Trouble with Post for Prototrak

[Stile2]

Everytime I generate a post for use on a Prototrak the Z's are all positive. The ProtoTrak wants to use the top of the part as Z0.0000 and into the part as negative Zs.

How can I change the post to look at the top of the part as the Z0.0000 and into the material as negative Z?

this is from a post that works (from another CAM)
%
O0000
N1 G0G17G40G49G80G90
N2 M6T2
N3 G0G54X-0.0501Y-0.3984
N4 G43Z2.H2
N5 G00 X-0.0501 Y-0.3984 Z2. (Z2.0 is tool change position)
N6 Z0.1167 (Safe distance from the part)
N7 G01 Z-0.0833 F150.0 (Milling the part)
N8 X0.1507 Y-0.4014 F300.0

Here is from your post processor
%
OTest Block
N1 G21
N2 G40 G54 G80 G90
N3 M06 T1
N4 S4000 F300 M03
N5 G43 H1
F20000
N6 G01 X-0.219 Y4.253
N7 Z6.454 (the ProtoTrak barely has this amount of movement in Z)
N8 G01 Z6.000 F300
N9 Y0.000 Z5.250 F300




Thanks

Keith

[turmite]

Keith,

I am not Joakim but I'm willing to help it possible. First off do you position your parts in Rhino where your machine needs them, with the top of the part being at z0.00? Have you checked your starting position windows for the three different axis when you postprocess the code? If you are not doing this, try those and see if it makes a difference. You can also go to your madcam folder and open the post processor to see if the ++++ moves are in the post.

Mike

[Stile2]

I have managed to "trick" MadCam into posting correctly, but the other CADCAM programs that I have seen and used, you don't have to trick it.

For example, OneCNC, when you go to post, asks where the top of the part should be. It would be nice if MadCam did the same.

I have already changed the Post Processor to work in Inches, and got rid of several extra things in the processor. I have to say the language in which the post processors are written are the most understandable I have seen.

Keith

[lakeside]

I ran Bobcad with a prototrak dpm mx3 controller ran great no issue other than upload load time baud rate is slow

[Stile2]

Here is the beginning of my post after I moved the part below the x-y plane, so that the top of the part is at Z 0.0000. The first G00 move is to Z 2.0000 X 0.0000 Y 0.0000 for a tool change.

Let me know what you guys think. Does it look like your posts?
Onegative2
N1 G20
N2 G40 G54 G80 G90
G00 Z2.0000 (In position for a tool change)
G00 X0.0000Y0.0000
N3 M06 T1
S2000 F10
F100
N4 G00 X-1.2164 Y-1.4990
N5 Z0.1250 (Rapid move to safe distance from the part)
N6 G01 Z0.0000 F10
N7 X-1.5000 Z-0.0500 F10 (Mill into the part)
N8 X1.5000
N9 X1.5068 Y-1.4979

Thanks
Keith

[lakeside]

attached you will find an excel worksheet sent to me by southwestern ind. maker of prototrak The sheet list all G-codes for prototrak

[lakeside]

you will need a .(period) after your F10 (F10.) if not feed will be F1.0

[Stile2]

Thanks for the G-Code list, it is a little more detailed than the book I got with the Prototrak retrofit.

Keith

[turmite]

Keith just remember that Onecnc is a lot more $$ and many people writing the code (I'm assuming here). Joakim is a self employed mold and die maker that also writes code for Madcam. I know for a fact that lots of changes are coming in Madcam and have been in email contact with Joakim on a regular basis.

I have a very unique setup for a machine and use Mach2 for a controller. I explained my need to him and he did me a post that works just like I want it to. Email him directly, but be prepared to wait a couple of days. I sometimes have to but realize his situation and am prepared to wait.

Mike

[Stile2]

Please understand I am very happy with MadCam. I think it works great and is easy to use. I just have this one issue. What I really want to know is how to rewrite the post processor in order to make it do what I want. I am a teacher and if I learn this I can teach my students.

[turmite]

Keith have you opened the particular postprocessor? Now I know very little about programming and therefore the reason I did not write my own post.

Here is the post:

//MadCAM_POST_2003-12-10
*VERSION*
1.0_031210
*FILE_NAME*
Prototrak
*FILE_EXTENSION*
dnc
*FILE_DEST*
c:\postfiles\
*FILTER*
0.001
*OUTPUT_WIDTH*
4
*OUTPUT_DECIMALS*
3
*SCALE_X*
1
*SCALE_Y*
1
*SCALE_Z*
1
*AXIS_1_CHAR*
X
*AXIS_2_CHAR*
Y
*AXIS_3_CHAR*
Z
*CUTTER_REFERENCE*
TIP
*RAPID*
F20000
N"lnbr" G01 "x" "y" "z"
*END_SECTION*
*RAPID_APPROACH*
N"lnbr" "x" "y" "z"
*END_SECTION*
*RAPID_RETRACT*
N"lnbr" G00 "x" "y" "z"
*END_SECTION*
*APPROACH*
N"lnbr" G01 "x" "y" "z" F"feedz"
*END_SECTION*
*FIRST_CUT*
N"lnbr" "x" "y" "z" F"feed"
*END_SECTION*
*CUT*
N"lnbr" "x" "y" "z"
*END_SECTION*
*TOOL_CHANGE*
N"lnbr" M06 T"toolnr"
N"lnbr" S"speed" F"feed" M03
N"lnbr" G43 H"toolnr"
*END_SECTION*
*TOOL_STOP*
N"lnbr" M09
*END_SECTION*
*PROGRAM_START*
%
O"pgmnr"
N"lnbr" G21
N"lnbr" G40 G54 G80 G90
*END_SECTION*
*PROGRAM_END*
N"lnbr" G80 M09
N"lnbr" M30
%
*END_SECTION*
*LINE_START_NUMBER*
1

Maybe someone can give you some help as to how to modify it. I would also try several of the different post on the same part to see how they output code. If you find anything that looks like what you want go to the Madcam folder and open that post along with the one for your machine. The differences will be evident pretty quick......I think.

My best reccomendation though, is to contact Joakim directly and tell him your problem and what you are wanting to do with the post......teach.

Mike

[JOM]

Hello Keith,

If you want to cut the model with z=0 at the top of the part, it’s just like Mike said, place the model in Rhino with z=0 at the top of the part. It is also very easy to move the model together with toolpaths in Rhino before posting. Please let me know if you would like to change something in the Prototrak postprocessor and I will customize it for you.

Joakim