Macro file unable to call during print

SANJR

Greetings,

I have created a macro file name 5_TORCH ON.g & 6_TORCH OFF.g. I tried to call these macro files using the M98 G Code in my print job file, but the macro is not responding to the M98 command however when tried with the M42 P3 S0 & M42 P3 S1, the torch responds. Print file is as follows,

G1 X305 Y403 Z125
M98 P"macros/5_WELD TORCH ON.g"
G1 X350.0 F480
M98 P"macros/6_WELD TORCH OFF.g"
G1 Z135

What could be the reason for this behaviour? Is there any error in the code above or additional commands to be input? Plz let me know

jay_s_uk

@SANJR try adding 0:/ to the macro name. e.g. M98 P"0:/macros/5_WELD TORCH ON.g"

SANJR

@jay_s_uk

I tried applying the M98 P"0:/macros/5_WELD TORCH ON.g" command, but it is not responding. Not sure for this non-responsiveness.

Can the M98 command be used in the print file?

jay_s_uk

@SANJR yes, M98 can be used in a print file.
if you're going to use that mid move it may be better to use an unused G/M code.
So as an example on my pen plotted, when i was to lift the pen, i used M5000 and then to drop the pen i use M5001 and these are placed throughout the gcode.
i then have a file for each one in the sys folder called M5000.g and M5001.g.
The firmware will automatically run those files whenever M5000 or M5001 are used, whether its part of a gcode file or from the console
Then, you just format/post process your gcode accordingly

deckingman

@SANJR Does the macro run "stand alone" if you just send the M98 from the console? It might be an idea if you post the macro code here.

SANJR

@deckingman

Yes the macro runs in standalone. The G-Code for the macro file is as follows,

Weld Torch ON.g file
; Weld Torch ON
M42 P3 S1

Weld Torch OFF.g file
; Weld Torch OFF
M42 P3 S0

droftarts

@SANJR Note that:

Case sensitivity

The original NIST GCode standard requires GCode interpreters to be case-insensitive, except for characters in comments. However, not all 3D printer firmwares conform to this and some recognise uppercase command letters and parameters only.

RepRapFirmware version 1.19 and later is case-insensitive, except for characters within quoted strings. RepRapFirmware version 1.18 and earlier accept only uppercase letters for command and parameter letters.

https://docs.duet3d.com/en/User_manual/Reference/Gcodes#case-sensitivity

Is the macro "5_WELD TORCH ON.g" or "Weld Torch ON.g"?

Ian

SANJR

@droftarts

The file name is WELD TORCH ON. To appear as a fifth file in the macro folder, i numbered it to be 5_WELD TORCH ON. I have tried it the following ways as of now

M98 P¨WELD TORCH ON.g¨
M98 P¨WELD TORCH ON¨
M98 P¨macros/WELD TORCH ON.g¨
M98 P¨macros/WELD TORCH ON¨
M98 P¨0:/macros/WELD TORCH ON.g¨

jay_s_uk

@SANJR you need the 5_ in the M98 call as well then

SANJR

@SANJR
And also tried one combinations
M98 P¨5_macros/WELD TORCH ON.g¨

droftarts

@SANJR Please send M20 S2 P"/macros" and post the response.

Edit: It won't be a case-sensitive issue, because FAT32 is not case sensitive! But it is case-preserving.

Ian

SANJR

@SANJR said in Macro file unable to call during print:

@SANJR
And also tried one combinations
M98 P¨5_WELD TORCH ON.g¨

SANJR

@droftarts

Here is the response from the console

M20 S2 P"/macros"
{
"dir": "/macros",
"first": 0,
"files": [
"6_WELD TORCH OFF",
"3_MOTOR 1 OFF",
"4_MOTOR 2 OFF",
"1_MOTOR 1 ON AND SPEED CONTROL",
"2_ MOTOR 2 ON AND SPEED CONTROL",
"5_WELD TORCH ON"
],
"next": 0,
"err": 0
}

jay_s_uk

@SANJR so torch on is

M98 P"0:/macros/5_WELD TORCH ON"

SANJR

@jay_s_uk Thanks

The macro files works. It seems the format of M98 command during the print needs to mention the location of the file i.e., in the directory where we placed it. And finally the extension of file .g is not required.

So the syntax to which my machine responds is M98 P"0:/macros/5_WELD TORCH ON" instead of M98 P"5_WELD TORCH ON"

It would be nice if notes are updated in the documentation which would be helpful to other users.

fcwilt

@SANJR

It seems I organize my system code and my "macros" code differently from most.

In my setup the items in the macros folder are only there to provide access, from the DWC interface, to items in the system folder.

If other words items in the macros folder invoke, via M98, items in the system folder but no items in the system folder invoke items in the macros folder.

There are some items in the macros folder that have a line or two of code but nothing that I ever would need to invoke from the system folder.

Just FYI.

Frederick