There are times when it is useful to capture the information displayed on a CNC screen. Applications include creating set-up documentation, recording alarms and issues for maintenance and e-mailing condition information to remote resources such as a machine tool builder service department.
FANUC America Corporation's screen hard copy function converts the information on a CNC screen to a bitmap (.BMP) format graphic file and saves it to either a memory card inserted into the PCMCIA port or to a USB memory stick inserted into the USB port. Once saved, the bitmap file can be displayed, edited or e-mailed on a personal computer.
The screen hard copy function can be enabled and disabled with parameter 3301 bit 7. If parameter (HDC) 3301#7=1, the hard copy function is enabled. If parameter (HDC) 3301#7=0, the hard copy function is disabled.
Parameter 3301 bit 0 controls the depth of the bitmap file created. If parameter 3301#0=0 (H16), a 256 color bitmap is created. If parameter (H16) 3301#0=1, a 16 color bitmap is created.
The Series 16i/18i/21i MODEL A and B and the Series 0i-MODEL C have an additional bit in parameter 3301 that controls whether monochrome bitmaps are inverted.
The device to which the screen hard copy function saves the bitmap file is determined by CNC parameter 20. Setting parameter 20 to 4 selects the PCMCIA memory card. Setting parameter 20 to 17 selects the USB memory port. The device can also be specified on the Settings page.
Pressing and holding down the shift key on the MDI panel for five seconds starts the screen hard copy function. The clock on the CNC screen freezes when the screen capture begins to indicate when to release the shift key.
The function can be canceled by pressing the cancel key on the MDI panel. Canceling the screen capture function may result in a partial file being written.
When started, the screen hard copy function captures the screen data and then outputs the bitmap to the memory card or USB memory stick inserted into the selected port. The screen freezes for a few seconds while screen data is being captured and "OUTPUT" blinks on the CNC status line when the file is being written to the storage device.
The filenames used for the bitmap files are automatically assigned. The first filename is "HDCPY000.BMP," the second one is "HDCPY001.BMP" and so on through the maximum of "HDCPY999.BMP". After "HDCPY999.BMP", the file name returns to "HDCPY000.BMP."
If a filename already exists on the PCMCIA memory card, alarm SR1973 is issued. If a filename already exists on a USB memory stick, the file is overwritten. If the capacity of the memory card or USB memory stick is exceeded, alarm SR1962 is issued.
The screen hard copy function is available on the following FANUC CNCs with FANUC LCD screens and a PCMCIA or USB port:
- FANUC Series 16i/18i/21i MODEL A and B
- FANUC Series 30i/31i/32i MODEL A and B
- FANUC Series 0i MODEL C and D
- FANUC Series 0i-MATE MODEL D.
The screen hard copy function is not available for FANUC controls with a PC display. The standard Windows print screen function can be used to capture screens for those controls.
The screen hard copy function is also not available in NCGuide/NCGuidePro. Again, the standard Windows print-screen function can be used to capture screens.
A video demonstration is available at youtu.be/Wqrld86znu0.
For more information contact:
FANUC America Corporation
3900 West Hamlin Rd.
Rochester Hills, MI 48309-3253
888-FANUC-US (326-8287)
www.fanucamerica.com