Reply with QuoteFadal has a program called assist that works pretty easily. I would think they would provide it to.
How do I drip feed a program to my Fadal
I am blessed with not much memory...anyone no how to drip feed a prog from
Pc....Fadal rippin people off with that tiny memory situation....Yea you can upgrade for 1200 bucks.....WOW......its just text people...LOL....
Help please....im using surfcam with SDNC .............
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Fadal has a program called assist that works pretty easily. I would think they would provide it to.
DNC or Dirrect Numerical Control is really inconvienent. Keep track of how much time you'll be wasting not cutting chips...
You can find some comfort in your case, at least with your Fadal you can get enough memory for your big CNC programs. If you had a Fanuc you would have to pay double what you'll pay for Fadal memory. 512k of Fanuc memory is a lot. 4 Mb is a minimum level for a Fadal.
If you have the need for using huge programs you'll only be happy with a new control.
When you consider that 8 Mb of memory is $2,000 and a new PC based retrofit control is less than 30k. The memory issue is just one benefit of course.
Just keep this in mind when you're cursing the cause of your CNC hastles (the control)...
Scott_bob
Fast Midstart Dnc Is Possible
Fadal is ok to dnc. Most any comm. program with flow control will work. You must set baud rate.
There is a hard parameter spelled out some where in the book. You can set it on the fly with the command CD,9 .....
......I think this will set it to 4800 or 9600. e,8,1 and a standard serial cable or null. I am going back in memory
5 years so it would be good to look this up in the book.
I use a program call dnc-1000. Made by Olmsead Engineering in the late 80's. It is
written in assembler and is very fast. It will allow mid starts and will set up modals
and allow multiple max N block skip. It runs in DOS or WIN cmd shell.
A shareware called ncc2.exe can also be used but it is hard to make it mid start.
There are others like Preditor but that will cost.
Another awkard option is to break your programs up in the post to only output so many characters.
I have done this when mid start dnc software was not available. Then you have multiple
programs that have a special move in the post to send the Z home and wait to delete program and reload memory with
next sequence. The smart cam people may be able to make a post that will do this for you.
If you are using large programs all the time you want dnc software that allows mid starts. If a tool breaks you can go
back to a specific tool and line number or x y value. This is a common problem of machines from a while back and can be fixed with dnc.
Olmstead may still sell this software and can be reached at 231-946-3174. It would
be reasonable and work well with a simple computer 486-33 and up. Have a nic card
and some hard drive space. This software is key locked protected. Even though win95
is dated and isn't used I was able to get it to DNC with this software to 2 machines
in 2 cmd shells realiably at the same time. Do not run screen saver or other apps. while attempting this.
Win98 or NT will not do this but will run 1 machine. Comm ports
must be specified in windows and dos. ex: com1=9600,e,8,1.
These are cave man methods used still by people with many controllers lacking mem,
harddrives, network interface or flash readers. I think machines are still sold this way
but who knows why???
If any one knows of another lowbudget or free mid-start DNC program I hope they sound off.
You may also have to use the G-code fadal has for high speed data execution if your
code is many short moves. This will alow there older controllers to read 1000 blocks
per second. wowie zowie.
This posting is by no means anything more than a guide where help may be, and all
of this should be verified with Z above the steel. Once you have test cut and verified
your post with hopefully all of the possible G-codes and subroutines and M-codes your
software can muster you should be safe. This is why it is good to have support from
all your software and machine tool providers atleast untill each work station is up
and ticking. These support guys can help with any of this. There may also be a local
network company familar with these or similar methods.
It is not black science only gray.
Good luck with this Fadal it is a good machine that cuts great.
________________
later
ROLIN
We have had good success with XpertDNC. It runs around $500 but I feel it is worth it.
Dan
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
one machine or sevrial machines.
If it is one machine you could go with the Predator Editor that will do all this including being a really nice editor that will also do backblot of code for $500.00
If you need more then one machine at a single time then you must moveup into the Predator DNC 4.X software supports up to 256 machines from one computer.
Also take a llok at Metacut has a really nice restart that is graphical for restart.
http://www.metacut.com/
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
Cadcam
Turning Product Specialist for a Software Company, contract Programming and Consultant , Cad-Cam Instructor of Mastercam .
F.100
I understand how you feel. I think my FADAL has something like 84k mem.
I DNC most everything
XPert DNC came packaged with VisualMill so I currently use it with no problems.
I did spend a few weeks using a free program called NCnet Lite
http://www.cadem.com/freednc.htm
before I got my VisualMill.
DareBee,
When you say DNC, do you mean Direct Numerical Control?
