Specifications
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Southwestern Industries, Inc.
TRAK LPM Programming, Safety, & Operating Manual
Note: It is good practice to back up files to a different drive, rather than to a different
folder on the same drive. For example, if you keep your programs on the USB flash
drive, it is a good idea to back them up to another computer. That way, if the USB flash
drive becomes unusable, you will have the part programs somewhere else so that you can
reload them when the problem with the flash drive is resolved.
14.9 Converters™
Converters are programs within the ProtoTRAK PMX CNC that translate CNC program
files of another format into a ProtoTRAK PMX CNC file, or a ProtoTRAK PMX CNC
file into a different format. With converters, you can run programs written on the
ProtoTRAK PMX CNC on a machine that does not have a ProtoTRAK PMX CNC and
vice versa.
Each ProtoTRAK PMX CNC comes with converters for other ProtoTRAK and TRAK
CNC’s.
Program conversions take place by first translating the file into a neutral run engine, then
from neutral to the desired file format. For this reason, you should think of conversions
as being only one way. The conversion process changes the file in ways that are
harmless and so the results are correct. However, when converted back, it will not be the
same as it was originally written; it will create the same part, but some of the lines of
code will be different.
14.9.1 Activating Converters
Converters must be activated before you can use them. Standard converters include those
that handle the translation between the ProtoTRAK PMX CNC and other TRAK CNC’s.
Optional converters are purchased separately. Standard converters and optional
converters that are ordered and shipped with the machine are activated at the factory.
You can tell which converters are activated by looking in the Open As or Save As
windows, shown below.
If you purchase a converter after you have installed your machine, you must activate it
yourself using the procedure described in Section 3.1.6.
14.9.2 Converting From a Different Format into a ProtoTRAK PMX CNC
Conversions from a different format into a ProtoTRAK PMX CNC occur when the file is
opened.