Newbie- How to send a mastercam program to a Fadal control?

[slick_ride]

I am attempting to send a short mastercam V9 program to a 99' Fadal 2216HT and I am making absolutely no progress. I need to concur this before I can attempt a DNC. I am using the rs232 cable that came with the machine and have the baud rates set to 19200 on both the control and software. I followed the rest of the parameters specified in the manual (parity, ect). Typed in cd,9 and ta,1 at the control and attempted to send the file from the computer software but nothing. I'm kind of lost now. Do I need a file transfer program or can mastercam do this? Thanks, Dan

[fizzissist]

Ever since the divorce, Mastercam and Fadal don't speak. In fact, they don't even speak the same language.

Are you trying to send a posted file? Please don't say you're just trying to send an *.mc9 file with a bunch of toolpaths.....ain't gonna happen no matter what your baud rate is.

Assuming you're file is posted with even the generic Fadal post that comes with Mastercam, and you've removed the extension, it should transfer just fine.

[slick_ride]

I was attempting to transfer a .nc file (all g and m code). I forgot that you could change the post processor format. I'll try it out tonight. When you say remove the extension, do you mean edit the code to remove the .nc before I send the file? Thanks again

[fizzissist]

My machine doesn't like any extensions at all. So I'll save the initial file with extension for safe keeping, then save a copy and delete the extension on the copy....and that's what gets sent to the machine.

On mine, I have a floppy on the control and a new USB routed through the RS232, and for both I have no problems without extensions. I do have funny issues if the name after the program O word is more than 8 characters...then I actually have to use the number....

[Delw]

Mine will take any file extentsion. providing the files are real machine code.
Keep in mind you need to have numbers on everything and the N number must be on the program number like so. I showed the first part of the program and the ending. You must have the % before the program starts and at the end. this can be accomplished in 2 ways have it in your program OR your comm program can input them automatically ( depending on which comm program you use)

% N1 O1111 (Program name) N2 M6 T1 (0.375 DIA. END MILL) N3 G0 G17 G40 G80 G90 E12 N4 M3 M8 S8000 N5 X-18.1875 Y-4.0 N6 G8 N7 Z0.1 H1 N8 G1 Z-0.45 F50.0 N9 Y1.0 N10 G0 Z0.1 N11 X-9.4625 N12 G1 Z-0.45 N13 Y-4.0 N14 G0 Z0.1 N15 X-9.1875 N16 G1 Z-0.45 N17 Y1.0 etc etc N27319 G2 X16.4142 Y-0.5346 J-0.4531 N27320 G0 Z0.1 N27321 G9 N27322 M5 M9 N27323 G0 G40 N27324 M30 %

[Neal]

Fizzissist----
I don't know where you get your information but you have been totally duped! CNC Software, makers of MasterCam, and Fadal Support (Mag Maintinance Technologies) are very much in contact with each other. We have an on going working releationship that has been beneficial to both of us for years and continues today.

Neal

[fizzissist]

Originally Posted by Neal Fizzissist---- I don't know where you get your information but you have been totally duped! CNC Software, makers of MasterCam, and Fadal Support (Mag Maintinance Technologies) are very much in contact with each other. We have an on going working releationship that has been beneficial to both of us for years and continues today. Neal

.....I knew that comment would get me into trouble....

Was being facetious, begging forgiveness.

As far as being duped, well, that's likely too.

Btw....I like my Fadal.

[slick_ride]

The company that I purchased the machine from supplied me with the computer and software that they used. It was windows 2000 and mastercam v8. I lost the adapter cable (because of the software hasp) for that computer so I have been trying to transfer the files from a different computer with windows xp and mastercam v9. Could windows xp be the problem? The file format mimics Delw's example below. Also, will the control let you know that a file transfer is in progress or that they are communicating? As always, thanks.

[StephenD]

In V9 I have had better luck using cimco editor than using mastercam communications to send g code to fadal.

[slick_ride]

I've never heard of Cimco. How does that work and where do I get it? I am a big fan of copying something that is proven to work.

[Neal]

Try this-- http://www.cimco-software.com/download.php3

Neal

[StephenD]

Cimco editor came with mastercam v9,Open Mastercam.
From the main screen select screen,configure.
Select the start/exit tab. PFE32 Is the default editor.
Select arrow and select CIMCOEDIT.
This will set cimco as default editor for .nc files.
Open a .nc file, CIMCO Edit should be default editor.
Select Transmission and set up from there.
Hope this helps.