Mazak qt-15 EIA and general questions

[lapoltba]

I am a student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and i have previous experience on a newer mazak live tooling lathe.

I have several questions as this is an older and unfamiliar machine. I believe it has the T32-2 controls and was purchased in the late 90's. Live y axis, c axis, one x and one y live tooling blocks. This machine has been BARELY used and In perfect condition.

Question 1
I would like to know if this machine has EIA offline programming capabilities. What would i be looking for, either on the control, or in the back panel? Is there a specific module that would be installed? I know there is a parallel port on the front of the machine next to the operator panel but no floppy drive.

Question 2
Using the above mentioned parallel port, is there any way i can hook up a floppy drive to save programs outside the control. I have alot of programs and i would like to back them up.


Thanks to anyone able to help in advance.

-Brian-

[chippy1]

Brian,

If I remember correctly, when you create a new program, the first question is asked is Mazatrol or EIA. Try creating a new program and see if the menu keys below the CRT ask this question. Also, in the maintenance screen there is a menu key for options or machine spec. This may show if EIA is on.

Unfortunately you cannot hook up a floppy such as one on your PC. Other then a CMT which has a floppy on it. Mazak has special software for Mazatrol. Try Griffo Brothers though, they may have what your looking for though.

Others on the forum may have more information to your questions though.

Regards,

Chippy

[jimiscnc]

Chippy is absolutely correct.

EIA has always been optional until the Matrix Control, introduced late 2006.

If you do not get this EIA softkey following Chippy's sequence, then your machine does not have EIA option.

I think, if you give Mazak Spare Parts Department the serial number and the software versions of your machine, they could quote you a price for the EIA option. I ballpark the cost at approx. $3000-6000, but I could be way off.

-Jim

RIT? Rochester? A call to AW Miller, the Mazak dealer for you, could be helpful to you for support issues. It's only a suggestion, but definately worth a phone call!

[lapoltba]

Thanks for the responses. I will check in a little bit and post back. If it does have EIA, then how may i ask would I load programs without an RS232 or a Floppy drive?

[lapoltba]

ok, so there is no EIA option when i create a new program, only mazatrol program. I couldnt find anything under machine or setup that indicates that there is EIA. Under Data I/o there are several options including "DNC" "CMT" "Computer" and "TAPE". if that helps at all.

[chippy1]

Press the menu key belwo the CRT for diagnostics then look for a option menu key and press that. Look for EIA/ISO and see if it's high lighted in Yellow or if it's blue. If blue, you don't have the option.

Regards,

Chippy

[jimiscnc]

This is a moot point if the machine is mazatrol only. mazatrol files cannot be handled on a PC UNLESS you have

MAZACAM/Solutionware
Griffo Bros
Mazak Camware

All of the above can manage native mazatrol files. I think on a T32 control like yours, theres 2 rs-232 plugs. one is for CMT and the other is rs-232. CMT files are very proprietary and i think can only be read on mazak CMT boxes - a magentic tape player, usually, but sometimes a 1.44 FD version is out there.

The RS-232 port can transmit both mazatrol and eia programs in a different computer format that can travel to and from a modern IBM compatible PC.

To summarize: Your machine is mazatrol only and the only way you can deal with mazatrol is on the machine itself, or go and buy one of the three mazatrol-base PC apps listed above.

Guru's - correct me if I'm wrong. CMT vs rs-232 minutia can be confusing.

-Jim

[the mill kid]

Get griffo bros to save all your mazatrol programs you can hook it up through the rs 232 port and you can also view and do edits to you mazatrol programs offline!

[lapoltba]

Well its been a while everyone, sorry for disappearing. Thank you all for your input. I got busy with classes, then finals, and then took a week and a half hiatus to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and it was everything i had hoped it could be...

So here's the status:

Today, my first day back, I did much googling and downloading and managed to get the CIMCO suite on my computer. I made the appropriate cable according to several websites as follows.

DB-25 end to DB-9
Pin 2------ Pin 2
Pin 3------ Pin 3
Pin 7------ Pin 5

Pin 4 --- Jump with pin 5
Pin 5

Pin 6 --- Jumb 6, 8, and 20
Pin 8
Pin 20

I had to change some of the user parameters as directed by on of the sites i found, cant seem to find it now. Once i figured out how to use CIMCO Client and got it set up to read the T-1 control i was able to send a file to my computer. I then renumbered the program in the control and sent the same program back to the machine and everything worked flawlessly!!!! ::Happy Dance::

So, while this does not give me EIA, it does allow me to back up my programs and free up space on teh machine.

I also found the page with the list of available options and i can confirm that i do not have EIA, no expanded memory, and no DMC. I know nothing about drip feeding this machien but im assuming that requries that I have EIA am i correct? Is there anyone that has experience drip feeding one of these machines?

-Brian-