Mastercam X2 >> AXYZ Millinium CNC ?!!?

[Musick7]

Originally Posted by Superman Download success , yes A % is OK, some machines add a little more , or a little different, a Fanuc uses an O1234 or ;1234 but an Okuma adds $O1234.MIN% as the first line to a downloaded file I'm using a program named O1234 as an example Now that you can sent the file M/C to PC and cables work, comm settings seem good, the next step is to send that file from PC to M/C , we are setting our upload proceedure, to punch ( download M/C to PC ) a file is easier than to read ( upload PC to M/C ) , we may have device and / or file naming errors. ( but we know the actual file is transmitable ) ( note! some machines have different settings in punch/send or read/receive mode ) upload that file , what does it do ? errors ? as for the "prolite", yes ,noticed the thread!!

I have my part all made in MasterCam X2 and I can watch it on screen make all the holes and cuts. When I click the G1 Button, "I think thats what it is to turn it into Gcode" It ask me to put in the Disk 3.5" floppy drive?? and I click the X to x out of that and it goes and brings up the Code. No I know this is a Legal Version of MasterCam its at my work and its 100% legit with a Network HASP or HSAP.... This is where I dont know what to do after I make Gcode with the file I drew.
After the page opens with all the code what do I do next??
I have the Machine On.
"The Mill is; Republic-Lugun CNC VMC 3516"
"The GE Fanuc Control mounted on the mill is Series O-M"
The PC is Windows XP and One mill is hooked up with an Ethernet cable with a ethernet to I think Rs232 adapter. The Mill I am using is the same but in a different area on the PC.

What I dont understand is a few things here, well a bunch but theses are some key points. I am Learning here.
(1) I dont get how to or what to open on the File in MasterCam to prepare it to send to the Machine?
(2) After I figure out how to do this What do I need to press to setup the Fanuc O-M to be able to receive the file I send from the PC. There is a sheet on the Machine, How To. I did the Zeroing of the Mill I got the Relative to Zero Out! Which that's what the sheet told me how to do.
The next sheet tells me how to setup the Fanuc O-M to except the File from the PC. I Try to follow it and keep in mind there are only about 7 steps or so to set it up. The first one if I remember is push Auto. Well I do so and the only button on the control that says Auto wont do anything....? So all the other steps are pointless. However I can get 1 or 2 of the other steps to light up....

So this is where i am having trouble.
I need some help on figuring out what to do in MasterCam. To get the file ready to send over to the Mill control. And step by step would be great if anyone knows how to use MasterCam. I think SuperMan just might know.
And What to press on the mill to get it up and able to see the file in the screen.
And about setting up the piece of Aluminum 6061 in the mill. I have tried and on the small ProLight mill I am using I think I got the Zeroing out thing down. Do I need to tell the software to use G54 or G59? I used G54 and I was about to pull out my hair! I switched machines and still the same! I used a different one and with the G54 it was off as well. One the last mill i used I switched it to G59 and it seem to work! However after I got it to be center on wood, I put my aluminum in there and it started off great and all working and everything and it got down to the stock and it took the first cut and about 1/2" and went down a little and the little mill just stopped!!!! This mill just didnt have it in it! So I went back to MasterCam and set the feed rate down from 7.0 with 4000rpm to 2.5 5k RPM and it did the same??? So I said screw it and was to pissed to do any more. Any thoughts on that?
You can look at the ProLight 1000 Mills online if you search it. There a great mill for desktop they shouldnt have a problem like that.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Musick7 When I click the G1 Button, "I think thats what it is to turn it into Gcode"

Yes, this is correct. G1 button is to post your selected operations to a file.

It ask me to put in the Disk 3.5" floppy drive?? and I click the X to x out of that and it goes and brings up the Code. No I know this is a Legal Version of MasterCam its at my work and its 100% legit with a Network HASP or HSAP.... This is where I dont know what to do after I make Gcode with the file I drew.

Many Mcam systems have "paths" set as to where to find or place certain files, yours is to place the NCfile to floppy (normally saved to the C:/Mcam/Mill/NC directory . Once Mcam "posts" the file it opens that file for visual verification in the default editor ( Cimco, Mastercam, are the main choices )

After the page opens with all the code what do I do next??

