Bridgeport EZTrak Post

[ind_dsnr]

I worked all weekend on getting my machine up and running Bobcad tool paths and there are still some bugs in the EZTrak post that is available through Bobcad. I was wondering if anyone is using Bobcad to program an EZTrak mill. My mill is a 2001 model made by Bridgeport before it was bought by Hardinge. If anyone has a tweaked EZTrak post, maybe you'd be willing to help out or give some suggestions.

The main problem that I am having is with 2d profiling. It generates g-code with arcs and lines, but the machine just cuts a strange shape within the limits of the tool paths that doesn't relate in any way to the geometry of my drawing.

The picture shows the results of my programming. The shape on the top is what I'm aiming for (I cut it using equidistant offset). On the bottom two shapes I used the profile command to generate the tool paths. The perimeter of the top shape is what I was trying to program and the result was the two bottom shapes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[The Engine Guy]

I worked all weekend on getting my machine up and running Bobcad tool paths and there are still some bugs in the EZTrak post that is available through Bobcad. I was wondering if anyone is using Bobcad to program an EZTrak mill. My mill is a 2001 model made by Bridgeport before it was bought by Hardinge. If anyone has a tweaked EZTrak post, maybe you'd be willing to help out or give some suggestions.

The main problem that I am having is with 2d profiling. It generates g-code with arcs and lines, but the machine just cuts a strange shape within the limits of the tool paths that doesn't relate in any way to the geometry of my drawing.

The picture shows the results of my programming. The shape on the top is what I'm aiming for (I cut it using equidistant offset). On the bottom two shapes I used the profile command to generate the tool paths. The perimeter of the top shape is what I was trying to program and the result was the two bottom shapes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Post your BobCAD file and the Post Processor (In a Zip File) on here and someone will have a look at it for you.

What Version of BobCAD are you running and what Build are you at??
Check under "Help" > "About BobCAD" for that info.

Regards
Rob

.

[ind_dsnr]

Thank you.

I'm running the most current version of V23 as well as the post from the Bobcad website. I'll post it tonight when I get home.

[BurrMan]

Hey General,
You're on the same track as I am. I was going to look for either the "Contour tolerance" issue (Cleanup the underlying geometry) or some kind of "hard coded" Z move at the end of the program.

The file will be good to see.

[ind_dsnr]

Hey all,

Here's the BC and NC files. The NC file is the actual g-code that was used to make the trapezoidal shape in the block. I tried to reproduce the g-code from this file tonight with different results...

I don't have the predator g-code simulator upgrade so I can't verify for sure if the code is good or not.

The machine I'm working with seems to have a few bugs. I was running the 3D tool paths using .txt file formatted code. When I first tried to DNC from the floppy, I couldn't get the machine to load the first line of code. I got it to work after a bunch of button pushing and exploring, but didn't change any settings. It seemed to fix itself. That's when I tried to run the 2D tool path that I've attached and got the results that you see in the picture. I restarted the machine and retried with the same results (and no DNC again, permanently).
I also tried restarting my computer, generating a fresh drawing, redefining the paths and re-posting. Again, the same. If the code looks good, it could be the machine.

[ind_dsnr]

Sorry,

I packed the wrong files.

Here are the correct ones:

[ind_dsnr]

Hello? Where did everybody go?

[The Engine Guy]

Hello? Where did everybody go?

Probably like me, still trying to figure out your file !!

I can`t get it to work either !!!



Regards
Rob

.

[BurrMan]

Hi ind,
Well, The code (conversational?) is just to unfamiliar to me personally, so I cant really comment or help. I was watching to see if someone else would respond here. All I can tell you is I took your file and posted it with a different post processor that I could backplot OK, so I dont think anything is wrong with the file itself. It will either boil down to the post and it outputing something incorrectly, or your machine itself, as you mention.

Possibly give a hint as "where and when" that crosscut violates the part. Right at the beginning or the end, or in the middle somewhere?


Anyway..... sorry no help from me.

[ind_dsnr]

Thanks for the replies. The tool path goes wrong from the start of the program. It doesn't cut any of the arcs, just lines.

Here's the code:

