Rover 20 Software/CAD Question

[gothdesigner]

We were told by Biesse that the Rover 20 we just bought from another shop has older software on it and that in order to program parts to be cut from a separate computer and then load that program onto the Rover we would need to update our software because the older software uses a dongle key on the separate computer and Biesse no longer makes them.

We asked the people we bought the machine from and they said they never had a key or any specialized software and they were just using autocad.

My question is, is this true and what type of autocad could we use? I'm sure this is a pretty easy or simple question but we are new in this business. Thanks for all your input.

Doug

[ger21]

Can the Rover 20 convert .dxf files directly? If not, you'll need to get a package to create code for that machine. You might want to look into CadCode, www.cadcode.com

That's what we use on our Masterwood point to point. Save .dxf's from AutoCAD, and let CadCode write the code and create barcodes.

[Seraph]

What software do you have with it at the moment? it should be NC**** (eg NC410, NC500, NC1000).

We use CAM-3 and this is capable of converting dxf files into code NC1000 can read and run.

Biesse Rovers don't seem to use standard G or M codes.

Nick

[gothdesigner]

Originally Posted by Seraph What software do you have with it at the moment? it should be NC**** (eg NC410, NC500, NC1000). We use CAM-3 and this is capable of converting dxf files into code NC1000 can read and run. Biesse Rovers don't seem to use standard G or M codes. Nick

We have an NC410.

I think the 500 was the first version that used a more readily available cad program.

[MarkT]

What version of NC410 do you have? You can find this by putting in your password (111) or (210) and going to the F4 key then selecting Maintenace.
What is your primary product?
Have you been shown how to parametrically program in the EGA editor?
If you go to the F6 (Edit P) key then select the F1 key, do you see a selection that says Open DXF 2D? If so, you can import dxf files into the control and run as long as they have been layered in the proper convention and the control has been structured to accept the layers.
Several options....feel free to contact me at ntek1@aol.com or visit my website www.cnccustomservices.com and email me from there.

Mark T.

[gothdesigner]

Originally Posted by MarkT What is your primary product? Have you been shown how to parametrically program in the EGA editor? If you go to the F6 (Edit P) key then select the F1 key, do you see a selection that says Open DXF 2D? Mark T.

our primary product is cabinetry, millwork and countertops .

no i have not been shown how to program in ega. i was shown how to program normally and in cad, just simple stuff. i've programmed cabinet sides, radius ends for countertops and some other small stuff. i guess i'm just overly ambitious. but i really want to learn how to put a bitmap pic (logos) into cambam or another program, turn it into a dxf and cut it out.

yes it says i can open a 2D dxf file

i tried to put a ford logo into wintopo and in cambam. i figured some stuff out but when i save the file onto a disk and then try to open it on the rover it gives me a floppy error that keeps looping and i can't get out of it, i actually have to shut the machine off. the strange thing is that it reads the disk, shows the file name but won't open it???

i've tried to find a simple tutorial on this but even on the cambam or the cnc4free forum there doesn't seem to be a simple set of instructions.

i'm a little frustrated with all the software and on top of that i can't seem to square up our selco eb70 saw so when i cut out panels on the saw and then put them on the cnc to have dowel holes drilled, the holes are not parallel with the side of the panel. and we can't get our edgebander to run 3mm edgeband on 1.5" countertop. so the past two weeks have been very stressful.

with all that said, thank you so much for your help.

[battwell]

did you format the disk in the controller before writing on the pc?

the program for writing from biesse is rtcom, which requires a dongle.and only runs in dos so pre windows 98 pcs


i have found a software writer that has cracked the biesse code. i have a sample of the program that will convert cad biesse postprocess files to biesse format and write it to floppy very easily. it wont serial import it to machine or read from floppy, just write to floppy for use in the controller. it runs fine in windows xp and writes to a floppy that has been pre formatted in the biesse controller.

i have applied to him to become a dealer of this to english speaking markets, it looks very promising but i wont release it until i have fully tested it in my 481 controller.

i too have been searching for a way to make the biesse do what i want and not just what biesse want me to do with it.

[gothdesigner]

I didn't know that you had to format the disk on the biesse first? I just got the trial version of cvarve but even trying to run the test machining files it won't run, I keep getting the floppy error.

We have been thinking that the floppy drive has gone bad, when the error comes up we can't even escape out of it, you have to shut the machine off. So is it the drive or just the disk not being formatted correctly?

My user manual doesn't show any direction as to formatting a disk on the controller, any suggestions or directions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

doug

[battwell]

BIESSE floppy writing in windows xp pc. i now have the full software to write to floppy that the nci 481 can read . it works well once you figure out how to do it.
i save all programs in notepad on pc .cnc format. then its a couple of mouse clicks to write floppy.
at machine insert floppy and copy programs required from a to c drive.
easy peasy now
price of program £599 but well worth it as im now into "complex production" without spending a whole day writing and editing on the controller. (it took me a day to accurately make a program just to make new vacuum pods front and rear faces) takes 30 minutes in cad/cam to machine now. because
im slow in cad design, but at last i can rout text etc.

[Buttercup]

ASPAN can convert dxf files and spit them out to a Rover................over LAN. Still not quite sure I understand the disk problem. It was described to me like this "it isn't even really DOS it's some reminescent descent of like FORTRAN or something..............". There's an issue with having to save it once it's been uploaded to the Biesse at the Biesse terminal. You also have to input any values over 999.9999 before saving????????? Something to do with being able to send it the proper file format. I'm pretty new at this so, yeah..........my teacher would be slightly upset if he saw this!

[gavin abalos]

hi guys
i have a small problem right now, i use to operate a rover 336 about 1997-2001 . but i move to another company using a morbidelli machine, now somebody hire me but i cant make or forgot to make a simple program.

[gothdesigner]

So, it was the disk drive itself. We purchased a new one and it reads the disk.

My next problem is actually loading up a program.

I've been trying using CamBam and all I get is Line Error Layer 0. I'm pretty sure that Biesse Rover's do not like to read G-Code and I think that is what CamBam is writing with.

So, one problem solved and on to a new one. thanks for all the help, I truly appreciate it.

Doug