Newbie Preditor Editor questions

[Fleck]

I have had BC for 3 days now. I am enjoying it. I have opened a 2d Rhino cad model and posted g-code in BC 23 and verified toolpath in BC, but want to use P.editor. I purchased P. editor level 2, but I am having a hard time finding tutorials on how to use it. I have the ten disc tutorial set but that seems to be geared towards Bobcad/cam only. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[BurrMan]

What kind of questions do you have?

Your post may need to be updated to work correctly in the newer versions. You can post it here for us to look at.

In BobCad, create a part and feature then post some code. In the Post manager, right click in the code window and select "Edit CNC". Predator opens with the code. I would suggest using the 4xvmill template. This is a dropdown directly above the code window. Go to file-BackPlot and then run a backplot of your code. Right click in the backplot window to see some settings like:

Show Solid-Animation-Backplot (toolpath)

The only other customization would be if your post is outputting something different than the template recognizes.

You can define "fixtures" or custom "Stock" options in the header. Look in the Preadtor help file under "Predator Header".

These will be modeled in BobCad, then saved as STL data to the Stock folder of predator at:

C:\Program Files\Predator Software\Common Files\Stock

You can find some demo video regarding this at the BobCad support Youtube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BobcadcamSupport

[Fleck]

Thanks for the help BurrMan.
I was trying to figure out how to open part up in Preditor editor.
So far I can open it,run it, and see toolpath and tool, but not solid material. Toolpath is looking radiused on right angle or sharp profile cuts.
When right clicking in Backplot window I am not finding "Show Solid-Animation-Backplot (toolpath)".

Newbie question. What file should I post to be looked at?
Thanks again.

[BurrMan]

We need to see your post processor you are using to create code. This is listed in the CAM tree under milling tools. Note the name. then look in this folder for the post processror:

C:\Program Files\BobCAD-CAM\BobCAD-CAM V23\Posts\Mill

Then attach it here.

To find the Backplot settings, when you right click, look under Properties.

[Fleck]

OK, I think my problem is that I have not set a post processor up yet. I will download from BC site today. Thanks for all the info.

[Fleck]

This is the post I have chose , Mach3-Mill-NoATC(V23 110509).MillPst:. I am assuming "ATC" stands for automatic tool changer. I have changed to this from the Haas default post, that is if I understand what I am doing.
I am now getting the solid but no animation and partial tool path when running preditor. Which I view as progress.
BurrMan, I tried to upload Mach3-Mill-NoATC(V23 110509).MillPst: file to no avail. Is just showing you the post I am using from C:\Program Files\BobCAD-CAM\BobCAD-CAM V23\Posts\Mill enough information?
Thanks again.

[BurrMan]

I wonder if there is anybody else to chime in here. I can only get it to backplot with tool using an M06 in the code. Cant get Predator editor to not use the M06.

So here's your No ATC with Toolchange M06 in it to be able to backplot.

You can always post with this and backplot and then remove the M06 if your machine needs it for now.

[Fleck]

Thanks for taking a look at my post BurrMan. One thing I have noticed is that even though my post-processor is selected in the CAM tree, the G-code header still says
(BEGIN PREDATOR NC HEADER)
(MACH_FILE=HAAS - 3XVMILL.MCH)
(MTOOL T1 4 D.25 0. 90. H5.)
(MTOOL T2 4 D.125 0. 118. H5.)
(MTOOL T3 1 D.5 0. 0. H5.)
(MTOOL T4 1 D.25 0. 0. H5.)
(SBOX X-2.5 Y-1. Z-.5 L5. W10. H.5)
(END PREDATOR NC HEADER)
This is still the default HAAS post-processor?

[BurrMan]

Thats just in your header. You can open that file I posted with notepad and look in Line #0.

Mine just says 4axvmill. The machine selection is done in predator editor from the dropdown just above the code window.

Its a reference to the Machine file you will use to backplot. This machine selection is found in predator editor in a drop down just above the code window. I use the 4axvmill.

[rwestbr]

.....

[SBC Cycle]

Thanks for taking a look at my post BurrMan. One thing I have noticed is that even though my post-processor is selected in the CAM tree, the G-code header still says
(BEGIN PREDATOR NC HEADER)
(MACH_FILE=HAAS - 3XVMILL.MCH)
(MTOOL T1 S4 D.25 0. 90. H5.)
(MTOOL T2 S4 D.125 0. 118. H5.)
(MTOOL T3 S1 D.5 0. 0. H5.)
(MTOOL T4 S1 D.25 0. 0. H5.)
(SBOX X-2.5 Y-1. Z-.5 L5. W10. H.5)
(END PREDATOR NC HEADER)
This is still the default HAAS post-processor?

You are missing some critical Predator Header lines in your post. Notice the "S" missing in your header.

694. Prefix for Y Rotation Move? "B"
695. Prefix for tapping feed rate (variable tapping_feedrate)? "FF"
696. Prefix for tapping spindle speed (variable tapping_spindle_speed)? "SS"
697. Prefix for threads per inch (variable threads_per_inch)? "?"
698. Prefix for thread lead (variable thread_lead)? "?" 
699. Prefix for Tool Angle (variable mtool_angle)? "A"
700. Prefix for Tool CornerRadius (variable mtool_corner_rad)? "C"
701. Prefix for Tool Type (variable mtool_type)? "S"
702. Prefix for rotation axis (variable rotation_axis)? "S"
703. Prefix for rotary stock diameter (variable rotary_stock_diameter)? "D"
704. Prefix for rotary stock length (variable rotary_stock_length)? "L"

You'll want lines 699-704 for sure. 694-698 are usually missing also but are rarely (if ever) used.

[Fleck]

Thanks for all of the information.
I have tried to use multiple posts and with different results but none the correct result. I noticed at one point that my header had the subject sentence from an email I had sent that day. BurrMan thanks, thanks for the modified post, I don't think I am using it correctly.
I will work on the header info and wonder how email wording ended up there.
I will also try the fadal mod.
I hope to figure this out. Thanks for all the information, again.