Parasolid Converter Software for Bed Mills, Knee Mills, Retrofits

ProtoTRAK Parasolid Converter, available for most ProtoTRAK SMX controls, enables ProtoTRAK users to generate ProtoTRAK programs from solid 3D Parasolid CAD files quickly. This allows shops to meet increasing demands from customers to handle 3D files, and significantly reduces the time it takes to generate ProtoTRAK programs.

ProtoTRAK events are programmed in the desired order by selecting and clicking the appropriate geometry (excluding geometries with bottom contouring) and corresponding event type (e.g., drill, pocket, profile, etc.). The user is then presented with an interactive two-pane window interface.

The left-hand pane contains a two-dimensional representation of the part, while the right-hand pane displays the familiar ProtoTRAK programming page with event prompts and event X- and Y-dimensions already loaded by the Converter.

Z-RAPID and Z-END dimensions are loaded into the programming page by pointing the cursor at the desired part geometry (in the 3D model View Sold window) and clicking the mouse button. Remaining event prompts including RPM, Z-FEEDRATE, and TOOL # are filled in just as they would be for any other ProtoTRAK program.

The Converter automatically accounts for drill point lengths when Z-END dimensions are loaded into the ProtoTRAK programming page. This is just one of many amenities provided by this powerful software package, as it also offers two significant timesaving features – Event Groups and Chaining.

Event Groups allows the user to generate multiple events simultaneously for similar circular geometries requiring the same machining to accomplish this, merely click on all the similar geometries and fill in the event prompts for the first clicked geometry. The Converter then takes the applicable event data from the first clicked geometry and uses it to complete the programming of the events, automatically, for the remaining similar geometries.

Chaining allows the user, when programming pockets or profiles, to define the entire geometry of the periphery with just two clicks – the first to tell the ProtoTRAK where to start, the second to tell it which direction to go. The rest of the connected events are loaded in automatically.

Southwestern Industries Inc.
Rancho Dominguez, Calif.
www.southwesternindustries.com

View a video of a demonstration of the ProtoTRAK Parasolid Conversion Software for ProtoTRAK SMX CNCs at http://bit.ly/XWwHj7.

Visit http://bit.ly/XWvvw1 for the range of ProtoTRAK software downloads.