noob question

[manufan]

This should sound foolish to all of you...I currently use Mazatrol with my Mazak FJV-20. I didn't have anything to do with setting it up, so I know nothing about how the program commuicates with the M-Plus control. A friend loaned me a copy of MC V9 to try. I have it in my aptop rather than the work PC. How do I make it communicate with the control?

[Boots]

You need COMM software. As I recall you need software that will take your program and turn it into Binary code correct? and you might have to do it in DOS also. You can find comm software on the internet as free download. I will do a search for it and see what I can find. What will work is "Pro Comm" or "Pro Comm Plus". You will have to get your baud rate set and stop bit rate and comm channel and port settings. Check your machine manual for those settings. Good Luck..

[Alex_Cole]

Mastercam V9 has communications built into it. You can get to it in Mastercam by choosing the following options.

File, Next Menu, Communic

This will take you into the communications screen. Now depending on how you have your configuration setup it could be using the Cimco communications or it could be using the native Mastercam communications. The cimco is part of the Cimco editor that is installed with the software. The other is some basic that is part of Mastercam.

Both are simple RS-232 communications programs with the cimco allowing for a few mor options.

The important settings are:
Com Port - this is the serial port that you have the cable connected to.
Baud Rate - This must be matched to the settings in your machines controller
Data Bits - This must be matched to the settings in your machines controller
Stop Bits - This must be matched to the settings in your machines controller
Parity - This must be matched to the settings in your machines controller

It is important if you are using the Mastercam communications in V9 that you make sure the box is UNCHECKED for "Use settings from Post". or somthing like that. If that box is checked then it will ignore all settings on that page and will use what is configured in your post processor.

I would recommend you contact your local Mazak tech to get parameters numbers to you can tell what the settings noted above are set to.


Hope this helps.

AC

[Mike Mattera]

Also: There are 2 setting for your Comm port.

1) It can send/receive Mazatrol
or
2) It can send/receive ASCII (standard G-code).

Be sure it's set for ASCII communications.

Mike Mattera

[Alex_Cole]

Good call Mike, I forgot to mention that.

AC