Originally Posted by
whiteredline
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I am running an older Emco CNC with winNc version 3.5
the cad/cam software I'm running is Mastercam X2
I got the post processor for Emco machines from the in house solutions website under downloads.
After loading the post processor and machine definition files into the Mastercam program and generating a cutter path, I post it. The Mastercam NC editor shows up.
Here is what I noticed you must do if you want the file to run.
Remove all block numbers. The machine will error out and not run
Remove any script that describes the part file, cutter, time it was made, etc.In the Mastercam NC editor, these usually show up as green. Pretty much anything that is not a G or M code or a coordinate X,Y, Z must be removed.
remove the % at the start for the file.
Change any cutter height offset to G43 T1 H1, or whatever tool offset you are using.
My machine only holds one tool and has no tool changer
So the program should look like this
G20 G40 G91 etc (all the prep codes)
G00 X Y M03 S1000 etc
G43 T1 H1 etc
then the rest of the program.
I will post a sample program when I get one from work, I am at home right now and can't remember the codes exactly. Just remove block numbers, all the letters in parentheses that describe the program, remove the % sign at the start of the program, and make sure the G43 code is T1 and H1 and it should run.
Once you load it onto the PC (mine had windows 98, lol), RENAME the file to O1234 that's an O as in a letter O then any 4 numbers up to 9999. The winNC software will not read the .nc file extension that is generated by Mastercam, the file must be a generic wordpad or notepadvfile. It's basically an ASCII file (american society of computing something or other) format.
There is no file extension, it just shows on the screen as O1234.
Then load it up and off you go.
I inherited this machine from another school, it hadn't been running in 10 years and no one knew how to run it. I finally got it running and it cuts great.
I've cut plastic, aluminum, mild steel and tool steel with it. I've done simple engravings to lofted and ruled 3 d surfaces. If only it were bigger! It's a great little machine. Hop this helps you.