Thread: Sending programs from computer to mazak problem

I am having a problem sending a program from the computer to machine. The machine is a Mazak VTC-16 with M32B. The program goes from machine to computer, but not the other way.
Trying to go from computer to machine gives me a 553 error.
I am using a null modem cable with settings of even parity 2 stop bits 8 data bits and 4800 baud on both ends. I tried 8 on machine and 7 on computer and it still won't go.
Anyone know what I might be doing wrong?
This cable works great on my Haas machines.

I'm not sure what software you're using to transfer files to/from your mazak but it requires specific software to handle Mazatrol files. Go to Ezatrol.com and download a free 30 day trial version and give it a shot. If you have any trouble getting it going, Eric at Ezatrol is a wizard and had it running in no time. Keep in mind that Ezatrol will only do file transfer, not file editing of Mazatrol.

Ezatrol will also works well with most other controls unless you have a fricken piece of crap Fagor! Eric is working on it and hopefully will get it licked soon.

Thanks for the reply.
I am using communicate. It comes with cad/cam software called Smartcam.
I am not trying to send mazitrol programs. Only EIA programs.

Had the exact same issue with smartcam and an M32B control, after several months we gave up and purchased camlink from griffo bros. No issues since.

You shouldn't have any problems with what you're using.

You're getting a "553" Alarm? That alarm is because of your program number, not your comm settings. Check your program number... generally it's because your program number is more than 4 digits. On Plus controls and newer, you can change a parameter to accept up to 8 digits for program numbers. I can't remember if the 32 controls had that parameter.

.... and no, you don't need specific software to comm with Mazatrol programs either... it depends on how you want to view it....

Originally Posted by psychomill

You shouldn't have any problems with what you're using.

You're getting a "553" Alarm? That alarm is because of your program number, not your comm settings. Check your program number... generally it's because your program number is more than 4 digits. On Plus controls and newer, you can change a parameter to accept up to 8 digits for program numbers. I can't remember if the 32 controls had that parameter.

.... and no, you don't need specific software to comm with Mazatrol programs either... it depends on how you want to view it....

Thanks for the repllies everyone.
psycomill, I get the 553 alarm when I send from computer to machine. I can send a program from machine to computer, but if I try to send the same program back to machine, I get the alarm 553. Even if I erase the program from the machine before trying to send it back. And actually, the program does not have a program # in it. It just starts out with G90G40G17G40.
I tried putting a O6331 at the top, and I tried % at the top. It still always gives me that alarm.

How about a "%" and an "O" number? Like this...

%
O6331
G90G40G17G40
.
.
.
.

Originally Posted by psychomill

How about a "%" and an "O" number? Like this...

%
O6331
G90G40G17G40
.
.
.
.

Yes, I did that and ended like this:

G91G28Z0.
G91G28X0.Y0.
M30
%

I have the same control, I remember getting this alarm when downloading to control, seems like I had typed the wrong program # into the control, and when I sent it, I got the alarm because they didnt match up.

What's your trigger for sending? Are you pressing START at the machine before you send? Are you setting up the DNC to wait for START from the machine? Is the buffer in your DNC shoving data before your machine is ready?

This also looks like a baud problem... Machine is set to 4800... Is the DNC? How long is your cable? Have you tried a slower baud?

The cable is about 6 feet. I have not tried lower bauds. The communication program has a machine start check box. I open the file I want to send and I load the machine I want to send to, which has all the communication settings.
I then go to the mazak and bring up the communication page. The choices there are DNC, Tape, and CMT. I choose tape and then there are a bunch of other choices. I choose load a program from tape to NC. Then I hit start. The program # shows up on the list to the right side of the screen, but it then gives the alarm 553.

On my T32B I have to use the CMT option to transfer files, not Tape or DNC.

I dont know the reason but M32 communicates differently than T32

For the T32.. you're probably transferring Mazatrol programs and not EIA.

The M32 is correct for EIA programs... Tape I/O. Still seems like a baud issue which shouldn't be with only a 6ft cable. Could be a parity check but there's a different alarm for that.

Are you using "All Load" or are you typing in a number?

I tried using all load. and that's when the program # shows up on the list on the mazak monitor, but it gets the alarm as soon as that happens.
Another question if you know, How do I use block skip on this M32B?
I put the / symbol in front of the block I want to skip, then when I hit the block skip button, the bottom of the screen comes on with block skip 1 thru 9 on the bottom of the screen. I just picked them all, but it still does not ignore the blocks with / in front of them.

Thanks again for all the help.

Have to think about the comm issue...

As for the block skip... Mazaks have multiple block skip and it goes from 1-9. You're using it correctly with exception that you only need to turn on the the skip number you're using or want to use. So, if your line only has a "/" at the front, this is the same as block skip "1". If you want to use another skip number, your code would be like this:

/5G0G53Z0.

In the above case, you would turn on skip #5 to bypass this line. You're saying its not skipping though? Can you post the code? and are you checking in full auto mode or are you single blocking? In single block, the display will probably still highlight the skip line when you get there but it shouldn't execute it....

This is the program. We make this part with the hole at 15.625 on some and without that hole on others.
Also, back to my first problem. I still get alarm 553 but it does load the % on the machine. I did try loading at 300 baud, but no difference. I still think the wire must be the culprit. I need to know the pinout for the cable. I have a DB25 jumper block that I can make any way it needs to be. I would like to use a null modem cable DB9 on computer side to DB25 on machine side. I can plug the jumper block to the machine and plug the null modem cable to the jumper block. Does this sound like it could work?

%
O3011
(SA03000)
T1
G90G0G58X.375Y.499
S500M3
G43H1Z1.M8
G82Z-.08R.02P1000F3.
X1.125Z-.21
G91X.75L8
/G90X15.625Z.16
G90X20.75Z-.08
X21.625Z-.21
G91X1.L33
G90X65.375Z-.16
G80M9
M5
G91G28Z0.
T3
M1
G90G0X65.375Y.499
S500M3
G43H3Z1.M8
G83Z-1.16R-.1Q.05F2.3
G80M9
M5
G91G28Z0.
T2
M1
G90G0X54.625Y.499
S500M3
G43H2Z1.M8
G83Z-1.16R-.15Q.05F2.5
G91X-1.L33
/G90X15.625
G90X7.125R-.15
G91X-.75L8
G80M9
M5
G91G28Z0.
T5
M1
G90G0X.375Y.499
S1000M3
G43H5Z1.M8
G83Z-1.12R0.Q.05F2.5
X20.75
G80M9
M5
G91G28Z0.
G91G28X0.Y0.
M30
%

Do a search on hear for the pin out on Mazaks. I know its been posted several times. I don't have a book or the info in front of me rigtht now...

As for the code... it looks good and should work. The way to use it is to press the Block Skip button (it highlights as well) and select skip 1 in this case and it highlights. To shut it off, simply press the Block Skip button in the first step (highlight goes away). Try your code with a "/1" in the line. I seem to vaguely remember a software version issue about it.


X1.125Z-.21
G91X.75L8
/1G90X15.625Z.16 (change like this)
G90X20.75Z-.08
X21.625Z-.21
G91X1.L33
G90X65.375Z-.16

I will give it a try and let you know.

Yes psychomill, that did the trick. I like that idea, because on my Haas mill, I can't block skip some lines and not others. Nice feature.
Thanks

I have done the search for pinouts, but I have not had any luck finding any that I could clearly understand. I wish the guy who got fired from here didn't steal the manuals. I'm sure I could have figured it out with them.