Powermill Macro //top\\

// PowerMill Macro: Create Rectangular Pocket Feature
// Save as "Create_Pocket_Feature.pm"
// Feature Parameters
STRING $feature_name = "POCKET_1"
REAL $length = 100.0
REAL $width = 50.0
REAL $depth = 10.0
REAL $corner_radius = 5.0
REAL $x_center = 0.0
REAL $y_center = 0.0
REAL $z_top = 0.0
// Tool Parameters
STRING $tool_name = "ENDMILL10"
REAL $tool_diameter = 10.0
REAL $tool_corner_radius = 0.0
// Machining Parameters
REAL $stepdown = 2.0
REAL $stepover = 7.0
REAL $feedrate = 1500.0
REAL $spindle_speed = 8000.0
// Create new layer for feature
STRING $layer_name = "FEATURE_" + $feature_name
CREATE LAYER $layer_name
ACTIVATE LAYER $layer_name
// Create the pocket feature using wireframe
// Define corner points
REAL $x_min = $x_center - ($length/2)
REAL $x_max = $x_center + ($length/2)
REAL $y_min = $y_center - ($width/2)
REAL $y_max = $y_center + ($width/2)
// Create rectangle with rounded corners
CREATE WIREFRAME RECTANGLE CORNERS $x_min $y_min $x_max $y_max
STRING $rect_wire = LAST_WIREFRAME_NAME()
if $corner_radius > 0 
    EDIT WIREFRAME $rect_wire CORNER_RADIUS $corner_radius
// Create the pocket feature
CREATE FEATURE POCKET
ACTIVATE FEATURE "Pocket Feature"
EDIT FEATURE "Pocket Feature" NAME $feature_name
EDIT FEATURE $feature_name DEPTH $depth
EDIT FEATURE $feature_name Z_TOP $z_top
// Add the wireframe to the feature
EDIT FEATURE $feature_name ADD WIREFRAME $rect_wire
// Create tool if it doesn't exist
IF NOT TOOL_EXISTS($tool_name) 
    CREATE TOOL ENDMILL
    EDIT TOOL $tool_name DIAMETER $tool_diameter
    EDIT TOOL $tool_name CORNER_RADIUS $tool_corner_radius
    ACTIVATE TOOL $tool_name
// Create the toolpath
CREATE TOOLPATH POCKET_FINISH
ACTIVATE TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish"
EDIT TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish" FEATURE $feature_name
EDIT TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish" TOOL $tool_name
// Set machining parameters
EDIT TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish" STEPDOWN $stepdown
EDIT TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish" STEPOVER $stepover
EDIT TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish" FEEDRATE $feedrate
EDIT TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish" SPINDLE_SPEED $spindle_speed
// Calculate the toolpath
CALCULATE TOOLPATH "Pocket_Finish" NOWAIT
// Display message
MESSAGE INFO "Feature '$feature_name' created successfully with toolpath"
// Optional: Zoom to feature
VIEW MODEL

What Exactly is a PowerMill Macro?

At its core, a PowerMill macro is a simple text file (with a .mac extension) containing a list of PowerMill commands. When you "run" the macro, PowerMill executes each command in sequence—exactly as if you typed them into the command line yourself.

Think of it as a recipe. Once you prove it works, you can use it over and over without thinking about the individual steps. powermill macro

The FOREACH Loop

This is the ultimate time saver. Instead of writing the same line for 50 tools, you loop through all entities. // PowerMill Macro: Create Rectangular Pocket Feature //

// Rename all toolpaths to include "PRODUCTION_" prefix
FOREACH tp IN FOLDER("toolpath")
    STRING old_name = $tp.Name
    STRING new_name = "PRODUCTION_" + $old_name
    RENAME TOOLPATH $old_name $new_name
ENDFOREACH

Part 8: Integrating Macros into the GUI

Don't make your users type macro names. Integrate them. What Exactly is a PowerMill Macro

  1. Toolbars: Right-click the toolbar area > Customize. Create a new toolbar, drag your .mac files from the Macro Explorer into the new toolbar.
  2. Keyboard Shortcuts: Go to File > Options > Customize > Keyboard. Assign Ctrl+Shift+R to your "Roughing" macro.
  3. User Menus: Create a right-click context menu that only shows the 5 macros you use for Electrode programming.

Part 4: The Secret Weapon – The Parameter Trace

One of the most powerful features for learning to write macros is the Macro Parameter Trace.

Pro Tip: To write a macro for a complex 5-axis collision check, simply turn on the trace, run the collision check manually once, and copy the output. You just wrote a perfect macro without typing a single command by heart.