For manufacturing machines from Citizen with Mitsubishi controllers this diagnostic tool enables to perform reading and writing operations by using all available commands for these devices. It allows file related operations and helps to quickly setup customized Mitsubishi Citizen IIoT Adapter INI files for CNCnetPDM.
The program can be executed on a PC with MS Windows OS (>= XP SP3) connected to your controller via Ethernet. Please use MitsubishiCommands for machines from manufacturers other than Citizen.
Extract all contents of CitizenCommands.zip to a folder on your PC.
In this folder open file melcfg.ini with a text editor and scroll down to section [HOSTS] (1).
melcfg.ini comes with predefined entries for up to 54 machines, every line in section [HOSTS] contains Mitsubishi machine number (the number after TCP), IP Address and TCP Port of a single machine.
Replace the default IP Address 192.168.1.100 with the IP Address of your controller (2), note down the machine number (3) and save the file. If, for example, the IP Address of your first controller is 192.168.1.2 the line should look like TCP1=192.168.1.2,683
In field ‘Mitsubishi Machine Number’ (1) enter the machine number as defined in melcfg.ini.
Initially the program starts with Mitsubishi Command (2) SECT_RUN_STATUS which returns the running status of the machine.
Clicking on button ‘Execute’ (3) shows the result of the operation, here 2, in the right area (4):
FIG 2: Output of CitizenCommands (Read Running Status)
Dropdown field 'Data Type' (5): Allows you to adjust the data type for the command. Please select a data type according to the expected result e.g. for integers T_LONG or for floating point numbers like common variables or axis position T_DOUBLE or T_FLOATBIN. If you expect text output use T_STR.
Input field 'Parameter Value (X)' (6): For commands that require a parameter value like a common variable number SECT_COMMON_VAL1(x) you can enter it’s number here. Input this parameter for commands that end with (x).
Input field 'Axis number' (7): For axis related commands e.g. Axis Name SECT_AXIS_NAME a specific axis number has to be entered here.
Input field 'Part System' (8): If your machine has more than one part system you can adjust this value.
Note: Command M_SSEC_CUR_ALARMS (1) with Data Type T_COMMAND (2) can be used to query up to 10 active alarms from each part system. Input of 0 in field 'Part System' (3) outputs all alarms from all part systems (4).
FIG 3: Query active alarms from Citizen (Mitsubishi) CNC
WRITE DATA
CitizenCommands also allows you to change data at the controller by using writable commands e.g. common variables SECT_COMMON_VAL1(x). To change the value of common variable 501, proceed as follows:
In field Mitsubishi Command (1) type in SECT_COMMON_VAL1(x). You can also copy the command name and paste it into this field by clicking on the button with 3 dots right of the input field.
As Data Type (2) select T_DOUBLE.
In field Parameter Value (3) enter 501
Activate checkbox ‘Write to Controller’ (4) and enter the new value for variable 501 in the input field below.
Clicking on button ‘Execute’ (5) changes the variable value and shows the result in the right area.
You can verify the new value for common variable 501 at the controller (6).
FIG 4: Change common variable 501 with CitizenCommands
FIG 5: Verify the new value for common variable 501 at the controller
FILE RELATED OPERATIONS
CitizenCommands enables to perform various file related operations including listing, selecting, opening, copying and deleting NC-Programs at the controller or PC.
Note: To execute file related commands data type T_COMMAND has to be selected
DIRECTORIES (CONTROLLER)
Folder
Description
M01:\PRG\USER\
Machining program storage folder
M01:\PRG\UMACRO\
User macro program storage folder
M01:\PRG\MMACRO\
MTB macro program storage folder
M01:\PRG\FIX\
Fixed cycle program storage folder
M01:\PRM\
Parameter file folder
M01:\LAD\
PLC program folder
M01:\REG\
PLC device data folder
M01:\DAT\
Folder for storing workpiece offset, tool offset, common variables, etc.
M01:\LOG\
History data folder (for maintenance)
FIG 6: Location & description of directories at the controller
LIST FILES
Commands M_READ_FOLDER or M_READ_FOLDER_M700 can be used to list the content of a specific directory at the controller. M_READ_FOLDER can only be used to list all files located in a selected folder. Output includes full path and file name:
M01:\PRG\USER\1002.PRG M01:\PRG\USER\1003.PRG
M_READ_FOLDER_M700 additionally allows to use wildcards to list specific file names or extensions e.g. if you input M01:\PRG\USER\*.PRG in field ‘Input Folder / File’ only files with extension .PRG are output. It can also be used to check if a specific exists f.i. if M01:\PRG\USER\9002.PRG outputs no result the file does not exist.
SELECT PROGRAM
By using command M_SELECT_PROGRAM or M_SELECT_PROGRAM_EX you can select a NC-Program to be executed at the controller. If you input M01:\PRG\USER\1022.PRG in field ‘Input Folder / File’ and 1 in field ‘Part System’ program 1022.PRG is selected for execution in part system 1.
As selection only works if the program exists in location MEMORY and no program is currently executed in the desired part system it is a good idea to make sure that the program exists followed by checking the execution state before performing this operation.
OPEN PROGRAM
With command M_OPEN_PROGRAM you can open a NC-Program or file at the controller e.g. M01:\PRG\USER\1002.PRG (Field ‘Input Folder / File’) and display it’s content in the output window of CitizenCommands.
Opening programs requires that the file exists and is located in one of the accessible folders at the controller.
FIG 7: Open & display NC-Program Citizen (Mitsubishi)
In the example above target is Citizen machine number 1 (1), command is M_OPEN_PROGRAM (2), data type is T_COMMAND, input file is M01:\PRG\USER\1002.PRG (4) and result is shown in the output area (5).
DELETE PROGRAM
Command M_DELETE_PROGRAM or M_DELETE_PROGRAM_M700 allows you to delete the program specified in field ‘Input Folder / File’.
To succeed the program must not be executed. Deleting a selected program results in an empty window at the operation panel.
M_DELETE_PROGRAM_M700 can also be used to delete programs located at the PC.
COPY PROGRAM
By using command M_COPY_PROGRAM you can transfer files from the controller to a folder at the PC or vice versa. For example if you input M01:\PRG\USER\1022.PRG in field ‘Input Folder / File’ and C:\TMP\1022.PRG in field ‘Output Folder / File’ NC-Program 1022.PRG is copied to directory C:\TMP at the PC after you press [Execute].
For successful execution the program must not exist in the desired output folder.
LICENSING
If you have installed CNCnetPDM on your PC with a license other than a ‘free license’ and run this program from the folder where CNCnetPDM is installed you get unlimited functionality. Otherwise you can only read data and execute commands for part system 1 that require no additional input parameter (x). For file related operations only field 'Input Folder / File' can be adjusted. Please see licensing for details or contact us if you have any questions.
Note: If you have a valid license and you'd like to run this program from a different folder on your PC you can simply copy your CNCnetPDM.ini file to this directory.
CONTROLLERS
The program was tested and works with Citizen machines with the following Mitsubishi controllers, others may work as well:
Controller
Mitsubishi Series
MELDAS FCA70LPC-2A
M70
MELDAS M635L
M635
M635L
M635
MELDAS FCA70LPC-2AV
M70
MELDAS FCA70LPC-2AVU
M70
M735LUC
M700
MELDAS FCA70LPC-2AVU
M70
MELDAS FCA70LPC-2AV
M70
M500
M500
MELDAS FCA730LPC-4VS
M730
Fig 5: Tested Citizen Mitsubishi Controllers
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