Southwestern Industries ProtoTRAK CONV-DXF, Operating Manual

Page: 3 / 41

TRAK Machine Tools
Southwestern Industries, Inc.
The ProtoTRAK DXF Converter Operating Manual
i
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................. 1
1.1 DXF Versions............................................................................................................ 1
1.2 DXF Defined ............................................................................................................. 1
1.3 Mouse Required ....................................................................................................... 1
1.4 Compatibility ............................................................................................................ 1
2.0 Installing and Activating DXF ...................................................... 3
2.1 Installing the DXF Software ....................................................................................... 3
2.2 Activating DXF ......................................................................................................... 3
3.0 Using the DXF Converter for Mills ................................................... 5
3.1 Opening a DXF Part Program .................................................................................... 5
3.2 Choose the Layers That You Want to be Displayed ..................................................... 5
3.3 The Gap Tolerance ................................................................................................... 6
3.3.1 Gap Tolerance Applied Automatically ..................................................................... 7
3.3.2 Closing Gaps As They Are Identified During Programming ...................................... 7
3.3.3 Gap Tolerance When Chaining ............................................................................... 8
3.4 Pick a Zero Absolute Reference ................................................................................. 8
3.4.1 Choice A: An Intersection ..................................................................................... 8
3.4.2 Choice B: An End Point ........................................................................................ 8
3.4.3 Choice C: An Arc Center ....................................................................................... 8
3.4.4 Continue: Use the Drawing’s Absolute Zero ........................................................... 8
3.5 Editing the Drawing .................................................................................................. 8
3.6 Converting Geometry into a ProtoTRAK Part Program ................................................. 9
3.6.1 Event Types ......................................................................................................... 9
3.6.2 Functions in the Status Line ................................................................................ 10
3.6.3 Event Groups ..................................................................................................... 10
3.6.4 Chaining............................................................................................................. 11
3.6.5 Color Schemes and Status Flags .......................................................................... 11
3.6.6 Completing the Event .......................................................................................... 12
3.7 Sample Exercise ..................................................................................................... 12
3.8 Creating a DXF File from a ProtoTRAK Program ........................................................ 13
4.0 Using the DXF Converter for Lathes .......................................... 14
4.1 Opening a DXF Program ......................................................................................... 14
4.2 Functions of the Status Line .................................................................................... 14
4.3 Choose the Layers That You Want Displayed............................................................ 15
4.4 The Gap Tolerance ................................................................................................. 16
4.4.1 Gap Tolerance Applied Automatically ................................................................... 16
4.4.2 Closing Gaps As They Are Identified During Programming ...................................... 17
4.4.3 Gap Tolerance When Chaining ............................................................................. 17
4.5 Rotate Drawing and Pick a Zero Absolute Reference ................................................. 17
4.5.1 Rotate 90 Degrees .............................................................................................. 17
4.5.2 Choice A: Intersection of Two Lines or Arcs .......................................................... 18
4.5.3 Choice B: Closest Endpoint of Line or Arc ............................................................. 19
4.5.4 Choice C: Closest Midpoint of Line or Arc ............................................................ 19
4.5.5 Continue: Use the Drawing’s Absolute Zero ......................................................... 19
4.6 Positive Half, Negative Half and Full Drawing Display ................................................ 20
4.7 Edit Drawing .......................................................................................................... 21
4.7.1 Add Line ............................................................................................................ 21
4.7.2 New Point .......................................................................................................... 22
4.7.3 Hide Line............................................................................................................ 23
4.7.4 Using the Drawing Edit Features .......................................................................... 23
4.8 Converting Geometry into a ProtoTRAK Program ...................................................... 24