Excitech CNC - Syntec Controller Users

[wulfheir]

Originally Posted by rocket67 With your help i am sure that the USA owners will be up and running very quickly.

Don't forget the Canadian owners, ya kiwi!

[gvr@sbcglobal.n]

Thanks Rocket, hope the post helps. Now that I know you Syntec folks are on this thread I'll try to follow it and help if I can. You'll find the factory's support on the Syntec controller is marginal. Not that they aren't willing- it's that they just don't know it well enough yet to translate that knowledge to English or any language other than Chinese for that matter.

[rocket67]

G`day gvr, Your post helps immensely. It was clear, concise and easy to follow.

I wonder if it would be possible for you to write a series of tutorials on this thread - along the lines of how to import files into the Syntec Controller, and the different operations of the controller.

Hope this is not asking too much of you. Your writing style certainly makes it easy to follow, and will result in the blokes from USA, Canada, South Africa etc being able to crank up their Routers and get Routering.

Thanks again for your valued assistance.

Rocket ( Adelaide, South Australia, New Zealand. )

[gvr@sbcglobal.n]

New Creations

Possibly could help you with a post for Visual Mill. PM me if you are still needing the post. I will need some info from you and some time to write it.

[gvr@sbcglobal.n]

Rocket- happy to help if I can just find some time to do the writing. Until then I'll try to post if someone is stuck.
g

[wulfheir]

gvr,
glad to have someone around with your knowledge of the controller. what is your experience with it, have you recently received a new excitech machine or have you been running the controller for awhile on another unit?
blair

[Gerrit]

What I am so curious about, is if the Syntec controller is working with eg EnRoute or CabinetsPartsPro?

And another question I have is: how do you set a tool in the Syntec controller? Just length en width or also shape? Or should this solely be done in the software of the program which is outputting the G-code?

Thanks in advance,

Gerrit

[gvr@sbcglobal.n]

Originally Posted by Gerrit What I am so curious about, is if the Syntec controller is working with eg EnRoute or CabinetsPartsPro?

Gerrit-

Yes for both Enroute & CabinetPartsPro. You will need the post for any CAD/CAM software you are using in order to produce the code the controller can understand.

Your tools should be setup in your software and your tool comps setup in the controller.

[wulfheir]

Gerrit,
I have received a post file from enroute for excitech syntec controller. We aren't quite ready to test it yet, but send me a PM with your email address and I can forward it to you.
Blair

[gvr@sbcglobal.n]

Any users interested in a post exchange for the Syntec controllers?

[Gerrit]

GVR, i think that is a great idea. I suppose they will need some adjustments in the beginning and exchanging them will help us all.

I also have another question on how to set the tools and routerbits in the software. Suppose one has a machine with an ATC with 6 positions. For one type of work, e.g. making cabinets with blind dado's this probably is enough. But together wit routerbits needed for profiles or aluminum you will still need more than the 6 positions.

Does it make sense to have more toolholders than positions, so one has a set for alu, a set for multiplex with 2 sides HPL, a set for profiling, all defined in the Syntec controler and software?
Does the software have some sort of look-up-tables to enable you to use a different set?
In that case it would make sense to have more than 6 toolholders and use the set suitable for the type of work. Just put another set in the 6 positions of your CNC machine.

Gerrit

[gvr@sbcglobal.n]

Gerrit-

You will assign a tool number for each tool entered into the controller. The controller tool table can list numerous tools. I have to apologize for not knowing the exact number of tools the controller can list in the tool table, but once I glanced at it I saw the number was more than adequate (30or more). Also, I think the tool table capacity can be adjusted in the setup parameters. Additionally, you will define the parameters of each tool in your software and assign the tool a number & a position on your tool bar that must correspond to each milling operation the tool number/position entered in the controller. Typically the logic in the software will automatically select the best tool for each milling operation, thusly relating the gcode output to the tool number and position you entered into the controller tool table.

I think you will find that most of your milling programs will only require 3-4 different tools. When beginning a milling cycle you will replace any existing tools with the tool numbers (tools) required by the cycle in their associated tool bar positions. You should find the 6 position tool bar adequate for most needs as replacing tools as needed is only a minor inconvienience. Printing out your gcode and checking off each M6 T* command in the code as you install the tools on the tool bar is a good operator check. Given time it all will become intuitive.

I'll note here that not all software will have the logic embedded to automatically select the tools. In some of the more minimalist softwares you will have to input this info yourself. There are a ton of readily available resources on the web where you can obtain this information if you don't know or are unclear.

As you become more familiar with your routing system you will become clever at minimizing the number of tools and tool changes required for each cycle. This is one of the many enjoyable challenges you will discover with you new toy. The advantage is you will have fewer tools to inventory and you will reduce the milling time and thus the wear and tear on your machine. Tool bar tool changes will take 30-60 seconds dependant on a number of factors, not the least of which is dwell time. Needless to say it will be advantageous to invest in an adequate number of tool holders and collets to accomodate your most frequently utilized tools. Doing such will allow you to have all of your tools and tool parameters ready to facilitate the tool swap.

Seems I've just rambled on here but I hope I've answered your question nonetheless. btw- I'm thinking that the Post Exchange might be handled best by posting your particular need on the forum and respondants should use pm's to facilitate the exchange.

g