In other words, the program is not sent into the CNC control memory.
This makes your CNC control seem like a conduit for executing motion, but a really, really slow conduit if everything you do is run this way. I'm just asking the question: Do you know just how slow this process is? Do you know what BPT means?
Please don't be offended,
Scott_bob
Yes Direct Numerical
Yes it can be slow if you are doing a lot of very small processes.
I sometimes batch send to me control but it will only hold about 2500 lines of code.
I run 9600 baud rate and generally the control doesnt choke up untill a have a long series of extremely short moves.
My CNC work is mostly 1 or 2 off so the DNC is acceptable for me, especially compared to the 3 or 4000 that a wee bit of extra memory costs.
Sorry dont know what BPT is.
No offence taken
Thanks for the replies....BUT
maybe yal dont understand how DUMB i am......LOL.....just cant seem to figg out what to type in at the machine to do it...break it down fer me please....
LOL.....
DareBee,
For a definition of BPT:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showpo...0&postcount=70
Are you cutting Aluminum or Steel?
Have you checked out the Fadal Augusta forum thread?
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showpo...00&postcount=1
Regards,
Scott_bob
F.100
When at "Enter next command" (not at MDI input mode) type DNC press enter then send program from computer. Nothing will seem to happen but machine will be flashing "waiting". Press START. if parameters etc are set right you will have gotten no error messages and the machine will start within 10 seconds or so.
OKOriginally Posted by Scott_bob
I remember reading both of those threads a while back.
I wouldnt mind trying the BPT test and listening to any recomendations you may have to help me out.
I have tried running my control at a higher baud rate but it wouldnt work (currently 9600) just sent gibberish. I wonder if it isnt the interface cable length, but it may be the laptop I am using as well.
This MC is my first CNC experience so my knowledge is kinda limited to about 2 years of off and on use of this machine as I cant seem to keep enough CNC work to keep it busy more than 30% of the time (we do a lot of fabricating as well). Most of my use is simple 2.5D as well.
At the present I have no interest in spending money to upgrade this machine and woud probably consider replacement over upgrade anyway (if and when I get to that point).
! of my biggest issues at the moment is that VisualMill doesnt have a way to output helical moves for my control and nobody I have talked to has been able to help me out with adding this to my post processor, my helical moves are output as linear miniscule moves which completly squashes the control.
BTW I cut almost everything you might see in a job shop.
Last week was UHMW, aluminum bronze and HR Plate. I also cut CRS, tool steel, stainless, polycarbonate and aluminum regularly.
I had better stop because now I am rambling.
Darebee, you are using a laptop does this laptop have a com posrt or are you trying to use a USB to serial port?
As for the small segmented helical moves is the machine stutering on this info?
Next, the cable you are using did you make it and if so did you get the crossover caple connector from Fadal?
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
Cadcam
Turning Product Specialist for a Software Company, contract Programming and Consultant , Cad-Cam Instructor of Mastercam .
I am using the factory serial port on the LTop.
The machine movement doesnt noticeably stutter but the speed chokes down to next-to-nothing. The segmented moves are not actually helical they are a helix broken into miniature straight line moves.
Neal at Fadal sent me a cable diagram and I had an electrician wire it from that. It's probably 25' long.
Ok are there any G8's in the program to help with the speed being high speed look ahead?
And you did say you are able to backup a program with no trouble?
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
Cadcam
Turning Product Specialist for a Software Company, contract Programming and Consultant , Cad-Cam Instructor of Mastercam .
I will have to check the G8 thing out, but it wouldnt make sense anyway IMO the control needs program lines faster than the baud can supply and it slows down untill it has a couple of lines for read ahead and that dictates the cutting speed.
I have never backed up a program, I assume you mean send a program from the control back to my computer. I send the program from the computer to the control, I dont see any reason to send a program back again (assuming it is small enough to fit in the memory of my VMC). As far as I know a DNC'd program doesnt exist in the control cause if it would fit memory I wouldn't be using DNC.
fadal dripfeeding
Hi,There are to ways to send programs into a fadal with a fanuc controller that I am aware of.Firstly for small programs send them in complete by typing cd,8 ent and then ta,1 ent into the contoller and then sending the file down from the pc.The cd,... sets the baud rate for receiving 8 being a speed of 9600.this value 8 or 9etc. just has to match that set in the pc.
to drip feed large programs just leave the screen blank with its default comand(enter next command)
I use a dripfeeding program called fadal cnc memory manager which I find simple and have no problems using.This info works on my 1998 machine but I am unsure about older models.
regards Ciaran.
