demo cd

[Tim Johnson]

Is it possible for me to edit posts using the demo cd software? I've got way to much to do here to work on my posts so if I can I would like to put the demo on my home pc and work on my posts there.

[mayday]

Tim, who is your rep, Joel B. ?

[Tim Johnson]

Mayday,

 

Mike Stevens is my rep.

[mayday]

Just curious, I no Joel is real busy. I have been after him for one also. I dont no what all can be done with demo.

[Richard Thomas - Mastercam UK]

There is PFE32 and the Cimco editor in the Demo version, so you can edit your posts. But I wouldn't suggest you try to test the results in the Demo version. It's NC output is intentionally a little inaccurate...

[Brad St.]

Tim, you can use notepad or word. Your just limited to the tools you can use such as the file editors would have. If your really desperate, just open up two files (one the original and the other your new temporary) tile them side by side and start copy and pasting or changing what you need. If I remember right, I believe you can get one of the file editors free to take home and still use. You should be able to get it off the web.

 

Hope this helps

[Tim Johnson]

Rich,

Are the machining numbers inaccurate or does it post out machine control errors? I could care less about actual cutting path numbers but I would need the results from post editing to be accurate.

[Steve Biehl - Cimquest Inc]

I think the Demo posting just messes with the XYZ numbers. It does some odd rounding to the values. It also only posts a limited number of lines of code, maybe 25??

[Richard Thomas - Mastercam UK]

Tim,

 

I've just tried posting with Demo - if you create your own toolapaths, then there appears to be a 25 line limit. But you can post one of the sample files that come with the demo, you can get longer programs, but there is still lots of funny business going on! There are no decimal places coming out at all, for example

 

Like Steve said, I agree that it's just messing with the XYZ values. *As far as I can see* it will put out the correct control codes (I don't see how it could do anything else). But for the final word you had better check with CNC.

[Thad]

I couldn't even get our demo to post. I can't change posts. If I try, I get an error about seeing my dealer.

 

I guess the answer would be no. While you can edit your post with any text editor (as others have mentioned), you can't test it with demo. This would make editing impractical...make a change at home, try it the next day at work...make another change at home, try it the next day at work...

 

Thad

[Richard Thomas - Mastercam UK]

Thad/Tim,

 

Oh yes, I forgot...

 

You are correct - you can't change the post, so

what you would have to do is rename your post to MPFAN.PST and stick it into the DEMO/MILL/POSTS folder to get it to work.

 

I've just done that with a Heidenhain conversational post. The file is still truncated, but the right codes all seem to be there.

 

If you have already installed a full Version of 9 on your sytstem, you may find that the Demo is using the MPFAN from that directory instead, so that is where you would have to put your own post (ow my head hurts)

 

So yes it's a bit of a hack, but if you're determined enough...

[Tim Johnson]

Rich,

Can you stick a .mc9 file into the demo?

[Richard Thomas - Mastercam UK]

Tim,

 

Hmmm... every file I have tried to open from MCAM9 MR0904 has crashed Demo so far (including the samples), so it looks like you are stuck with the sample files that come with the Demo

[Tim Johnson]

I've just called Mike and he's going to have the office send one out today. (Mayday, you better jump on Joel B., Mike's making him look bad ) If I can rename the post I might be also able to rename the .mc9 file or just use the samples.

 

Thank everyone for your help.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

In the past while I was a reseller, more than a few of my old customers had PC's out at the machines loaded with Demo. The setup guys were able to open files so they could look at the toolpaths before running them. There may be some signifigant changes in files from 9.1 to 9 Demo.

 

See if CNC Has a newer Demo. You can build tool libraries and material libraries in Demo. Between Draft and Demo, I was able to completely set up my tool library. I'd try renaming your post and approaching it that way.

 

HTH

[Richard Thomas - Mastercam UK]

Good catch James,

 

I just checked my CD, and I had installed the first Demo CD I could find, and it was 9.0SP1. I just swapped that with 9.1 Demo (March 2003) and now I can open all of the files that crashed the older version

[Thad]

I think that Tim's whole point of using Demo is to be able to test his post mods at home. Unless his mods show up in the first 25 lines, it's not going to do him any good.

 

EDIT: Although, you could test it with a one line contour toolpath, or a drilling op for one hole, etc.

 

Thad

[Tim Johnson]

If I get 25 lines per toolpath operation it sounds like I should be able to use the demo. If I get 25 lines per tool I Won't be able to. The main thing I need is to read manual macro input which is mostly in three areas (pheader, tlchng_com, and peof) but reading through postblocks in these areas. The toolpath numbers themselves is irrelevant.