Prismatic Machining to Mach3

[JeffKlein]

I am new to the CNC world but I do have a lot of experience in Catia design. I've always wanted a CNC router so last year I built one. I have Catia Prismatic machining and my CNC uses Mach3. I have very little knowledge of the prismatic desktop and am trying to understand the method of exporting the code that the Mach3 uses. It appears that the Catia generates APT,CLF or NC codes. The Mach3 will only import .tap, .nc, .ncc or .txt formats. Can anyone give me some advise on getting from the PM to Mach3?

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[ger21]

Mach3 will read g-code files with any extension, as long as they are plain text in the appropriate format.

Sorry, don't know anything about Catia.

[JeffKlein]

This is the code generated from Catia, it is a simple block with a small pocket machined in the top surface.
I load it into Mach3 but it does not appear to show anything in tool path

%1000. G71
N1 G40 G90 G80 G17 G1
N2 G99 T1 L+0 R+.125
N3 G90
N4 G17 T1
N5 G0 X-3.458 Y-8.976 S70 M6 M3
N6 Z-.25
N7 G1 X-3.544 Y-9.331 F1000 M8
N8 Y-10.358
N9 X-2.715
N10 Y-8.956
N11 X-3.544
N12 Y-9.331
N13 X-3.607
N14 X-3.669
N15 Y-10.483
N16 X-2.59
N17 Y-8.831
N18 X-3.669
N19 Y-9.331
N20 X-3.732
N21 X-3.794
N22 Y-10.608
N23 X-2.465
N24 Y-8.706
N25 X-3.794
N26 Y-9.331
N27 X-3.857
N28 X-3.919
N29 Y-10.733
N30 X-2.34
N31 Y-8.581
N32 X-3.919
N33 Y-9.331
N34 X-3.982
N35 X-4.044
N36 Y-10.733
N37 G3 X-3.919 Y-10.858 R+.125
N38 G1 X-2.34
N39 G3 X-2.215 Y-10.733 R+.125
N40 G1 Y-8.581
N41 G3 X-2.34 Y-8.456 R+.125
N42 G1 X-3.919
N43 G3 X-4.044 Y-8.581 R+.125
N44 G1 Y-9.331
N45 X-3.169
N46 Y-9.983
N47 X-3.09
N48 Y-9.331
N49 X-3.169
N50 X-3.232
N51 X-3.294
N52 Y-10.108
N53 X-2.965
N54 Y-9.206
N55 X-3.294
N56 Y-9.331
N57 X-3.357
N58 X-3.419
N59 Y-10.233
N60 X-2.84
N61 Y-9.081
N62 X-3.419
N63 Y-9.331
N64 M30
N999999 %1000. G71
.

[CitizenOfDreams]

The above code runs perfectly fine in my Mach3 (cuts a small rectangular pocket).

Does it show anything at all in the tool path? Got a screenshot?

[JeffKlein]

The above code runs perfectly fine in my Mach3 (cuts a small rectangular pocket).

Does it show anything at all in the tool path? Got a screenshot?

Thanks for the reply, It seems that maybe I just dont understand how to operate the Mach3 yet. I will take another look at it tonite. At least I know now that my code is being generated correctly. I’m fighting the learning curve right now, thanks again.
My machine does jog in all 3 axis although I do not have spindle speed controlled yet.

[JeffKlein]

The above code runs perfectly fine in my Mach3 (cuts a small rectangular pocket).

Does it show anything at all in the tool path? Got a screenshot?

I guess I am stupid. There is not a path indicated in the tool path window. What am I missing?
Here is the screen shot.

[JeffKlein]

I am getting this error
R i j k words all missing for arc.

[CitizenOfDreams]

I am getting this error
R i j k words all missing for arc.

Can you post your lines 110 and 120? You may be missing a "G1" there.
See this post: https://www.machsupport.com/forum/in...?topic=13258.0

[JeffKlein]

okay, I am gaining some understanding and have got simple rectangle pockets to execute and the mill is working. I believe This is a problem with how the post processor handles the curves or circles. Below the posted code is a screen shot of the error. Thank you for your help.

N155 Z-.5
N156 X-2.293 Y-5.782 F1000
N157 G3 X-2.579 Y-6.094 R+.313
N158 G3 X-2.266 Y-6.407
N159 G3 X-1.953 Y-6.094
N160 G3 X-2.266 Y-5.781
N161 G3 X-2.293 Y-5.782
N162 G1 X-2.295 Y-5.751

[ger21]

You either need to modify the post processor, or find one that works.

From looking at the code you posted earlier, there are quite a few things that could/should be changed for using the code with Mach3.

[JeffKlein]

You either need to modify the post processor, or find one that works.From looking at the code you posted earlier, there are quite a few things that could/should be changed for using the code with Mach3.

Ger21, thanks for the reply, I have been trying several different post processors. I am running Catia V5 and I could use a little advise on a good post processor, any suggestions?

[ger21]

Sorry, I've never even seen Catia before.