Hello All,

We recently purchased a Bridgeport EZ Trak SX II. The machine works great and we are very happy. The manual states that G code can be loaded into the controller and run. I have been unable to make this happen! Loading and running post-processed G Code is not covered at all in any of the manuals we have.
Does anyone have any experience doing what I am attempting. Some of our 2D contours are too difficult to program with the EZ-Trak controller.

Thanks,
Mark

Hello Mark,
Here's an example G code file for a 2 axis Eztrak.

'START| 1.PGM'
N0 G71 G75 G90
F9=150
N1 G0 X0.0000 Y-5.0000 Z10.0000 ' Change To 6mm slotdrill ' T1 D6 M6
N2 Z2.0000
N3 G1 Z-5.0000 F500
N4 G41 X-5.4210 Y-16.4286 Z-5.0000 F9
N5 X-5.4210 Y-16.4286 Z-5.0000
N6 G3 X0.0000 Y-25.0000 I0.0000 J-19.0000
N7 G1 X15.0000
N8 G3 X25.0000 Y-15.0000 I15.0000 J-15.0000
N9 G1 Y15.0000
N10 G3 X15.0000 Y25.0000 I15.0000 J15.0000
N11 G1 X-15.0000
N12 G3 X-25.0000 Y15.0000 I-15.0000 J15.0000
N13 G1 Y-15.0000
N14 G3 X-15.0000 Y-25.0000 I-15.0000 J-15.0000
N15 G1 X0.0000
N16 G3 X5.4210 Y-16.4286 I0.0000 J-19.0000
N17 G40 G1 X0.0000 Y-5.0000
N18 G0 X0.0000 Y-5.0000 Z20.0000 F1000

Save it to a floppy as test.txt, load into the Eztrack press F4 and F5 to select the A drive and G code file. The program produces a 50mm square with 10mm corners using cutter compensation with a 6mm cutter.

The line F9=150 sets the feed, F9 is a variable used on line N4 to set the feed to 150.0mm\min.

Lines N4 & N5 use the same coordinates to apply the cutter comp, this is a bit different to the other controls I've used but the only way I could get it to work on the Eztrack.

The eztrak controller converts the conversational program into g code before they are run, to display the converted program load a program and in run mode press the minus key.

Regards Mark.

Mark,

Thanks for the reply. My problem is getting the EZ-Trak to recognize that I am trying to load G code, and not an EZ-Trak program. The only option of loading a program is an *.pgm file. I can change the extension from test.txt to test.pgm, and it loads without error. But when we hit run, it does nothing. We are using software version 3.08, dated 10/15/97, P/N 31943014.

I can't seem to find a way to tell the controller that the file is already G code, and it does not need to run its "translation" routine. As you can surely tell, I have very little experience in this area, but I am trying...

Thanks for any assistance,
Mark

Mark,
You cannot edit or view g code files with the Eztrack software, you can only run or simulate the tool paths.

To load a G code program from the floppy drive you must be on the auto/run screen press the left arrow key (LOAD) this should bring up a file list, now press F4 to select the A drive and F5 to display all files with .txt extension select the g code file and press + to load. If you use the test file I posted before press the right arrow key to simulate, next press 5 and set the display size to -50,-50,50,50 and press + to simulate. Now exit the simulation and return to the Auto screen to run.

In England health and safety made Bridgeport retrofit all there Eztracks with extra guards and manual switches to select the different software modes Edit/MDI/SDI and I'm not sure if the new software was the same as the old, but if you load the program to run not edit you should be ok.

Regards Mark.

Mark,

GOT IT!!

Thanks for your help. It was the left arrow key in run mode that I was missing. I wish this was in the manual (maybe I don't have a complete manual).
Anyway, all my programs load and execute successfully. I really appreciate you taking the time to guide me through this.
Off I go in my quest to gouge my first part...

Best Regards,
Mark

The machine does not specifically ask for TXT files. Instead it considers these Other files.
Also which buttons to press is software version dependent.

manuals for these machines can be purchased reasonably on CDROM in PDF format at machinemanulas.net

By the way if you load a .PGM file and are in the run screen, press the minus button. You will see the G & M code program that the PGM file has been converted to by the BMDC board.

George W.

I just ran into the same problem, but with a twist.

I had no PGM files on the harddrive, so when I tried to load a file, it would check the harddrive and the floppy, then tell me that there were no files. So it never brought up the window where you could select F4 to see the floppy drive and F5 to see all files. Definitely a bug.

So I created a PGM file with one line in it, and then I was able to use F4 and F5 to find the TXT files.

Thanks for the help, though. I wasn't able to figure out my problem without your solution.

Quick question, I have a Ez trak sx and thier is a sticker on the door to the floppy drive that says do not remove. I know that the disk can be removed, but when it safe to do so? Does the machine have to be off to safly remove the disk? Can it be booted up without a floppy or a different floppy in the drive. The manual that came with the machine does not cover this at all. Thanks for any help with this.

