Another seat?

[ellett88]

We are currently running one haas machine and were thinking about getting one more. Do we need another mastercam seat? And can we run 2 machines with one computer, specifically "drip" feeding into the machine instead of loading disks. If so how... Thanks

[John13]

quote:

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Do we need another mastercam seat?

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No, as long as 1 programmer can keep up your good with 1 seat.

 

I can't help with "drip" feeding to the machines, I load mine with disks.

[P_Scott]

ellett88,

 

You can technically "drip" feed the data to one machine at a time using Mcam's built-in communications. I prefer to use the Cimco Edit product that is licensed with your seat of Mcam V9. This editor is not only a great g-code editor, but can also be used as a DNC communications device. It is "stand-alone" too, which means you can drip feed the code to one machine and still work in Mastercam to program the next part. Select Cimco Edit by opening the File-Edit-Editor menu and clicking on the "down arrow" on the right end of the field. PFE32 is the default editor when you first install Mcam but I usually switch to Cimco right at the beginning of using Mcam. Be certain your connection to the machine is set-up correctly and the receive settings are matched at the control with the settings to send by selecting DNC setup in the editor. HTH

[Kannon]

I run 2 vf2 Haas machining centers and run both with 1 seat. We do not drip feed the machines and I cant help you with that. We use the rs232 on one and unfortunately the famous floppy on the other. We will get a switch box and run both through the rs232 port, and just switch to which machine we are gonna send the program 2.

 

Good Luck,

Brian

[toadsix]

If your computer has 2 com ports AND you communication program can be set up on different com ports then you can drip to both machines at once.

[betts]

If it bogs down your puter, a good way is to put a separate box by the machine and use a third party DNC software. I can't remember the names of any right now, we use network and serial cables as we have enough space on the machine drives.

 

Any body know any of the DNC software prgs?

[Steve Biehl - Cimquest Inc]

the CIMCO DNCMax product can do simutaneous communications to many, many machines. And dripfeed all of them at the same time. InHouse is a CIMCO dealer.

 

As a side note, ellett88, I've got an uncle on my mom's side that lives in Barrie.

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

I like this one... DNC Server

 

I am not sure if it will drip to 2 machines at once but I suspect it will. Free trial, cheap to buy, works great, and easy to setup.

[crazy^millman]

Drip feeding 2 machine is easy. One machine is done through a dummy session of Mastercma the other session is done with Cimco. You will have 2 sessions of Mastercam open one to DNC the other to do the Cam work. Then Cimco to do the other one.

 

HTH

[Paul McGarr]

You can program for as many machines as you wish with one seat of Mastercam.

 

Drip feeding multiple machines from one computer is another animal. You can do it, and it's easy once you're set up.

 

I use Extreme DNC. Here's a link...

 

http://www.ascendtec.com/

 

I've been using it without updating it for quite some time now and it's great. I'm not sure if others are better though, it's been a while since I looked.

 

Paul

[TomHemphill]

for the guys using floppys....We just got our Centroid control upgraded and part of it was the addition of a usb port so now we can transfer files on one of these little memory sticks ....holds 256mb and up and down loads about 10 times faster If your control has that option I highly recommend it

 

Tom

[dan m]

We use cimnet for our dnc needs. It works good. We have the abilities to drip feed all 16 machines at the same time but that has never happened. We are currently hooked up to our machines wirelessly useing rocket ports and the operators can get there programs remotely

hth