The MDI Application
Application
The MDI application allows you to execute individual NC blocks outside of the context of an NC program (e.g., PLANE RESET). When you press the NC Start key, the control will run the NC blocks separately.
You can also create an NC program step by step. The control remembers modally effective program information.
Related topics
- Creating NC programs
- Running NC programs
Description of function
If you program using the millimeter unit of measurement, the control will use the NC program $mdi.h by default. If you program using the inch unit of measurement, the control will use the NC program $mdi_inch.h.
- The Program workspace in the MDI application
The MDI application provides the following workspaces:
- Help
- Positions
- Program
- Simulation
- Status
- Keyboard
Icons and buttons
In the MDI application, the function bar provides the following buttons:
Icon or button | Meaning |
---|---|
Execution cursor The execution cursor shows which NC block is currently being executed or is marked for execution. | |
Klartext editor | If this toggle switch is set to active, then you are using dialog-guided programming. If this toggle switch is not set to active, then you are programming in Text mode. |
Insert NC function | |
Q info | The control opens the Q parameter list window, where you can see and edit the current values and descriptions of the variables. |
GOTO block number | |
/ Skip block Off/On | Hide NC blocks with the / character. NC blocks hidden with a / character will be ignored during program run as soon as the Skip block toggle switch is active. |
Skip block | If the toggle switch is active, the control does not execute NC blocks dimmed with a / character. If the toggle switch is active, then the control dims the NC blocks to be skipped. |
; Comment Off/On | Insert or remove a ; character in front of an NC block. If an NC block begins with a ; character, then the block is a comment. |
F LIMIT | Use this function to activate a feed-rate limit and define its value. |
ACC | If this toggle switch is active, the control activates Active Chatter Control (ACC (#145 / #2-30-1)). |
Tool Retract | If the NC program is stopped during a thread cycle, you can retract the tool. Retraction with stopped NC program |
Edit | |
Tools | The control opens the Tool management application in the Tables operating mode. |
Internal stop | For example, if an NC program is interrupted due to an error or a stop, the control activates this button. Use this button to abort program run. |
Reset program | If you select Internal stop, the control activates this button. The control resets any modally active program information as well as the program run-time. |
Modally effective program information
In the MDI application, you always execute NC blocks in Single Block mode. After the control has executed an NC block, the program run is considered to be interrupted.
Interrupting, stopping or canceling program run
The block numbers of all NC blocks that you have successively run are shown in green.
The control saves the following data in this state:
- The last tool that was called
- Current coordinate transformations (e.g., datum shift, rotation, mirroring)
- The coordinates of the circle center that was last defined
Notes
- Do not perform the following interactions:
- Cursor movement to another NC block
- The jump command GOTO to another NC block
- Editing an NC block
- Modifying the values of variables by using the Q parameter list window
- Switching the operating modes
- Restore the contextual reference by repeating the required NC blocks
- In the MDI application, you can create and execute NC programs step by step. Then you can use Save as to save the current contents with a different file name.
- The following functions are not available in the MDI application:
- Calling of an NC program with PGM CALL
- Test run in the Simulation workspace
- Manual traverse and Approach position functions while program run is interrupted
- Block scan function
- The execution cursor is always displayed in the foreground. The execution cursor may cover or hide other icons.