The following describes the Valisys Command protocol as currently implemented in PC-DMIS. The commands are listed in alphabetical order.
Each regular command consists of a 2-character command code, followed by any relevant data and finally terminated with a carriage return (represented here as \r). All responses are also terminated with a carriage return.
The command for canceling current operations is a special case. If a control-C is received (\3) it will cause any currently pending DCC operations to be aborted and the machine will be stopped as soon as possible for the given machine type.
The commands that have associated data are shown using a syntax of <data comment> to represent that data. The <> characters are not actually part of the command. For example, for the generic command format of SS<search distance>\r an actual example might be SS3.0\r.
CODE Description and Syntax
BI Begin automatic inspection sequence. Marks the beginning of a DCC series of commands. Once this is sent, no manual commands should be sent until after sending an EI.
FORMAT : BI\r
RESPONSE : CS\r
CF End job (or deallocate machine). In PC-DMIS this will cause the execution mode to terminate and the execution dialog will be closed.
FORMAT : CF\r
RESPONSE : CS\r
CH Start job (or allocate machine). In PC-DMIS this will bring up the execution dialog and provide for execution of subsequent commands.
FORMAT: CH\r
RESPONSE: CR\r if no PH9 / PH10 is present or CRPH9\r if PH9 / PH10 is present.
EI End automatic inspection sequence. This completes a sequence initiated via the BI command. Note that the CS response is not sent until all DCC commands in the sequence are complete.
FORMAT : EI\r
RESPONSE : CS\r
LP Print message to a line printer.
FORMAT: LP<text>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
MG Get operator message. Allows the operator to type in a message that will be returned to Valisys.
FORMAT: MG\r
RESPONSE: CD<text>\r
MH Measure a point manually.
FORMAT: MH\r
RESPONSE: CLX<x value>Y<y value>Z<z value>\r
MM Measure a point in DCC. Values should be sent in units consistent with what was specified via the SH command.
FORMAT: MMX<x value>Y<y value>Z<z value>\r
RESPONSE: CLX<x value>Y<y value>Z<z value>\r
MP Move CMM. Values should be sent in units consistent with what was specified via the SH command. Note that PC-DMIS sends the CS response immediately rather than waiting for the move to complete.
FORMAT: MPX<x value>Y<y value>Z<z value>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
MS Set Move Speed. Value is the percent of max.
FORMAT: MS<% of max>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
PG Read CMM position. Note that if this command is issued while in manual mode the actual CMM position will be returned. If issued in DCC mode, the last commanded position will be returned.
FORMAT: PG\r
RESPONSE: CLX<x value>Y<y value>Z<z value>\r
PP Move PH9 / PH10
FORMAT: PPA<a angle>B<b angle>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
PR Print to screen. In PC-DMIS, this message will appear in the status line near the bottom of the main PC-DMIS window.
FORMAT: PR<text>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
PS Set Probing Speed. Value is the percent of max.
FORMAT: PS<% of max>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
RP Move Rotary Table. Not that in this case the CS response is not sent until the rotary table move is complete.
FORMAT: RP<angle>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
SC Specify CMM Units. This command is recognized by PC-DMIS but it has no effect.
FORMAT: SCINCH\r or SCMETRIC\r (not currently used)
RESPONSE: CS\r
SH Specify Host Units. Valid options are INCH or METRIC (millimeters). This command should always be sent after the CH command before sending any other commands that contain distance
or position data.
FORMAT: SHINCH\r or SHMETRIC\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
SR Specify Rotary table units Radians or Degrees. Note that the default is degrees unless a the command is specifically sent to use radians.
FORMAT: SRDEGREES\r or SRRADIANS\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
SS Set Search Distance. The value should be sent in units consistent with what was specified via the SH command. This is basically the same in concept as the "check" distance in PC-DMIS.
However, the check distance specified in PC-DMIS is not directly used in Valisys mode. The desired distance must be sent via the SS command.
FORMAT: SS<search distance>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r
TC Change tool. This command is recognized by PC-DMIS but is not actually supported at this ime. No tool change is performed but a standard CS response will be sent.
FORMAT: TC<tool number>\r
RESPONSE: CS\r