Raymond, I believe what you are asking me is how to open a DXF from a file that is on the floppy drive. If this is correct, when you go to the PROG IN/OUT mode, you have to first find the A drive which is where your floppy is located. If you press the TAB key in the lower left hand corner, it will move from part programs to file types to drives, etc. Press it until it gets to the drives and select the S drive. Once you are there, select your DXF file you want to open and it will automatically open. FYI, this puts the file into the RAN memory and allows you to turn the final part into a PT4 program when you select END DXF. There is no way to save any programs or other files onto the hard drive. Does this answer your question? If not, please reach out to me again. T.P.
Hi. Our demo boxes aren't generally sold. If your company is a distributor for TRAK, then reaching out to your TRAK rep would be the best way. We do have demo offline software that anyone can download and try out. There are some limitations for this free software, but it would certainly show how easy it is to operate the ProtoTRAK. You can find that software on this page under "ProtoTRAK Offline Software". www.southwesternindustries.com/software
The biggest difference os that you only need one solid model to cut any side of the part. With DXF, you need one for each side. On top of that, DXF is only 2D so you have to refer to your print for all of your Z dimensions. T.P.
Nothing. It was added in the beginning when they created the control in case we needed to add another button in the future. Although it beeps, it has no usage. T.P.
Hey I have a problem with the spindle I can't get it to engage/spin since retuning to my mill, I have everything set as usual & the fan is now blowing & wasn't before last use. Any ideas on be very much appreciated.
One of our tech support people can trouble-shoot this for you if you give them a call. Please have your model and serial number ready. Their phone number is 800-367-3165. You can also do a live chat from this web page: www.southwesternindustries.com/support
@@TRAKMachineTools Thanks for the reply I've managed to figure it out and feel very silly, as the issue was the door guard was slightly loose and needed a little tightening, therefore not allowing the spindle to engage. After gently putting pressure on the guards while locked & then turning the spindle on i realised my silly mistake. Many thanks!
I assume that you have the program in your computer. Are you using the SX offline programming or a different source for programming? Either way, all you have to do is plug in your USB stick and then copy and paste your program from your computer to your stick. Then, in your ProtoTRAK, go to Program in/out and use the tab key to find the drive that has your USB and open it from there. Does this explain it well enough? If not, let me know. T.P.
Swedmer, There is no actual Z safety in the SMX so you need to do the following...After you complete an event and before you program something that will be on the other side of an obstacle, add a POSITION EVENT. Use INC SET for the X and Y inputs and then enter an ABS value in the Z input that is high enough to clear whatever will be in the way when it moves to the next event after that. You can copy that position event and put it anywhere that you may need it after that. I hope this helps! T.P.
Hi, Dakota. The USB drive is the same thing as the "memory stick" that Pat refers to. It's a flash memory drive device that plugs into the USB port. ~Patrick K.
Dakota, are you asking me how to search for the drive that your memory stick is plugged into? If so, go to PROG IN/OUT. Then use the TAB key until it reveals all the drives that you have memory plugged into. The C drive can be used to download files from but you cannot save files to that drive. If your memory stick is plugged into one of your USB ports, it will show up as drive D, E or F. use the data keys to highlight the drive you want to save to and push the OPEN FOLDER key. All of your programs will be in that folder. Let me know if you still have questions. T.P.
Hi pat. How do you take the program from a floppy. To the hard drive on the machine
Raymond, I believe what you are asking me is how to open a DXF from a file that is on the floppy drive. If this is correct, when you go to the PROG IN/OUT mode, you have to first find the A drive which is where your floppy is located. If you press the TAB key in the lower left hand corner, it will move from part programs to file types to drives, etc. Press it until it gets to the drives and select the S drive. Once you are there, select your DXF file you want to open and it will automatically open. FYI, this puts the file into the RAN memory and allows you to turn the final part into a PT4 program when you select END DXF. There is no way to save any programs or other files onto the hard drive. Does this answer your question? If not, please reach out to me again. T.P.
@@trakingpat2750 thank you Pat it worked. Have a great weekend. Ray
I am looking to get my company to purchase the demo box. Can you tell me where they can be purchased.
Hi. Our demo boxes aren't generally sold. If your company is a distributor for TRAK, then reaching out to your TRAK rep would be the best way. We do have demo offline software that anyone can download and try out. There are some limitations for this free software, but it would certainly show how easy it is to operate the ProtoTRAK. You can find that software on this page under "ProtoTRAK Offline Software". www.southwesternindustries.com/software
Is there a difference , one better that the other programing wise.
DXF vs XT parasolid
The biggest difference os that you only need one solid model to cut any side of the part. With DXF, you need one for each side. On top of that, DXF is only 2D so you have to refer to your print for all of your Z dimensions. T.P.
What is the black proto trak button on the right bottom corner for. I hit the button and it just beeps but nothing happens
Nothing. It was added in the beginning when they created the control in case we needed to add another button in the future. Although it beeps, it has no usage. T.P.
Hey I have a problem with the spindle I can't get it to engage/spin since retuning to my mill, I have everything set as usual & the fan is now blowing & wasn't before last use. Any ideas on be very much appreciated.
One of our tech support people can trouble-shoot this for you if you give them a call. Please have your model and serial number ready. Their phone number is 800-367-3165. You can also do a live chat from this web page: www.southwesternindustries.com/support
@@TRAKMachineTools Thanks for the reply I've managed to figure it out and feel very silly, as the issue was the door guard was slightly loose and needed a little tightening, therefore not allowing the spindle to engage. After gently putting pressure on the guards while locked & then turning the spindle on i realised my silly mistake. Many thanks!
Just for reference its a prototrak smx 3500, incase anyone else may encounter a similar issue as I did.
@@ClubBurgis No problem. Glad to hear it was something simple.
how do I load program to thumb drive. wanting to program off line then install in smx knee mill
I assume that you have the program in your computer. Are you using the SX offline programming or a different source for programming? Either way, all you have to do is plug in your USB stick and then copy and paste your program from your computer to your stick. Then, in your ProtoTRAK, go to Program in/out and use the tab key to find the drive that has your USB and open it from there. Does this explain it well enough? If not, let me know. T.P.
How do I access Z-Axis safety if I don’t want to crash with the clamp? Is it even possible on a machine with SMX?
Swedmer, There is no actual Z safety in the SMX so you need to do the following...After you complete an event and before you program something that will be on the other side of an obstacle, add a POSITION EVENT. Use INC SET for the X and Y inputs and then enter an ABS value in the Z input that is high enough to clear whatever will be in the way when it moves to the next event after that. You can copy that position event and put it anywhere that you may need it after that. I hope this helps! T.P.
@@trakingpat2750 I thank you for your help and quick response.
How do you find the USB drive?
Hi, Dakota. The USB drive is the same thing as the "memory stick" that Pat refers to. It's a flash memory drive device that plugs into the USB port. ~Patrick K.
Dakota, are you asking me how to search for the drive that your memory stick is plugged into? If so, go to PROG IN/OUT. Then use the TAB key until it reveals all the drives that you have memory plugged into. The C drive can be used to download files from but you cannot save files to that drive. If your memory stick is plugged into one of your USB ports, it will show up as drive D, E or F. use the data keys to highlight the drive you want to save to and push the OPEN FOLDER key. All of your programs will be in that folder. Let me know if you still have questions. T.P.
Thanks for the help, I got it work!
👍
Thank you!