Visually check the progam, does it seem correct, are the Xs and Ys as you expect ?
You can manually edit this file, when you are satisfied with the file, save it.
It is now ready to transfer to you machine.

Transfer methods
Floppy. copy file onto disk. place disk in machine control, copy into control memory, load program into run mode ( all m/cs differ). On old fanucs, the switch had to be in "edit" for program manipulation ( read, punch, delete etc )
USB. same as floppy
DNC, RS232. depends on software used. Open DNC software, load your program to screen, select the machine to receive the file, goto the machine, set machine to receive the file, on PC <send> it.
Ethernet not sure, ours operate like a windows network

And about setting up the piece of Aluminum 6061 in the mill.

Sounds like the machine doesn't have the grunt.
If doing Al-6061, use max RPM, 0.08" DOC, 50% max stepover, feed about .003/.004" per tooth and then increase feeds from there.

Balance your DOC with the width of cut. ie 1" DOC with 0.02" side cut or 0.04DOC with 100% width of cut

Also, with a shallow width of cut, feedrates can go lots quicker

[Stebedeff]

Post your program with the G1 button. Then Mastercam Editor opens and you can see your program. If you make any changes you'll need to save the file again. Then just klik on the X icon and your send/recieve window will open. The X icon is next to the send/ recieve maps with purple arrows.
Go to your machine and put the knob on EDIT and just press INPUT. You can do the machine part before the Editor part if you wish. This should not give any problems. If so, you should get a "LST" blinking on your machine monitor. Make sure your in EDIT mode on the machine! For COMMUNICATION setup go to CONFIGURE ( on the left of X icon ) in the Editor. Set baudrate same as machine!!! 4800 would be fine. EVEN Parity, DATA Bits 7 , STOP Bits 2, Flow Control: Software and Hardware, Xon caracter 17, Xoff caracter 19. All these settings are all standard for FANUC except for baudrate. Check the FANUC section. There you can find lots of stuff for your DNC Settings. Hope this helps.
I use the mastercam editor and communication program for DNC. Works just fine. Maybe you might even have the CIMCO DNC software with it. Just go to your mcamx file then to common, editor and there it should be. You can even make a quick launch to your desktop. Right click anc copy the exe. file to desktop.

Hope this helps. Will check on any response tomorrow. It's late for me now.
Good luck

[Musick7]

Originally Posted by Stebedeff Post your program with the G1 button. Then Mastercam Editor opens and you can see your program. If you make any changes you'll need to save the file again. Then just klik on the X icon and your send/recieve window will open. The X icon is next to the send/ recieve maps with purple arrows. Go to your machine and put the knob on EDIT and just press INPUT. You can do the machine part before the Editor part if you wish. This should not give any problems. If so, you should get a "LST" blinking on your machine monitor. Make sure your in EDIT mode on the machine! For COMMUNICATION setup go to CONFIGURE ( on the left of X icon ) in the Editor. Set baudrate same as machine!!! 4800 would be fine. EVEN Parity, DATA Bits 7 , STOP Bits 2, Flow Control: Software and Hardware, Xon caracter 17, Xoff caracter 19. All these settings are all standard for FANUC except for baudrate. Check the FANUC section. There you can find lots of stuff for your DNC Settings. Hope this helps. I use the mastercam editor and communication program for DNC. Works just fine. Maybe you might even have the CIMCO DNC software with it. Just go to your mcamx file then to common, editor and there it should be. You can even make a quick launch to your desktop. Right click anc copy the exe. file to desktop. Hope this helps. Will check on any response tomorrow. It's late for me now. Good luck

