Question about Mazak

[cncClintain]

I am in the process of installing MasterCam for programming 4 Mazaks. Right now all of the programming is done at the controller. Does anyone know how many characters can be in the work number on a Mazak matrix controller. I know there can be 48 characters in the program name but Im not sure about the actual program number. Im talking about a program written directly at the controller at this point. Also, will there be a limit on the characters once I start doing my programming in MasterCam?

[kelef]

hi'ya cncClintain, the pdf says it so much better than I can for the program name/number from MAZATROL MATRIX (For INTEGREX IV), as for allowable number of program characters, I can't remember 100% but isn't it displayed as free characters on the registered programs page-hope it helps -kelef

[cadcam]

like most machines it should be o1234 some with take o12345

[psychomill]

Well actually these days, many controls (including FANUC) you can take it to 8 digits. (Some MTBs split this off as an option of 4 or 8 digits.). Mazaks can do 8 digits and have been able to for a number of years on a few different version controls.

Matrix has other possiblities as follows:
If you're using numbers only, you can enter up to 8 digits. So your max is "99999999".

If you mix this with alpha and/or characters, you can enter up to 32 places for a file 'numer'. In this case, you can have a program number like this:
99999999-99999999999999999999999
(note: the hyphen inserted at the 9th place opens a number only program to 32 places.)

I typically will use program numbers with a mix of alpha/numeric and it may look something like this:
12345_06_OP40


AND YES, I am talking about the "Program Number" and not the program file name.....


Now, doing this in Mastercam is another story. MC only allows a number input for the program number is you're using the tradtional placement. I've asked for this to be enhanced since so many Windows based machine control will allow for other characters but I don't see it happening for awhile.
To make this work in MC, you'll need to modify the post slightly to allow for manual entry command (or some other text string command) to replace the program number so that it posts this way.