Need Help!- Predator Editor Back Plot

[rwestbr]

Hi , Does anyone now how to get Predator Editor to to use the specified tool for the back plot simulation? When I run Back Plot it only uses a flat end mill for the simulation when the tool I specify is a v cutter or even a ball end.I have level 2 editor.

Thanks,
Robert

[BurrMan]

The tooling in the backplot comes from the "Predator header". The tool is defined in there and you can find info on it in the predator help file under predator header.

This info is hard coded into your post. You can either re-type the info when getting ready to backplot, or if you use a few different tools a bunch, you could create a few copy's of your post and name them like the tooling then post with those post processors to have the tooling set in already.

[BurrMan]

Also, you can define the stock that your tooling is cutting. Save a part in BobCad as an STL then place it in "C:\Program Files\Predator Software\Common Files\Stock" THen before you backplot change the "SBOX" line in the header to read <SSTL your.STL> and presto. There is also FSTL which will define a fixture as an stl file and the backplot can tell you if your hitting your fixture.

[rwestbr]

Thank You Burrman!!!

Robert

[1234567]

I MADE A STOCK STL FILE AND IT WORKED GREAT.CAN THIS BE DONE WITH SPECIAL TOOLS TOO?
HOW ABOUT THE MACHINE CAN THIS BE ADDED? IM RUNNING A DOOSAN 4020 3 AXIS VERTICAL MILL.

[BurrMan]

Hi 1234567,
It's very cool eh! Dont forget "FSTL" for fixtures too. Very handy.

The tools are limited to what you casn define provided with the editor. But I dont think you can define geometry as a tool though (I may be mislead, this is my understanding right now) But you can define a corner rounding mill and such.

The machine can be chosen from the dropdown menu just above the editor window, then you can edit the template to have the params you want. Usually you would want to make a new one "based on the "3XVMILL" and then edit that.

There may be more. I'll look a bit deeper myself.

[1234567]

Thanks burrman

[SBC Cycle]

Originally Posted by BurrMan Also, you can define the stock that your tooling is cutting. Save a part in BobCad as an STL then place it in "C:\Program Files\Predator Software\Common Files\Stock" THen before you backplot change the "SBOX" line in the header to read <SSTL your.STL> and presto. There is also FSTL which will define a fixture as an stl file and the backplot can tell you if your hitting your fixture.

Just an FYI, when you select geometry for your stock (whether it is a rectangle or an irregular shape), an STL file is automatically created using that 2D geometry and the thickness you call out in the Stock Edit dialog. It can be found in the folder "C:\Program Files\Predator Software\Common Files\Jobs"

Just copy it over to your \Stock folder

EDIT: Anyone know how I might be able to get BCC to save this to the \Stock folder automatically? I'm thinking there is a setting in the registry that may do this but I haven't been brave enough yet to monkey around with it.

EDIT2: Notice the * symbol in the line ( SSTL STL*EXAMPLE.STL ) Predator doesn't like spaces in the file name....

[SBC Cycle]

Originally Posted by rwestbr Hi , Does anyone now how to get Predator Editor to to use the specified tool for the back plot simulation? When I run Back Plot it only uses a flat end mill for the simulation when the tool I specify is a v cutter or even a ball end.I have level 2 editor. Thanks, Robert

It sounds like you need to update the way your output_tool_list command defines your tooling. You may be missing some important lines in your post processor file to do this. If you care to upload your post processor file we can take a look.

[BurrMan]

Originally Posted by SBC Cycle Just an FYI, when you select geometry for your stock (whether it is a rectangle or an irregular shape), an STL file is automatically created using that 2D geometry and the thickness you call out in the Stock Edit dialog. It can be found in the folder "C:\Program Files\Predator Software\Common Files\Jobs" Just copy it over to your \Stock folder EDIT2: Notice the * symbol in the line ( SSTL STL*EXAMPLE.STL ) Predator doesn't like spaces in the file name....

I did not know that! That is weird Shtuff.

Thanks for the tips SBC!

[SBC Cycle]

Originally Posted by BurrMan I did not know that! That is weird Shtuff. Thanks for the tips SBC!

No problem Burr. When the scripting is finally implemented I'm hoping I can change the header to automatically pick up the .STL with the path and all that. It will have to be parsed to eliminate spaces and add the asterisks but it will make backplotting a breeze.

[rwestbr]

Originally Posted by SBC Cycle It sounds like you need to update the way your output_tool_list command defines your tooling. You may be missing some important lines in your post processor file to do this. If you care to upload your post processor file we can take a look.

Here is the post I use , its mach3 Mill, I believe the problem is with the post because some files it works fine and some others do not.

Also I noticed after the header line N1 it has a line that calls for absolute and then incremental coordinates

Thanks
Robert


%
O100 (PROGRAM NUMBER)
(BEGIN PREDATOR NC HEADER)
(MACH_FILE=4AXVMILL.MCH)
(MTOOL T3 S1 D.0625 H1.125 DIAM_OFFSET 3 = .0313)
(MTOOL T1 S1 D.125 H5. DIAM_OFFSET 1 = .0625)
(SBOX X-.0173 Y-.0334 Z-.25 L3.4072 W3.4072 H.25)
(END PREDATOR NC HEADER)
(PROGRAM NAME - HANSONFINALSERIES13_1.NC)
(POST - HAAS VF - 4TH AXIS)
(DATE - TUE. 08/11/2009)
(TIME - 08:17AM)
N1 G00 G17 G20 G40 G49 G80 G90
N2 G00 G91 G28 Z0.
N3 G00 G91 G28 X0. Y0.
( FIRST CUT - FIRST TOOL)
(JOB 1 EQUIDISTANT OFFSET)
(FEATURE EQUIDISTANT OFFSET)