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5360 Jackson Drive * Suite 206 * La Mesa, CA 91942 * (619) 461-4000 Phone * (619) 461-5918 Fax * (877) 611-5825 Toll Free www.shopfloorautomations.com Creating a New Machine File in Editor 6.0 What happened to all of the Machine Templates in CNC Editor? In version 6.0 every template is now stored within a single Microsoft Access database. In previous versions templates were stored in multiple INI files. Therefore the templates from earlier version of Predator CNC Editor are not compatible with v6.0. This document outlines how to modify an existing machine file to match your machine requirements Step 1 You need to define what type of machine you will be using. In basic terms all we really want to know is it a 3, 4, or 5 Axis Mill, is it Horizontal or Vertical or is it a Lathe. Because the Machine Template will be used for both DNC communications and 3D back plotting, it is important we know what type of machine. Step 2 “Open the machine file” Open the Predator CNC Editor Go to “file” then “open” Navigate your way to “C:\Program Files\ Predator Software\Common Files\Machines This directory contains several .mch files. Choose the one with the description that is closest to your machine. Open the file. EXAMPLE: 3axHMill.mch Step 3 “Save the machine file” Once you have the .mch file open, go to “file” and “save as” and rename the file something descriptive for your machine. EXAMPLE: Hass 3-Axis Mill.mch Step 4 “Choose your control” Next we need to define the control that is to be used for this Machine File. With your new .mch file still open, go to “file” and “open”. Go up one directory to “C:\Program Files\Predator Software\Common Files\” and choose the Rpost 5.0 Directory. Then choose the directory for the type of machine you are defining. EXAMPLE: “Mill”. Browse through and find the control that matches your machine. Write Down the exact path and name of the “rpm” file. EXAMPLE: C:\Program Files\Predator Software\Common Files\R Post5.0\Mill\Haas VF-Series.rpm 5360 Jackson Drive * Suite 206 * La Mesa, CA 91942 * (619) 461-4000 Phone * (619) 461-5918 Fax * (877) 611-5825 Toll Free www.shopfloorautomations.com Step 5 “Edit the machine file” Cancel out of the “open files” menu. You do not want to open the .rpm file!!! You now want to Edit the .mch file to include the control information. About 10 lines down in the .mch file you will see a line that says “control=xxxx.rpm” Sample .mch file: ; MACHINE DEFINITION FILE (NSee2000 1.11) ; Machine_Type = MILL Units = INCHES Machine_Travels0 = [-10.0000,-10.0000,-10.0000] Machine_Travels = [20.0000,20.0000,20.0000] RotaryAxis1_Limits = [-360.0000,360.0000] RotaryAxis2_Limits = [-360.0000,360.0000] ToolChange_position = [15.0000,15.0000,15.0000] Control = FANUC0.RPM Default_ABC_modes = +A+B+C EnableDogLeg = 0 RotaryAxis1_ProgrammingLetter = A You want to replace the control name that is currently there with the exact path and file name of the .rpm file you found in step 4. VERY IMPORTANT: if there are any spaces in the .rpm file name, you need to replace the space with “*”. Example: C:\Program*Files\Predator*Software\Common* Files\R*Post5.0\Mill\Haas*VF-Series.rpm Save the Machine File Step 6 “Create a new template” Now that you have defined your machine, you can create a new template. Go to “file” and “new template”. Choose your Machine File and follow the wizard to set up DNC Properties, register format, define commands and sequence number options.
