Convert G-Code Programs To Mazatrol

Modern Machine Shop, Nov, 2000 by Elizabeth M. McPhail

The company announces its release of MazaCAM with Geopath version 3.3, said to be an intelligent solution that allows Mazatrol and G-Code shops to save time and increase production. The complete CAD/CAM product gives end-users the versatility of both G-Code and Mazatrol programming by enabling them to program in their own method (whether it be CAD/CAM or Mazatrol) and output to either one.

MazaCAM with Geopath is said to be the only CAD/CAM product on the market that can take a Mazatrol program and convert it to an edit-free G-Code program within minutes. MazaCAM (the Mazatrol-oriented off-line programming system) integrates with Geopath (the G-code programming system) to allow the programmer to program any machine in the shop from one computer. This solution results in saving time and increasing production.

The CAD/CAM solution is composed of three main sections: MazaCAM Utilities, the MazaCAM Editor and the Geopath CAD/CAM programming system.

MazaCAM Utilities gives the programmer flexibility to translate between Mazatrol and G-code, as well as uploading and downloading directly to the Mazak machine utilizing its Mazatrol protocol. MazaCAM Utilities will convert between control types such as M32, M-Plus, Fusion 640M and back to M2, and between the T32, T-Plus, Fusion 640T and back to T2 and T3. Additionally, MazaCam Utilities can send programs to and from the new Fusion controls with the floppy disk or network formats.

The MazaCAM Editor enables the user to create and/or edit Mazatrol conversational programs for all of the Mazak controls (including the PC Fusion). It also includes printing capabilities. Two more important features that increase its versatility for the programmer are "copy and paste" and the ability to plot the part shape.

The MazaCAM off-line editor can take any portion of the program for a previously programmed part, select it and then copy and paste it to the new program currently being programmed. This feature gives the programmer yet another way to save time in programming. The programmer simply clicks on the previous Mazatrol program and copies and pastes selected sections to the current program.

The G-Code part of the system--Geopath--has just been upgraded to version 3.3. It is now icondriven and includes hot keys, menu commands and right-click menus. It also contains preprogrammed shapes of ellipses, parabolas, D-shaped holes, slot commands and so on, as welt as lettering/engraving.