Also, the filename at the beginning did not seem to matter. I could save the file in DOS with whatever filename was on the diskette - including extended length - LATHET~1.MIN. My code looked like the following: % (Program: LATHETEST.MIN) N1 (TOOL #1) -- -- -- M05 M30 %

Thank you everyone for your help. I got the machine consistently reading the files from diskette this morning. I will try to keep this short and still give you the information for what I did that worked (and what did not). All of the information I received here was very useful. We had several programs that were on diskette and had been run by the previous owner. Also, we had a programmer work with us that ran these machines when they were at the previous shop. He insisted that the program needed to be created in Notepad and that they never used % signs. Looking at and loading their programs it appears that was true. However this is what I found. If I posted the code from Mastercam without the % signs, the file would not load from the disk. If I opened the file in Notepad and made any edit (it did not seem to matter what), then resave the file using Notepad, the file would load. I even took a file that would not load, deleted an M05, saved the file, re-inserted the M05, saved the file again, and it would load (no actual change to the program, just edited and saved it using Notepad). I then added the % sign to the beginning and end of the program using my Mastercam post, and now files will read in directly from Mastercam. Notepad must have been adding some type of control character to the file that allowed the file to be read in. Also, the character at the end did not appear to have any affect. Sorry this post is so long, but hope this helps someone else. I looked like a hero since they spent several hours trying to get it to work, and it took me less than 1/2 hour. Thanks again and hope I can help someone else next time.

We picked up a used Okuma Lathe with an OSP700L control that has MS-DOS loaded in the machine. The problem that I am having is that the machine will not read my posted code from a diskette. I compare the code to existing files that will read off the disk, and the code appears good. The screen gives me an error - 5000 MS-DOS error 3 and then the filename that I tried to load. The only thing I noticed is that at the end of the files that will read in is the following character on the line after the M30. If I view the file with a DOS editor all I see is a blank space / with Notepad I see a small vertical line | / and with Wordpad I see a small square box (looks like a small square letter "O". I believe it is a control character, but I do not know how to find out what the character actually is. If I knew what it was, I could put it in my post and try it. All of the ASCII characters that I tried look similar, but not the same. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I have had some of the same problems, including Windows messages that the server could not be found. Using IE V6, SP1 I was never able to connect using the link at the top of the eMastercam page. However, using FTP Commander, I am able to consistently connect. The only thing that I found was that IE and some others use passive mode, and FTP Commander has an option to uncheck passive mode (connects in active mode). I am not sure exactly what this does, but it seems to be the problem. If your WS-FTP has a Passive / Active option, make sure Active is selected (Passive is unselected). HTH.

Also check the following two lines in your Fadal Format 1 Post: maxrad : 399.9999 # Maximum arc radius radius > will be linearized) do_full_arc : 0 #Allow full circle output? 0=no, 1=yes HTH

One trick I found that works is to make sure the FIFO buffers are turned off for the serial port. Your older WIN95 system probably had an older style UART chip for the serial port that did not use FIFO (first in first out) buffers. To turn it off, go to SYSTEM, PROPERTIES, DEVICE MANAGER, PORTS, SETTINGS (should see baud, parity, handshake...), and ADVANCED. Uncheck the FIFO Buffer checkbox. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all your help. I was able to make an acceptable part by modifying ("fudging") the geometry to make the cutter cut flats with only X and C moves. Basically I needed to compensate for a flat tool face while C-cross contouring (as opposed to a round face when milling using a C-Face contour). Thanks again. If anyone else has any solutions, I will leave this post open.

I am trying to machine flats on a part using a Haas SL-30 Turning Center with Live Tools. The flats are wrench flats, and are not on the face of the part. If the machine had an actual Y axis, the moves would be vertical moves at C=0 and C=180 degrees to create two parallel flats that are perpendicular to the Z axis. I can machine these flats using an undercut tool and the C-axis Face contour. However, my preference is to use a standard end-mill with a Cross-Contour path. The problem that I have is that as the spindle indexes, the sides or edges of the flat endm-mill face undercuts the form. The only place that the form is correct, is the center of the flat where the flat and the face of the end-mill are parallel. I can see exactly what the machine is doing if I Backplot using Display Interpolate .05 and make sure Rotary Axis is set to C axis. Am I missing something, or what am I doing wrong? If you want to see the part I am posting the file CTEST.MC9 to the MC_9 directory. Thanks in advance for any help.

Thanks, Millman. I changed the post to look at the number of tap threads per inch, and have it set the feed accordingly. For the machines that read Feed in ipm using the pitch and spindle speed, the tool library works great. I was hoping there was a way to select ipr feed at the tool, and have the feed change to equal the tap pitch. I work with machines that want it both ways some want ipm, and others want ipr. Again, thanks - I think the changes made will work well.

I will download the file from your website and try. Thanks for your help.

I have a similar problem ever since the last server change. I get the error message "Cannot Find Server - This page cannot be displaye". I get the same thing when I use the link at the top of this page. Using IE6 SP1, with WIN98 SP2. Thought I was the only one with the problem.

I want to force Mastercam to use the tap pitch as the feed (ipr)whenever I select a tap from the LTOOLS.LIB. I have searched the forum and found a posting that should do this in the post processor (pitch=1/n_tap_thds and feed = pitch). However, my question is, can I change the LTOOLS.LIB to automatically read all taps as the feed in inches per rev. = tap pitch. Is there a switch or setting that I am missing. I know that I can manually change the tools and resave to the library, but is there a way to do all the tools as a batch? Thanks in advance. I will be working on other jobs and will get back to check this soon.

