1

Customising with PCIs and PDIs

There are several ways of adding or changing functionality to EdgeCAM. These are through the use of PCIs
and PDIs.
Creating PCI Templates
PCI Customisation
PDI Customisation

EdgeCAM User Guide

Customising
Creating
PCI Templates
with PCIs and PDIs
The creation
There
are several
of PCI
ways
templates
of adding
provides
or changing
an alternative
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EdgeCAM.
a basic
These
PCI
are
based
through
on athe
sequence
use of PCIs
of
and PDIs.
manufacturing
instructions. The PCI created will contain a user-specified selection of existing instructions,
with or without their dialog input and a single form-fill input for the variables used.
Creating PCI Templates
The advantages over the more traditional methods of command capture are :
PCI Customisation
PDI Customisation
The sequence can be developed and edited until you are satisfied before committing it to PCI form.

Customising
with
PCIs
and
PDIsto the PCI will be collected together automatically into a single
The variables
used
to add
flexibility
dialog to be completed at run-time.
There are several ways of adding or changing functionality to EdgeCAM. These are through the use of PCIs
and PDIs.
Common geometry - used by more than one cycle within the PCI - will be digitised once when running
the PCI and this will not need to be repeated for each cycle.
Creating PCI Templates
PCI Customisation
PDI Customisation

EdgeCAM User Guide

PCI Customisation

PCI is a parametric macro language that works directly on the EdgeCAM database.
Its main features are:
Save command sequences as ASCII text files. These can replayed to recreate the same or similar
sequences of events.
Edit the PCI file to add functionality. Any EdgeCAM command may be called, with both predefined

Customising
withand
PCIs
andinformation
PDIs for that command.
modifier values
digitised
There Program
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a
and PDIs.
set of high level directives.
Creating
Automatically
PCI Templates
generates comments during the command save. Further comments can be added at
any time.
PCI Customisation
Create, call, and delete user-defined variables.
PDI Customisation
Interactively define and use variables and user input dialogs with the command save facility.
Complete family of parts macros can be developed without further editing. Program flow control
based on conditional tests can be added by editing the PCI macro in any text editor.
PCI files can only be created and executed from within the Design and Manufacture modes. This includes
the ability to initialise the Code Generator and Tool Library and then return to the Manufacture mode to
continue a sequence.
PCI Variables can be displayed in the PCI Variables Window. From this window you can edit/delete/view the
PCI Variables.
PCI files usually work correctly on non-English language versions of EdgeCAM.
For more information see the PCI Reference help.

EdgeCAM User Guide

PDI Customisation

PDIs are executable programs written specifically to work within the EdgeCAM environment. Each PDI is a
library of commands used to perform a particular task; for example, to draw a bolt head. Then by simply
starting the PDI, you execute all the commands in that PDI library.
EdgeCAM provides two types of PDIs:
PDIs started from the Run Executable (Custom menu) command. The list of available PDIs in the
edge\cam\pdi\cat-run directory is displayed as .exe file names. Select the one you require:

Customising with PCIs and PDIs

There are several ways of adding or changing functionality to EdgeCAM. These are through the use of PCIs
and PDIs.
Creating PCI Templates
PCI Customisation
PDI Customisation

PDIs already merged into the menu structure. These appear as standard menus commands and
toolbar command buttons. The Rectangle command in the Geometry menu is an example of such a
PDI. This type of PDI is stored in the edge\cam\pdi\menu-run directory.

Note for Advanced Users - You can produce your own PDIs with the PDI Toolkit. You must also learn
about the internal workings of EdgeCAM.

EdgeCAM User Guide

Copyright

(C)1988-2005 Pathtrace Engineering Systems. All rights reserved.

Pathtrace Engineering Systems and its registered resellers or sub-resellers shall have no liability or
responsibility to the licensee or any other person or entity with respect to any liability, loss or damage
caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this product, including but not limited to any
interruption of service, loss of business or anticipatory profits or consequent damages resulting from the use
or operation of this software.

Customising
with
and
Microsoft, Windows
andPCIs
Windows
NTPDIs
are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
MemoHASP
is a registered
trademark
of Aladdin
Knowledge
Ltd.
There are several
ways of adding
or changing
functionality
to Systems
EdgeCAM.
These are through the use of PCIs
NetSentinel
is
a
trademark
of
Rainbow
Technologies,
Inc.
and PDIs.
OpenGL(r) and Optimizer are trademarks of Silicon Graphics Inc.
Creating
ParasolidPCI
is aTemplates
trademark of Unigraphics Solutions Inc.
Autodesk
Inventor
PCI Customisation (tm) is a trademark of Autodesk Inc.
SolidWorks is a registered trademark of SolidWorks Corporation.
PDI Customisation
Solid
Edge is a registered trademark of EDS Inc.
PTC, Pro/DESKTOP, Pro/ENGINEER(r), GRANITE (tm) One, are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Parametric Technology Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and in other countries.
AutoCAD and DXF are registered trademarks of Autodesk Inc.
MicroStation is a trademark of Bentley Systems Inc., an affiliate of Intergraph Corporation.
IGDS is a trademark of Intergraph Corporation.
EdgeCAM Simulator and EdgeCAM Verify use technology developed by Lightworks Designs Ltd.
ACIS is a trademark of Spatial Technology, Inc., and was developed in co-operation with Three-Space, Ltd.,
Cambridge, England, and Applied Geometry Corporation, Seattle, Washington.
Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
The information contained within this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent
a commitment on the part of the vendor. The software described in this document is furnished under a
licence agreement and may only be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Pathtrace Engineering Systems

45 Boulton Road Reading Berkshire England RG2 0NH
Telephone +44 (0)118 975 6084 Facsimile +44 (0)118 975 6143
http://www.edgecam.com

EdgeCAM User Guide