Mirac PC - help required with setting up

[DarthPistachio]

Hi all

I just acquired a MIRAC PC machine from a seller on Ebay - who assured me it was working etc etc.... however when I got back home with it I discovered there was actually very little available for me to actually set it up and run it to check it out.

What I received was the machine itself naturally - a FANUC keyboard and a few leads and a bunch of what I assume are in-line dongles. I also had a bunch of floppy disks which contained what I guessed was the software only to find they were basically all corrupted and couldn't be read or many of the files were corrupted. I tried them on a few of My PC's and only one machine could actually pull some of the content off the discs

I've popped here and done a bit of research and to be fair, I'm a bit confused as to what exactly is required to run this machine nowadays.

What I would like from one of the experienced users on this forum is basically to let me know exactly what I need to set this machine up and get it running. Things such as required leads - software etc..

I have an old PC that used to run Win 98 (yes really old) that I was intending to use to run the Mirac - but I'm unsure as to what connections and leads would be required for it..

I'm guessing I need the latest Lathe program and am I right in that this software no longer requires a dongle to run?

I have the one ribbon cable that I guess is for the fanuc keyboard and another cable that should be the connection then from the PC to the machine. However my old PC doesn't appear to have the right number of connectors for them as they seem to be similar to the large old Printer ports and most old PC's only had one of them and usually then another 2 smaller RS232 ports.

So please excuse my ignorance and let me know what i have to get hardware and software wise to set this machine up and get it running.

Many many thanks in advance

Here are some photographs of everything I had with the machine - some of the photos probably don't apply specifically to this request but I thought they may aid experienced users in better ID of the machine:



https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac01.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac02.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac03.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac04.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac05.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac06.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac07.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac08.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac09.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac10.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac11.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac12.jpg
https://www.meshweaver.com/temp/Denford_ ... irac13.jpg

[Martin]

You will be able to download the software from the denford web site.

You will need a PC with 2 com ports.(serial).

The desk top tutor plugs straight in to a com port with the 25 way ribbon cable you have.

The grey lead is the machine RS232 Lead. One end plugs in to the side of the electrical box & the other in the second com port.

If both serial ports on your pc are 9 ways you will need to obtain 25 to 9 way converter leads.

I am not sure if the machine goes to Com1 or Com2. You may have to try both ports.

[DarthPistachio]

OK - I've ordered the adapters I'll need from a supplier on Ebay and they're on their way.

A few things still puzzle me so far though - so excuse my ignorance yet again - I'm pretty computer savvy but these machines are completely new to me

1. Will this Mirac only be capable of running the old DOS based Lathecam program?
2. Is it able to be controlled with the VR Turning application or will it more than likely need a hardware upgrade for that?
3. When I set up the PC to be connected to the Mirac - will it require drivers and other software - for example will the Fanuc need Drivers? I note that the VR turning app has fanuc control software but if it turns out I can't use that - the Fanuc will need drivers?
4. Will I need the Mirac.zip download and it's contents - what exactly does the Mirac.exe do?
5. If the fanuc will need drivers which of the 5 listed on the tech downloads page will I need??
6. This machine came with 5 dongles! How many will I need surely not all 5 - will it be a process of swap and swap until I find out - can't figure why the last owner had five dongles if only one main control app was being used??

that's all I can think of right now - thanks in advance

[Martin]

a. Will this Mirac only be capable of running the old DOS based Lathecam program?

Lathecam is quite an old turning package.
I think the current package is Quickcam Turning.
It will run from most Cad/Cam turning applications.


b. Is it able to be controlled with the VR Turning application or will it more than likely need hardware upgrade for that?

It will be able to upgrade to the latest version of VR Turning. (Contact sales for price).


c. When I set up the PC to be connected to the Mirac - will it require drivers and other software - for example will the Fanuc need Drivers? I note that the VR turning app has fanuc control software but if it turns out I can't use that - the Fanuc will need drivers?

All the driver software is inside the Mirac download folder.


d. Will I need the Mirac.zip download and it's contents - what exactly does the Mirac.exe do?

The Mirac.Zip folder contains all the relevant files to run the machine. It is a dos application.


e. If the fanuc will need drivers which of the 5 listed on the tech downloads page will I need??

All the drivers are contained in the dos software.


f. This machine came with 5 dongles! How many will I need surely not all 5 - will it be a process of swap and swap until I find out - can't figure why the last owner had five dongles if only one main control app was being used??

The dongles were normally supplied to allow programs like Lathecam to be run. The Mirac does not require a Dongle in order to run it. If the machine was supplied to education they may have had the cad/cam on more computers. Each dongle will have been programmed separately. You can use "drights.exe" to read each dongle in turn.