The G30 command sends the machine to a reference position. This position is usually set up in either the machine parameters, or manually. It is useful for tool changes on a turning center where you want the machine to return to a safe position, but not necessarily all the way to home (G28). Be careful when using G30 X0 Y0 Z0 ( same with G28). On many machine controls, the XYZ position in the code is an intermediate point that the machine goes "THROUGH" on its way to home (G28) or the reference position (G30). It is not the location of the end of the move. a G30 U0 V0 W0 will home the XYZ axes without making any intermediate move (it moves incrementally a zero distance before moving to the reference or home). Many Fanuc controls on turning centers will read G28 X0 or G30 X0 and will send the tool to the center of the part before moving to the home or reference position. Same problem if you set Z=0 on the face of the chuck on a turning center, or the bottom of the part on a mill. The tool will crash through the part before moving to its home or reference position. HTH. (I waited until someone else asked, and now I know what HTH means. But what does TEH mean???)

Yes, I was able to access before with the same hardware, software, and internet account. I had problems back in July / August when I used IE. At that time I downloaded and used CuteFTP, and the problems went away. Later, when you switched servers, the problems with IE went away, so I removed CuteFTP and just used IE. I was able to get on until just the past few days. If the problem persists, I will try to reload CuteFTP again.

I am having the problem accessing the ftp site using the link at the top of this page. I log into the forum, select "cadcam's FTP Site", and then after a few minutes get the message "Cannot find server".

Still getting "Cannot find server error" from IE6 SP1. Did not make any security and/or software changes (not that I know of) before this stopped working. 11/20/30 02:00 PM EST. Thanks.

Thanks, Jay. I will check back later. I will be out on jobs the next few days. If I still have any problems I will let you know.

I have also not been able to get into the cadcam FTP site the last few days. I always use the link at the top of this page. I am using IE6 SP1 and have not had problems until the last few days. I keep getting "Cannot find server error" after a few minuts of trying to connect. I have not changed any software or hardware in the past week, and am not on a network.

No, this does not sound like a cable problem. The "O" word vs. ":" are two standards for program name. I would check whether the one Mori has a parameter set (EIA vs. ASCII/ISO) progam. Also, check whether CIMNET has a setting to convert and remove blank spaces if the program is EIA or ASCII/ISO. Sorry, I do not use CIMNET and can't give more help on that. However I have done a lot of communications setups, and cabling, handshaking, baud, parity, and stop bits should not give this problem if the rest of the program is coming through OK. Hope this helps.

The last Haas VMC that I worked on with a VF/HS control had a programmable coolant nozzle position. On this machine it was critical that the M08 command was on the line with the G43 H## tool length offset. This allowed the machine to move the nozzle into position while compensating for the tool length. I was always told that if you programmed the M08 later, it would not correct the nozzle position for the tool length (never tried it that way, so maybe that is not the case). I know that one customer I worked with had some programmer problems because if they programmed the M08 early (with the tool up in the tool change position) on older machines without full guards / shields, they would give the operator a shower. Once their posts were corrected, this problem went away (except when a programmer would manually make changes at the machine). Good luck with your new machines - HAVE FUN!!!

I,J, K is often more complicated to program manually, since the center of the arc often be calculated from the print. The radius is usually given on the print. However, when programming with R values, keep in mind that the machine has two solutions to a given radius between a fixed start and end point. One solution is less than 180 degrees, and one is greater than 180 degrees. To prove it, draw two points at 3 o'clock, and 6o'clock. You can draw a CCW arc with the center at the center of the clock-face which is 90 degrees. You can also draw a CCW arc with the same end points, and radius, where the center is directly below the 3 o'clock point, and to the right of the six o'clock point. This arc will be 270 deg. The controller will usually pick the smaller arc, unless you program a negative R value. Then most controllers will pick the larger arc. Also, a single command full (360 deg) circle can not be made with the R value format. By programming the actual center of the arc (I,J,K) all of these problems go away. You are correct that the R value is more forgiving. If you miss the center location by a few thousandths of an inch, the controller will pick it up, and give an error. However, if you miss the radius by a few thousandths, if possible, the machine will just move the radius until it touches both points, and machine it (if the radius was originally tangent, it is not tangent anymore). Do you really want the machine to go ahead if you make a mistake? Finally, I, J, and K define the location of the center of the arc in the X, y, and Z axis respectively. Usually they are measured relative to the start of the arc, although some machines will allow them to be located from part zero if the program is using absolute coordinate (G90). Sorry this got so long winded. Hope it helps.

If the file is post processed as G and M code and not EZ-Track language, I believe that it wants to see a TXT extension. If you can use the floppy drive on the EZ-Track, copy the file to the floppy with a TXT extension. Then select Copy All Other Files to EZ-Track from the EZ-Track screen and select Run. Use F4 on the EZ-Track to display TXT file. Hope this helps.

I am working on an AGIE DEM315 WEDM with a CNC100 control. The unit was purchased used and has a Behind the Tape Reader installed. I was told it is a Macauto (McAuto???), but does not have any manual with it for cable pinouts, protocol, etc. Does anyone have any experience with these units, or any information on possible vendors? I searched the web, with no return hits. I am considering pulling it out, and replacing with a Techstar Link (probably cheaper than spending a lot of hours trying to debug a unit without a manual). I have used these before, and they work well. I just hate to pull out the existing unit if it still works. Thanks in advance for any help.

Great Job !!! Was able to access the FTP site using IE6 SP1. Earlier connection issues are no longer a problem, and I no longer need to use CuteFTP. Thanks for your service and allowing us to use this site.

BIG-B - I just checked on this post, so it sounds like you have your immediate problem taken care of. If you have any questions and need some on-site assistance, just let me know and I will stop over. I will be in the office for awhile this evening and most of Monday. Good Luck.