0000 EZTRAK|SX 1 MODE|INCH |SAT. 03/06/2010 08:11PM
01 || TOOLCHG T1
02 RAPID ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z0.1
03 RAPID ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z0.1
04 LINE ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.125 F20.
05 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y1.2629 Z-0.125 XC-3.9946 YC1.2562F50.
06 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.3234 Y1.5691 Z-0.125 XC-0.4173 YC-0.1313 F50.
07 LINE ABS X1.0385 Y1.5691 Z-0.125 F50.
08 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X0.851 Y1.3816 Z-0.125 XC0. YC-0.1875 F50.
09 LINE ABS X-1.0664 Y1.3816 Z-0.125 F50.
10 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.2539 Y1.5691 Z-0.125 XC-0.1875 YC0. F50.
11 LINE ABS X-1.5039 Y1.5691 Z-0.125 F50.
12 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.9414 Y1.1316 Z-0.125 XC0. YC-0.4375 F50.
13 LINE ABS X-1.9414 Y-1.1184 Z-0.125 F50.
14 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.5039 Y-1.5559 Z-0.125 XC0.4375 YC0. F50.
15 LINE ABS X-1.2539 Y-1.5559 Z-0.125 F50.
16 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.0664 Y-1.3684 Z-0.125 XC0. YC0.1875 F50.
17 LINE ABS X0.851 Y-1.3684 Z-0.125 F50.
18 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.0385 Y-1.5559 Z-0.125 XC0.1875 YC0. F50.
19 LINE ABS X1.3234 Y-1.5559 Z-0.125 F50.
20 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.125 XC0. YC0.4375 F50.
21 LINE ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.25 F20.
22 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y1.2629 Z-0.25 XC-3.9946 YC1.2562 F50.
23 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.3234 Y1.5691 Z-0.25 XC-0.4173 YC-0.1313 F50.
24 LINE ABS X1.0385 Y1.5691 Z-0.25 F50.
25 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X0.851 Y1.3816 Z-0.25 XC0. YC-0.1875 F50.
26 LINE ABS X-1.0664 Y1.3816 Z-0.25 F50.
27 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.2539 Y1.5691 Z-0.25 XC-0.1875 YC0. F50.
28 LINE ABS X-1.5039 Y1.5691 Z-0.25 F50.
29 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.9414 Y1.1316 Z-0.25 XC0. YC-0.4375 F50.
30 LINE ABS X-1.9414 Y-1.1184 Z-0.25 F50.
31 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.5039 Y-1.5559 Z-0.25 XC0.4375 YC0. F50.
32 LINE ABS X-1.2539 Y-1.5559 Z-0.25 F50.
33 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.0664 Y-1.3684 Z-0.25 XC0. YC0.1875 F50.
34 LINE ABS X0.851 Y-1.3684 Z-0.25 F50.
35 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.0385 Y-1.5559 Z-0.25 XC0.1875 YC0. F50.
36 LINE ABS X1.3234 Y-1.5559 Z-0.25 F50.
37 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.25 XC0. YC0.4375 F50.
38 LINE ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.375 F20.
39 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y1.2629 Z-0.375 XC-3.9946 YC1.2562 F50.
40 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.3234 Y1.5691 Z-0.375 XC-0.4173 YC-0.1313 F50.
41 LINE ABS X1.0385 Y1.5691 Z-0.375 F50.
42 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X0.851 Y1.3816 Z-0.375 XC0. YC-0.1875 F50.
43 LINE ABS X-1.0664 Y1.3816 Z-0.375 F50.
44 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.2539 Y1.5691 Z-0.375 XC-0.1875 YC0. F50.
45 LINE ABS X-1.5039 Y1.5691 Z-0.375 F50.
46 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.9414 Y1.1316 Z-0.375 XC0. YC-0.4375 F50.
47 LINE ABS X-1.9414 Y-1.1184 Z-0.375 F50.
48 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.5039 Y-1.5559 Z-0.375 XC0.4375 YC0. F50.
49 LINE ABS X-1.2539 Y-1.5559 Z-0.375 F50.
50 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.0664 Y-1.3684 Z-0.375 XC0. YC0.1875 F50.
51 LINE ABS X0.851 Y-1.3684 Z-0.375 F50.
52 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.0385 Y-1.5559 Z-0.375 XC0.1875 YC0. F50.
53 LINE ABS X1.3234 Y-1.5559 Z-0.375 F50.
54 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.375 XC0. YC0.4375 F50.
55 LINE ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.5 F20.
56 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y1.2629 Z-0.5 XC-3.9946 YC1.2562 F50.
57 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.3234 Y1.5691 Z-0.5 XC-0.4173 YC-0.1313 F50.
58 LINE ABS X1.0385 Y1.5691 Z-0.5 F50.
59 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X0.851 Y1.3816 Z-0.5 XC0. YC-0.1875 F50.
60 LINE ABS X-1.0664 Y1.3816 Z-0.5 F50.
61 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.2539 Y1.5691 Z-0.5 XC-0.1875 YC0. F50.
62 LINE ABS X-1.5039 Y1.5691 Z-0.5 F50.
63 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.9414 Y1.1316 Z-0.5 XC0. YC-0.4375 F50.
64 LINE ABS X-1.9414 Y-1.1184 Z-0.5 F50.
65 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.5039 Y-1.5559 Z-0.5 XC0.4375 YC0. F50.
