Newbie- Need help posting GCD files

[otn]

Some of the Gibbs cam files will work when opened as a GCD file on my Prototrak SM but most will not.
Can my Gibbs post for .CAM files be altered to handle the GCD files?
Thanks.
Otto

[Species8472]

Could you post a snip-it of the contents of GCD file?

[otn]

Species. My Gibbs post processor generates cam files some of which can be opened and run as GCD files as long as I elininate arcs.
My question is whether I need to get a new post processor to generate GCD files or whether my current post processor can be modified to generate these filoes.
Normally I'd ask Gibbs but as I haven't paid for yearly maintainence, they are not helpfull.
Otto

[Species8472]

hmm. .CAM and .GCD files are text files. The difference is in the text format. The Prototrak uses the file extensions to identify what interpreter to use to run the file. Are you taking a .CAM file and changing the extension to .GCD? If so that may confuse your Prototrak into using the wrong interpreter. Have you tried posting through "PostHASTE"?

In GibbsCam go to Plug-ins>Posting>PostHASTE

Post template files. The list for Prototraks that came with my gibbs.
ProtoTrak 2 Axis.pM3
ProtoTrak 3 Axis.pM3
ProtoTRAK (AGE 2 Format).pM3
ProtoTRAK (AGE 3 format).pM3

A GibbsCam post(.pst) can post to anything but to get native .GCD format you will need a custom post. A Prototrac should run off a generic fanuc 6m code with a few restrictions.

Although I'm still a bit fuzzy on exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

[otn]

Species. Thank you for your help. What I'm trying to do is to machine a model (Rifle barrel)using surfacing moves. If I break to barrel into short sections, I can open the cam file as a F6M which is then automaticaly converted to the Prototrak PT4. For the bigger files, the control freezes and I have to restart it. Prototrak recommended opening the cam files as GCD files which works occasionally. Changing the can file extension to GCD or my attempts to edit the G Code hasn't helped but may be due to my near total lack of experience. I not familiar with PostHaste but I'll ask the machinist who is helping me with Gibbs about it. It sounds as if I may need a custom post processor to generate GCD files. Are there independant suppliers of custom post processors?
Otto

[Species8472]

When you say "surfacing moves". Do you mean taking a ball end mill and making small x,y,z moves? If so then the file size would be very big. I once had a 3axis prototrak and at that time they had an upper limit of how large a program could be. Found that any file over the limit would not run. Turned out they had to enable large file support that we paid for but was not setup on delivery. It was 500.00 option back then.

PostHAST is a post engine that comes standard with Gibbs but is limited to 3axis for free. Gibbscam also has its own post engine but Gibbs is a bit tightfisted regarding posts. They are around 1500.00 for a fully supported post.

There are 3rd party post developers but they are probably more expensive.
GibbsCAM Third Party Services - ENG | GibbsCAM - ENG

[otn]

Species. Yes that is what I mean by surfacing moves and it is the cause of the large files. For the large files,Prototrak recommended using GCD files and explained that they were like an automatic drip feed system. The times that they worked, they worked well but most of the time I could not run the cam files as GCD files. I'll look into PostHAST.
Thanks again for your help. It will allow me to ask more intelligent questions when talking to my machinist friend.
Otto