TRAK Machine Tools
Southwestern Industries, Inc.
The ProtoTRAK DXF Converter Operating Manual
12
3.6.6 Completing the Event
Once you choose the event type and then click on the features on the print, there are
two ways to fill in the rest of the information like feed rates and tool numbers:
1.
While still in the DXF Converter, click on Event.
2.
End the DXF Converter and go into Program mode.
Both ways provide you with the familiar, prompted interface of the ProtoTRAK, but we
recommend that you choose the first way
–
stay in the DXF Converter and click the Event
button.
We have two reasons for this recommendation. First, we have noticed that when we use
the DXF Converter with large programs, we find that answering the prompts right away
makes it a bit easier to keep things straight. Defining the event in its entirety before
moving to the next event makes it unnecessary to remember event numbers later on.
The second reason is that using the DXF Converter allows you to establish event groups
(event groups are described above). Event groups make it easy to program like pieces
of geometry. For example, say you wanted to machine five holes the same size. Within
the DXF Converter you would select Drill, then select each of the holes to add them to
your event group. Then you would click on Event and fill in the prompts. The
information that you put in the prompts for the first of the Drill events would be copied
to the rest of the events in the event group. In contrast, if you end the DXF Converter
and go to the Program Mode to fill in the prompts, you would have to fill in the same
information for every drill event.
3.7 Sample Exercise
If you haven’t already done it
, open the file named
BALLPARK.DXF,
located in the
SWI TEST
PROGRAMS
folder inside the PT4 directory. Use the Show/Hide command on the layers of this
part program until it looks like Figure 3.2.2 above.
Continue and use the center of the circle as the absolute 0 reference point (see section 3.4.3).
Now you can start programming:
1.
Select Drill. Note how the Drill softkey changes to simulate a pressed-in look. That
means the items you click on the screen will be converted into ProtoTRAK Drill events.
2.
Click the small circles the make up the bolt hole pattern one by one. Notice how the
color changes from white to blue. Remember that events will be machined in the order
that they are selected.
Note: whenever an event type has been selected and is active, on the lower left hand corner you
will see the mouse po
inters’ current X and Y location in relation to the absolute zero reference
point.
3.
After you have clicked on all five of the circles in the bolt hole pattern, click on the Event
button.
4.
The prompts for the first event in the event group will appear and the NOT OK flag will
appear at the top of the Event. Fill in the prompts. When the last prompt is filled in the
flag changes to All OK. This means that the data you filled in has been inserted in all the
rest of the Drill events that define the event group. Notice that the bolt hole pattern has
turned from blue to green. This signals that these events are fully programmed.
5.
Now click the Event button again. This will return you to the full screen of the drawing
and prompt you to Select a new event. If you want to program the same holes again for
