mmd and control files

[spade117]

ok I had this all done and good, but then our posts were renamed so now I have a problem that the mmd file and control file are not reading the new post name . So when I go to my machine type, it tells me I have no post. These are the directions I followed last time, but this time the post stays the same name it was before it was renamed so I have no posts in my machine types.

 

Any help?

 

quote:

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Ok (cracks knuckles), let me see if I can help...

 

First off, the individual stations are going to have to see the server as the same path (i.e.- the drive mapped to the same letter on each).

 

You cannot create the control definition and machine definition locally and then move them (without editing them once they are moved), which is what I am betting you have tried to do. The path to the post processor file is stored in the control definition, the path to the control definition file is stored in the machine definition and they are not going to update on their own.

 

So, let's fix the paths so they work for you, and then modify your default machine so it looks at the server.

 

Make sure your CD, MD and post files are all where you want them on the server (we don't want to have to do this twice).

 

If you currently have X open and an active machine group, either close and reopen X or go to the Machine Type dropdown, select Design and then do a File - New.

 

Modify your control definition file -

 

Now go back to the Machine Type drop down and select Control Definition... Click the Open a control definition file button and browse to the control definition file on your server.

 

Click on the Post Processors: button and then Add Files... Browse to where your post lives on the network and select it. Green check to close the dialog.

 

Select your post in the drop down window (it will have a plus icon next to it).

 

Click one of the control topics and then right click on the right side of the dialog. Select import - all pages. Select this control file and then the post with the path on your local hard drive (we are importing the valid settings into the new control def). Green check to import the settings.

 

Go to the text control topic. If the post text is not there, right click on the right side and import it from the post.

 

Save the file. The plus symbol next to the post name in the drop down changes to a green check mark.

 

Click the Post Processors button, select the original post (with the path on your local hard drive) and then click the Delete Files... button (You may also want to select any other posts if there are others from fooling around previously in the CD file). Leave the Default settings there. Green check to get out and then save the control file again. We're done here, Green check at the bottom of the dialog to exit.

 

Modify your machine definition file -

 

Select the Machine Type dropdown - Machine Definition Manager...

 

Load the machine definition file on the server.

 

Click the Browse For Folder button in the Control Definition Frame - Select the folder on the server where your control definition file now lives. Your control definition will automatically appear in the dropdown if it is the only one in the folder. You will need to select it if there are more than one.

 

Save the machine definition file.

 

We're done here, green check to exit.

 

Modify your default machine setting -

 

This is an optional step that will make the Machine Type - Product - Machine list dropdown show the contets of the folder on the server. This step can be repeated at each station (or the config file can be copied over).

 

Select Settings - Configuration. Click the Files control topic. In the File Usage frame, select Mill Machine Definition (or Lathe Machine Definition - or Router Machine Definition). Click the File select button (the one with the filing cabinet on it) and browse to your machine def file on the server.

 

Save your settings and exit. Now when you go to the Machine Type dropdown your machine will appear in the right flyout when you select that product type.

 

--------------------

Paul Decelles

CNC Software, Inc

Post Department

[email protected]

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[dwsz71]

quote:

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I have no posts in my machine types

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The avaiable Machine Definition(s) should be located under Machine Types, not the post(s). If you found a way to change the default directory, let me know, that would be handy.

 

Rename them (posts) back to what they were if you can, because now every MCX file you created, will need the Machine Definition to be replaced when you go back into them. Only the Machine Def. and Control Def. are "copied" into the MCX, not the Post.

 

The thing that sucks about replacing the posts used with the Control Def. is that, I'm pretty sure the Control Def. Parameters need to be redefined.

[spade117]

I should be able to this like I was starting from scratch but it won't work.

[dwsz71]

Did you check the folder cnc_machines in the mcamx directory and see if your LMD/MMD/RMD files got wiped out? If they are still there, make sure the file extensions are still there as well.

[Jon Griffin CNC Software]

Ok (cracks knuckles, but not as loudly as Paul) let's see if I can help.

 

I'm assuming that no change has been made to your Machine Definition (MD) or Control Definition (CD), and that the only thing to deal with is that the name of the post changed. The CD stores the name of the post, and it isn't finding what it's looking for, because you (or your company) moved the post to a new name.

 

You need to change the path to the post in the Control definition.

 

So, let's fix the paths so they work for you

 

First,

BACK YOUR MMD AND CD UP. DO NOT FORGET TO BACK THEM UP. IF THEY BECOME CORRUPTED, YOUR LIFE WILL BE "worse"

 

Then,

Modify your control definition file -

 

Open X, and make your machine definition active by selecting it from the drop down.

 

Now go to the Machine Type drop down and select Machine Definition... a warning will pop up saying roughly this:

"You have chosen to edit the disk copy of the machine definition: c:mcamxcnc_machinesspadesmachine.mmd which is used in the machine group: Machine Group 1 Changing this file will affect all future Mastercam files that it is used in. Proceed with editing this machine definition file?"

Click the green check mark

 

From there, find the little icon for Control Definition (near the top left 6th icon in) and click it.

 

Click the Post Processors button, select the original post (with the path on your local hard drive) and then click the Delete Files... button (You may also want to select any other posts if there are others from fooling around previously in the CD file). Leave the Default settings there.

Add in the new post directory and name by clicking the Add files button, and double clicking your post (you may have to browse directories to find it) Green check to get out and then save the control file again. We're done here, Green check at the bottom of the dialog to exit.

 

This takes you back to the Machine definition screen. Click the save button, and green check to exit.

 

A new warning will come up, saying as follows:

"Replace group machine with Spade - That machine spade uses in C:mcamxcnc_machinesspadesmachine"

 

Click yes

 

That should be it.

 

Hope this helps you.

 

________________________

Jon Griffin

Software Engineer

CNC Software

[spade117]

Jon,

 

Thank you very much. I got as far as getting it to read the correct control def, but your help got me all the way back to where I needed to be. I had forgot to update the mmd file after fixing everything else.

[Jon Griffin CNC Software]

Glad to help

 

_____________________

Jon Griffin

Software Engineer

CNC Software