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Notes
Note 2 (NB not
WELturn or WELmill)
Target
audience:
AlphaCAM users
Subject:
How to get CNC Code
from AlphaCAM into the Emco Compact 5 CNC Lathe (Mk4) or F1
Mill
-
If necessary, configure AlphaEDIT
for serial data communication with an Emco Compact 5 CNC Lathe or
F1 Mill. This need only be done once.
-
Start AlphaCAM for mill or lathe. In
the File Menu, click on Select Post . Select the Post
Processor for your machine. (If you don’t have the Post Processor,
go to
www.emco.co.uk
and down-load and install it first.)
-
Draw the geometry of your component
and set the toolpaths. In the File Menu, Save the drawing.
In the File Menu, click on List NC Code . Answer the
questions which appear as the NC Code scrolls down the
screen.
-
To save the NC Code as distinct from
the geometry of the component, in the File Menu, click on
Output NC . Follow the instructions on screen.
-
Connect your computer’s COM 1 (or
COM 2 if you wish) serial port to the serial socket on the back of
the Emco machine with an appropriately wired lead. (See the
WELedit Help menu for lead wiring details.)
-
Start AlphaEDIT + RS232 Comms
-
In the File Menu select Open
NC/Text . Go into the Directory where your NC code is stored
and select its file name. The code appears on the screen.
-
Go to the Emco machine and switch it
on. Press the H/C key to put it into CNC OPERATION Mode.
Press the INP Key once . Key in the number 66
. Press the INP key TWICE . The machine is now ready
to receive code from the computer.
-
Go back to the computer and
AlphaEDIT, go into the Comms Menu. Select Output To
RS232 . In Select Machine, choose Emco . Click on
Start . Data transfer begins. The rate of transfer of code
is slow and it can take several minutes to complete. Eventually,
the code will appear on the Emco machine’s monitor screen, if you
are using one rather than peering at the seven segment display on
the machine panel.
-
Verify the NC code before attempting
to machine a part: see relevant note.
April 2000
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