Specifications

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Southwestern Industries, Inc.
TRAK LPM Programming, Safety, & Operating Manual
therefore will figure out the tool path for you, the process of converting a three-axis
program gives the ProtoTRAK a tool position problem that it cannot resolve without a lot
more data from you. The other reason is that the output from a CAM systems for 3-axis
shapes is in the form of thousands and thousands of straight-line G01 moves that would
convert into the equal number of ProtoTRAK Mill events. This is hardly a manageable
program.
Instead of forcing the issue in a silly way, we give you the more elegant solution of
running GCD files. To our competitors, we respectfully point out that the thread and
helix milling canned cycles of the ProtoTRAK are obvious examples of three-axis
simultaneous interpolation.
In order to run a CAM program, the program must be posted through a post-processor
that makes some adjustments to the output of the CAM software so that it is understood
by the ProtoTRAK. The ProtoTRAK uses a post-processor that is very similar to the
Fanuc 6M.
If you are not familiar with writing a post-processor, we recommend that you contact
your CAD/CAM supplier. We will be happy to work with him to get you the post-
processor you need.
14.13.1 Writing a Post Processor
The following are modifications to a Fanuc 6 post-processor that are necessary for
writing the ProtoTRAK post-processor.
Beginning File Format: The ProtoTRAK has no special requirements; it does not need
any special characters.
End Of File Format: the ProtoTRAK requires the % to show the end of the file.
Characters after the % will be ignored.
Beginning Of An Operation: the ProtoTRAK requires that the tool number, feedrate and
tool offset appear before, or on the same line, as a move command. In addition, the
ProtoTRAK PMX requires the spindle speed be set. The absolute zero of the
ProtoTRAK is set in a different mode and does not need to be set at the beginning of each
operation. The feedrate is modal, once it is set, it remains the same until changed.
Lines: the line feed (or carriage return/line feed) signals the end of the line (ASCII code
hex 0A or 0D 0A). A semicolon is not neededl.
Coordinates: may be formatted in inch or metric. The addresses used for specifying
coordinates are X, Y, Z, I, J, K. The valid ranges are:
 Inch: min -99.9999 to max +99.9999
 Mm: min -999.99 to max +99.999
Rapid Moves: rapid moves are generated by the ProtoTRAK automatically as part of the
definition of an event. For this reason, G0 moves are discarded unless they specify a
location other than the beginning of the following event.
Linear Moves: G01 are formatted the same as rapid moves.
Arcs: Arc centers are specified by the address I, J and K for the X, Y and Z axes. The
number following the I, J and K are incrementally referenced from the starting point of
the arc. Radius values are not allowed.