The EZTRAK SX machines had no hard drive unless one was added later. They needed the floppy to boot. Once the machine has booted, and the activity LED turns off, the boot floppy can be removed and your program floppy can be inserted and used for loading or saving part program files. Just remember that when you set your part program zero it gets saved as a SYS.BEZ file. If you do not have the boot floppy in when you do this, the zero point gets saved to whatever floppy is in the machine. Therefore, the next time you boot from the boot floppy, the zero point will be whatever is on the boot floopy. Advice whenever setting zero make sure the boot floppy is in. You can remove or insert a floppy any time the activity light is off.

George

machintek,

Do you know everything about every cnc machine ever made?

I am impressed.

Eric

Just enough to fix it after I crash it.

George

Thanks for the help. That brings me to one other question, Can the boot disk be copied with a pc for the purpose of making a backup in the event a disk failure occurs, or is it a funky file system on the floppy. Thanks again.

I do not know what version your original disk is, but the youngest version I try to run on a SX machine is Version 3.02. One of the reasons I like it is that it has a screen saver to prevent CRT burn. And yes, I do suggest that you make as many copies as you like. This can be done using "9" utilites, and then copy disk, right on the machine. You may need to exchange disks a few times but the machine will prompt you. Then use the backups and lock the original in a safe place.

George

Running version 2.25 and got the file to transfer but ended up with illegal g code errors or intenal adress errors depending on the post processor that I used. To get a post processor written I need to get a list of supported g and m codes along with anything else that may be helpful. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I know that Feature cam has a post for the EZTRAK. Possibly EZCAM as well as that what was sold by bridgeport when this machine came out. I do not fool arund with that end of things so I do not have one that I can pull all the G & M codes from it. It is possible that a DX32 post may work. Also there was a piece of software sold by Bridgeport called SPS-mill. This was the EZTRAK software converted to work on a PC and could create a program in G code or in EZTRAK conversational.

George

I use MasterCam 9.1 to create G code for my EzTrak. It has two post processors for EZTRAK. One creates .pgm files, the other creates G code. They both seem to work fine, but I like the G code post because it is easier to edit. The only problem with the G code post is that it inserts a "G53" into the first rapid to position. I do not know what G53 does, but the EZTRAK does not like it. If I edit the G53 out, the program executes flawlessly. So don't let an illegal G code error stop you. Look through the G code at the point where the error occurs and look up any codes that look suspicious. More than likely, it is at the start of your program and can be removed.

Mark

The G53 can easily be removed by editing the post. If you need help, let me know. I posted with the eztrak and I don't get a g53 anywhere? "MPEZTRKG.PST"

Steven

Usually illegal G codes stop the program from loading into the BMDC board with an error message that the load failed. Sometimes it may give a line number but that is not accurate. I have seen a sub routine call fail because of a line in the subroutine but the line number displayed is the one before the subroutine call.

George

Hey - I never really though about editing the post. I looked through MPEZTRKG.PST and found no occurence of G53. Yet, everytime I post, I inserts one in the first rapid to position. For example:
N15 G0 G90 G53 X-.392 Y-.4415 Z.25
If I try to run this program, I will get an illegal G code error. Simply removing the G53 solves the problem. I have been doing this manually, and it is no big deal, but is there a way to keep it out in the first place?

Thanks!
Mark

You will be looking for something called "pwcs" or "wcs". Just put a "#" sign in front of everything inside the pwcs later in the post. This will remove any occurance of work offsets.

Steven

Steven,

Thanks for the info. I modified the post and it works great! Saves me a few edits.

Mark

Hello all!
Does anyone know which program type should I send to EZ TRAK PLUS control unit? I'm a beginner and do not exactly know about different formats such as G-code or "post-processed"?
I'd like to connect my PC with control using EZ LINK software and send this code as an example just to see if it works:

0000 EZTRAK|3X 1 MODE|MM |NO COMP 07 01:07:12 1996
0002 AUXFUN T1 M6
0004 LINE ABS X0.0 Y30.18 Z0.0 F50.0
0006 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CW X55.0 Y50.38 Z0.0 XC55.0 YC-34.62 F50.0
0008 LINE ABS X55.0 Y30.0 Z0.0 F50.0
0010 RAPID ABS X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0 F70.0
0012 AUXFUN T1 M2

Is it a G-code? Is it proper code for EZ TRAK PLUS??? Or shall I convert that into some other? Which program shall I use and maybe someone can send it to me grzeniua@wp.pl ?

Thanks a lot for any reply.
Greg

I do not see anywhere in the documentation that this Southwestern Control will take G and M code programming like a typical CNC.
Even your example above looks like it came from a lot newer EZTRAK and I cannot confirm that it will work with the Southwestern control. I cannot find in my documentation an example of a program as viewed by a text editor.

George

Seems that noone has an idea how to manage this unit.. too bad :tired:

anyway thanks for help!