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AlphaCAM, AlphaEDIT and Portadisk


NC code, as created and saved in AlphaCAM, contains comments and information useful to the programmer but which are not required by machine tool controller software such as WELturn.

To strip out these comments, leave AlphaCAM and go into AlphaEDIT. Access the NC code file (File - Open NC/Text) and display it on the PC screen. Go to the Comms menu and select Output to Portadisk. Follow the on-screen instructions. The NC file, stripped of all unnecessary comments, is saved in a folder TurnData whose path is C:\WELturn\Turndata. When next you go into WELturn, you can access the file and use it to machine a part.

If Portadisk is to do its job correctly, it must be properly configured. The screen shots below show how this is done.

                    
Click on Portadisk. Ignore the existing names which may appear.

                    
Click on Add.

                    
Complete the Disk dialogue as shown. These settings assume that WELturn and AlphaEDIT are on the same computer. If WELturn is on a different computer, make the Drive A (and not C) and leave the Directory line blank. Code for WELturn will then be saved on to a diskette in drive A of the PC running AlphaEDIT. The diskette will then be taken to the PC running WELturn. In WELturn use File - Import to copy the file from the diskette to the folder TurnData.

                    
Set the Codes dialogue as shown.

                    
Set the Format dialogue as shown and then click OK.

                    
Delete all the unwanted names.

                    
WELturn by itself!

                    
When you leave AlphaEDIT you are asked if you want to save the new configuration. Answer Yes.