66 LINE ABS X-1.2539 Y-1.5559 Z-0.5 F50.
67 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.0664 Y-1.3684 Z-0.5 XC0. YC0.1875 F50.
68 LINE ABS X0.851 Y-1.3684 Z-0.5 F50.
69 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.0385 Y-1.5559 Z-0.5 XC0.1875 YC0. F50.
70 LINE ABS X1.3234 Y-1.5559 Z-0.5 F50.
71 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.5 XC0. YC0.4375 F50.
72 LINE ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.625 F20.
73 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y1.2629 Z-0.625 XC-3.9946 YC1.2562 F50.
74 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.3234 Y1.5691 Z-0.625 XC-0.4173 YC-0.1313 F50.
75 LINE ABS X1.0385 Y1.5691 Z-0.625 F50.
76 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X0.851 Y1.3816 Z-0.625 XC0. YC-0.1875 F50.
77 LINE ABS X-1.0664 Y1.3816 Z-0.625 F50.
78 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.2539 Y1.5691 Z-0.625 XC-0.1875 YC0. F50.
79 LINE ABS X-1.5039 Y1.5691 Z-0.625 F50.
80 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.9414 Y1.1316 Z-0.625 XC0. YC-0.4375 F50.
81 LINE ABS X-1.9414 Y-1.1184 Z-0.625 F50.
82 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.5039 Y-1.5559 Z-0.625 XC0.4375 YC0. F50.
83 LINE ABS X-1.2539 Y-1.5559 Z-0.625 F50.
84 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.0664 Y-1.3684 Z-0.625 XC0. YC0.1875 F50.
85 LINE ABS X0.851 Y-1.3684 Z-0.625 F50.
86 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.0385 Y-1.5559 Z-0.625 XC0.1875 YC0. F50.
87 LINE ABS X1.3234 Y-1.5559 Z-0.625 F50.
88 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.625 XC0. YC0.4375 F50.
89 LINE ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.75 F20.
90 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y1.2629 Z-0.75 XC-3.9946 YC1.2562 F50.
91 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.3234 Y1.5691 Z-0.75 XC-0.4173 YC-0.1313 F50.
92 LINE ABS X1.0385 Y1.5691 Z-0.75 F50.
93 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X0.851 Y1.3816 Z-0.75 XC0. YC-0.1875 F50.
94 LINE ABS X-1.0664 Y1.3816 Z-0.75 F50.
95 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.2539 Y1.5691 Z-0.75 XC-0.1875 YC0. F50.
96 LINE ABS X-1.5039 Y1.5691 Z-0.75 F50.
97 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.9414 Y1.1316 Z-0.75 XC0. YC-0.4375 F50.
98 LINE ABS X-1.9414 Y-1.1184 Z-0.75 F50.
99 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.5039 Y-1.5559 Z-0.75 XC0.4375 YC0. F50.
100 LINE ABS X-1.2539 Y-1.5559 Z-0.75 F50.
101 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.0664 Y-1.3684 Z-0.75 XC0. YC0.1875 F50.
102 LINE ABS X0.851 Y-1.3684 Z-0.75 F50.
103 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.0385 Y-1.5559 Z-0.75 XC0.1875 YC0. F50.
104 LINE ABS X1.3234 Y-1.5559 Z-0.75 F50.
105 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.75 XC0. YC0.4375 F50.
106 LINE ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.875 F20.
107 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y1.2629 Z-0.875 XC-3.9946 YC1.2562 F50.
108 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.3234 Y1.5691 Z-0.875 XC-0.4173 YC-0.1313 F50.
109 LINE ABS X1.0385 Y1.5691 Z-0.875 F50.
110 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X0.851 Y1.3816 Z-0.875 XC0. YC-0.1875 F50.
111 LINE ABS X-1.0664 Y1.3816 Z-0.875 F50.
112 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.2539 Y1.5691 Z-0.875 XC-0.1875 YC0. F50.
113 LINE ABS X-1.5039 Y1.5691 Z-0.875 F50.
114 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.9414 Y1.1316 Z-0.875 XC0. YC-0.4375 F50.
115 LINE ABS X-1.9414 Y-1.1184 Z-0.875 F50.
116 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.5039 Y-1.5559 Z-0.875 XC0.4375 YC0. F50.
117 LINE ABS X-1.2539 Y-1.5559 Z-0.875 F50.
118 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X-1.0664 Y-1.3684 Z-0.875 XC0. YC0.1875 F50.
119 LINE ABS X0.851 Y-1.3684 Z-0.875 F50.
120 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.0385 Y-1.5559 Z-0.875 XC0.1875 YC0. F50.
121 LINE ABS X1.3234 Y-1.5559 Z-0.875 F50.
122 ARC|CNTRPT ABS CCW X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z-0.875 XC0. YC0.4375 F50.
123 RAPID ABS X1.7408 Y-1.2496 Z0.1
124 RAPID ABS X0. Y0. Z0.1
125 || END|PRG

[billb95]

I had a prototrak machine that uses similar codes. I have looked at your code and you have abs in your arc comand but the arc coordinates look incremental.

look at line 222 in your post and if it is not set to "a" then change it.

Hope that helps

[ind_dsnr]

I'm not sure how to edit my post. I know Mastercam, but just got Bobcad a few weeks ago. Any instructions would be greatly appreciated.