOB=88395-1)
    2. Part Time uses (PART=XXXXX), e.g. (PART=P12954-1234)
    3. Operation Time uses (OP=XXXXX), e.g. (OP=10)
    4. Setup Time uses (SETUP)
  2. In the header of your NC program, you will need to insert these strings along with their values, see example below
%
O1234 (PROGRAM NAME)
(JOB=88395-1)
(PART=P12954-1234)
(OP=10)
...
...
...
M30
%
The strings can be customized to match existing strings already found in your NC program. Simple modify this when configuring the object in Predator DNC

Configure Predator DNC for MDC Send

  1. Launch Predator DNC v11 Administrator
    1. If Predator DNC is running as a Windows service, first stop the service, then open Predator DNC v11 Administrator
  2. Go to Command > Cancel All
  3. On the machine you want to configure, go to the Properties of the send command
  4. Add "MDC Send for SQL Server Link" to the top of the list
    1. Select from Object Library column
    2. Click Right Arrow to move to the Current Configuration column
    3. Click Up Arrow to move object to the top

  5. On the MDC Send for SQL Server Link - Select a Database page, enter your SQL database information

  6. On the MDC Send for SQL Server Link - Select a Machine page, select the machine

  7. On the MDC Send for SQL Server Link - Options page, optionally modify the Start and End Strings

  8. Click Next until Finish appears, click Finish
  9. Repeat steps 3-8 for all send commands for each machine this applies to
  10. When done, save the PXP by going to File > Save
  1. The MDC Send for SQL Server Link can be swapped for Access or Oracle databases, just select the applicable MDC Send for ... object and fill out their respective database details
  2. To configure Predator MDC to auto create new Jobs, Parts, and/or Operations, review the following article (link)

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