When I press the X Icon or the button to the Left of that "its not in front of me and Im new to MasterCam." it says I need to do ?? "I forget right now Ill get the info soon to post" something in Operations menu before I can do this... I will get better notes very soon.
But as for your instructions I will try it exactly as you typed it out. I think this will work. Your notes are almost the same as the printed paper on the machine itself. I just couldn't get it to do the first step. But what your telling me makes since along with those notes I already have read. I believe your notes just might be Identical to those I have. Just yours seems more clear for some reason! Have you thought about being a teacher? LOL Oh wait your doing that now...
Man I am just trying to make the holders for my bearings, I made the file in about 11hrs. Now before you think 11hrs what kind of parts are theses? Well before you think I am some big hotshot, it took me 11hrs to figure out what I needed to, to make my drawing. After I made the first one I talked with the Instructor and he showed me what I did wrong. I did Island Facing instead of Pocket. He asked me How did I learn MasterCam as I pointed to his book he laughed a little and then I showed him what I made. As I opened up the parameters page where you select the flat mill bits and so on, I went to the next tab and he saw Island Facing. He showed me what Island facing did and he said you dont want that do you? Nope I want a hole there. He was more bumbled on how I did Island Facing... He kept asking me are you sure you just started MasterCam? I said yup! After He was satisfied with my answer he said you know, we spend a full semester on learning what you have drawn here. I didn't say anything about how long it took me to learn from not knowing anything about a Cad program to drawing that in Eleven hours. I thought I really screwed up which I did but not him telling it. LOL Anyways Im learning here and Ive made countless cuts on wood trying to get it to cut in the center and in the right area. Which I think I have that almost figured out... Does anyone know anything at all about ProLight CNC mills prolight 1000 software? Thats what I have been using since I cant get the Big mill to work for me.
Here is a link to the exact DeskTop Mill I am using. http://www.lightmachines.com/s1000.html

In that page there is specs of what it can do.
I should add when I setup the tool in MasterCam I made the Feed rate 7.0 and another file just like it 6.0 feed. and spindle between 4k and 5k.
Anyways I will try it tongiht I hope.

[Musick7]

Originally Posted by Superman Yes, this is correct. G1 button is to post your selected operations to a file. Many Mcam systems have "paths" set as to where to find or place certain files, yours is to place the NCfile to floppy (normally saved to the C:/Mcam/Mill/NC directory . Once Mcam "posts" the file it opens that file for visual verification in the default editor ( Cimco, Mastercam, are the main choices ) Visually check the progam, does it seem correct, are the Xs and Ys as you expect ? You can manually edit this file, when you are satisfied with the file, save it. It is now ready to transfer to you machine. Transfer methods Floppy. copy file onto disk. place disk in machine control, copy into control memory, load program into run mode ( all m/cs differ). On old fanucs, the switch had to be in "edit" for program manipulation ( read, punch, delete etc ) USB. same as floppy DNC, RS232. depends on software used. Open DNC software, load your program to screen, select the machine to receive the file, goto the machine, set machine to receive the file, on PC <send> it. Ethernet not sure, ours operate like a windows network Sounds like the machine doesn't have the grunt. If doing Al-6061, use max RPM, 0.08" DOC, 50% max stepover, feed about .003/.004" per tooth and then increase feeds from there. Balance your DOC with the width of cut. ie 1" DOC with 0.02" side cut or 0.04DOC with 100% width of cut Also, with a shallow width of cut, feedrates can go lots quicker

There is a Cat5 cable going to each Mill and Lathe. The two mills are on one Pc running XP and the 2 lathe are on another Dell PC.

When I press the X icon in the MasterCam Editor that opens after I Click G1 I select the Control I want. There is about 50 or more in that list. I am assuming its part of MasterCam but There is a few Fanuc I can select. I have been putting it on Fanuc Om... But when I select that one and make sure all the ports and rates are all like the sheet says I only have 2 or 3 Green Check Marks. The rest are Red X. What's this mean? Is it saying I dont have the right controller selected? Or should I have the mill in Edit mode like Stebedeff posted? I am going to try his suggestion soon.

[Stebedeff]

Don't bother about the red X's. I have some too. But my programs still get send.
Just check if your programs are being send/ recieved.
If you want to know what CD, CTS, DSR ,RTS etc. etc. is about just type in RS232 in wikipedia and scroll down. You'll see what it's about. Not that I understand. It just works. But I use rs232 cable 9 pin (pc) to 25 pin (machine). Never tried any other.
Some engineers, even Fanuc's say the rest isn't 100%.
Good advice is go to the Fanuc section and search for DNC. That's what your trying.
And check inside your machine elecrtical box to know exactly what type of O-M you have. It's written on the fanuc main board all the way on top. There are several OM out there. OM, OM-C, OM-D. Some do more than others.