1988 Triac Help. (uploading CNC programs)

All info relating to the Denford Triac series of CNC milling machines

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Matt
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1988 Triac Help. (uploading CNC programs)

Post by Matt » Sun 13 Aug , 2006 21:41 pm

Hello, I have recently bought a 1988 Triac and need some help and advice.

The machine works well but I am struggling with transferring code from a PC.

I have been using "Denford Triac 2.4" but I am having problems with even very simple files, eg cutting a square!

I hope to produce quite complex components and some 3D prototypes.

What is the best software for sending the code to the machine?

Are there any tricks I should know?

I would really like to hear from anyone using an older Triac.

Any help will be gratefully received.

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Post by Denford Admin » Mon 14 Aug , 2006 8:51 am

Welcome,

Its a common question and here are some of the clues to the answer:


viewtopic.php?t=253

viewtopic.php?t=309

Get the DOS industrial text editor from this page on the Denford Website:

http://website.denford.ltd.uk/support/9 ... s-software


I think I'll put all this into one sticky post (soon)

Matt
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Post by Matt » Mon 14 Aug , 2006 11:40 am

Thank you for your reply, the industrial text editor looks very promising.

I think I can now be more specific about my problem.

Using Triac 2.4. When you transmit, the window comes up to say "sending" then almost immediately it says "finished 0 bytes sent". The machine then comes out of data link mode and displays 0 bytes 0 blocks.

If I try with Industrial text editor it sends the data and shows each line being sent but the machine doesn't receive it. It just continues to sit in data link mode.

I have made a new cable and double checked all the port settings.

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Mr Magoo
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Post by Mr Magoo » Tue 15 Aug , 2006 13:15 pm

Make sure you've loaded the the PNC.CFG file in the Industrial Text Editors "Configure" menu , and the PNC.CS file in the "Install Comms" menu.

With these settings loaded, the Ind editor will send a block to Triac, then wait for an acknoweledgement from the machine that it has been recieved before sending the next block.

Another tip - if you place an "L" character at the end of the NC blocks in Ind Editor then the Triac wil load them into memeory. Without the "L" the Triac will try to execute them as it recieves them. You can use the "CHANGE->Append Text" menu option to add the "L" characters to the NC Blocks.

Don't know why the Triac software isn't working, but if you just want to upload/download to the machine them I recommend Ind Text Editor

BTW, the PNC3 control on the old Triacs is only a 2 1/2 D control and also pauses between each NC block so was not designed to do 3D work. Just thought I'd let you know before you put alot of effort in trying to develop 3D NC progams

Matt
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Post by Matt » Tue 15 Aug , 2006 17:04 pm

Thank you Mr Magoo!

Your help has got me up and running using the industrial text editor. Seems to be working fine now.

A special thank you for the heads up on 3D. I bought the Triac for 2D work but wanted to try 3D, you have indeed saved me a lot of time and effort!

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