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Read all of this file first =========================== This software is not free! I invite you to try it out and see for yourself if this is the package you would like to use. If you copy this software to let someone else try it out, then the copy must be complete without any additives or changes, on quality diskettes. If you decide to make this package part of your software library collection then you must, out of all good conscience, register your purchase at the reasonable price of $95.00 + $8.00 for shipping and handling. Payment must be by check or money order only. With registration you will receive a package with a manual and the latest version released. Support will be given for six months, from the date of registration. I wish you all success. To receive an unregistered copy of the CNC-CAD-CAM Package form me send $10.00 to: Brian Pfaffl Northland Multisoft 1501 S. Glendora Ave. Glendora, CA 91740 (818) 963-6355 DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration While others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with a printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated above. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. DISCLAIMER -AGREEMENT Users of the CNC-CAD-CAM Package must accept this disclaimer of warranty: The CNC-CAD-CAM Package is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of the CNC-CAD-CAM Package. The CNC-CAD-CAM Package is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this program useful and find that you are using the CNC-CAD-CAM Package and continue to use the CNC-CAD-CAM Package after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $95.00 + $8.00 for shipping and handling to Brian Pfaffl, Northland Multisoft. The $95.00 + $8.00 for shipping and handling registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Commercial users of the CNC-CAD-CAM Package must register and pay for their copies of the CNC-CAD-CAM Package within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Northland Multisoft. Anyone distributing the CNC-CAD-CAM Package for any kind of compensation must first contact Northland Multisoft at the address above for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering the CNC-CAD-CAM Package immediately (However Northland Multisoft must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of the CNC-CAD-CAM Package). You are encouraged to pass a copy of the CNC-CAD-CAM Package along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of the the CNC-CAD-CAM Package. This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. INSTALL: ======== Place the disk in drive A or B and type A: or B: then press <ENTER>. Now type INSTALL then press <ENTER>. This will install the CNC-CAD-CAM Package on your hard drive. Press the F9 key to run CNC-Trailblazer and load the current file. Items needed to run software: ============================= IBM-AT 80286 or better VGA graphics Mouse Needed items: ============= 24 pin printer to print graphics RS-232 serial communications port. CNC able to I/O ASCII or ISO code. Nine wire shielded cable (24 gauge wires). (2) twenty five pin plugs, one female (computer) and one male (CNC). Or one nine pin female (computer) and one twenty five pin male (CNC). Listed form computer to CNC. ============================ DTE is the most common. DATA Terminal Equipment DTE 1-1, 2-3, 3-2, 4-5, 5-4, 6-6+8+20, 7-7 DATA Communication Equipment DCE 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 Wire the cable as shown above. Cable and plugs can be found at Radio Shack. If you need help, contact me and arrangements can be made. More than one CNC: ================== If programs are to be stored for more than one CNC and the code is different then use a different directory to store files for each CNC. Change the directory to where the files are located and use the PATH command as shown below. Replace MACHINE1 with the name of your CNC. Make a subdirectory from the CNC directory. Shown as MACHINE1. Eight characters is the maximum length for directory or file names. Replace MACHINE1 with the name of your CNC. EXAMPLE > CHDIR \CNC > MKDIR MACHINE1 Making a batch file: ==================== CLS CHDIR \CNC\MACHINE1 PATH C:\CNC;C:\DOS TRNSEDIT This batch file will be copied to the root directory. from the root directory type CNC and press ENTER. The DOS program CHKDSK.COM is used to check your floppy disk after you use the Save function to backup the program files. Either copy CHKDSK.COM to the CNC directory or set the PATH to your DOS directory as shown above. CNC communication data and file search: ======================================= (RS-232 PORT) (BAUD RATE) (PARITY) (DATA) (STOP) (FILESPEC) The default settings are COM1 2400 E 7 1 *.CNC EXAMPLE > COM2 300 N 8 1 *.CNC EXAMPLE > COM1 9600 E 7 2 *.CNC You must find out how your CNC is setup to communicate and match CNC-Transedit accordingly. The file PARAM.DAT is created on start-up. To change this file use the editor or delete the file. DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT: Users of CNC-Trailblazer or CNC-Transedit must accept this disclaimer of warranty: CNC-Transedit is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of CNC-Trailblazer or CNC-Transedit. The purchaser is licenced to use CNC-Trailblazer or CNC-Transedit on one computer only. Distribution and\or copying and\or changing of this software and\or documentation in any way, shape or form is forbidden by law except for that the original purchaser may make one copy of the software only for use. CNC-Transedit functions ======================= Enter: ====== Identify the current file. F1 and F2 Send and Receive files: ================================= Plug in cable Start CNC - Transedit Select file and send or receive Activate I/O on CNC F3 Print: ========= PRINT the current file. F4 Copy: ======== Copy current file to floppy diskette. F5 Copy All: ============ Copy all program files and identify file to a floppy diskette. F6 Edit program: ================ Press F6 to edit a program. You can create a program, or edit an existing program by selecting the file to edit. Function key status ------------------- ESC Exit . . . . . . . . . . Exit to Identify. F1 Help . . . . . . . . . . . Display help. F2 Save . . . . . . . . . . . Saves file from memory to disk. F3 Load . . . . . . . . . . . Loads file from disk to memory. F4 New . . . . . . . . . . . Starts a new file and clears memory. F5 Erase . . . . . . . . . . Erase file from disk. F6 Locate . . . . . . . . . . Locate selected text. F9 Cut and Paste . . . . . . Cut and paste text to and from buffer. F10 Identify . . . . . . . . Go to Identify. ALT F1 . . . . . . . . . . . Shell to DOS. Editor key status ----------------- END . . . . . . . . . . . . . Send cursor to end of line. CTRL END . . . . . . . . . . Send cursor to end of file. HOME . . . . . . . . . . . . Send cursor to beginning of line. CTRL HOME . . . . . . . . . . Send cursor to beginning of file. DELETE . . . . . . . . . . . Delete character under curser. BACKSPACE . . . . . . . . . . Delete character to the left. ARROW UP . . . . . . . . . . Move up one line. ARROW DOWN . . . . . . . . . Move down one line. ARROW LEFT . . . . . . . . . Move cursor one character to the left. ARROW RIGHT . . . . . . . . . Move cursor one character to the right. ENTER . . . . . . . . . . . . Go to beginning of next line. INSERT . . . . . . . . . . . On or off marker for Cut and Paste. F7 Print program list: ====================== Press F7 to print a list of programs on a printer. This will also test for lost program files. F8 Receive unlisted file: ========================= Press F8 to receive a file from the CNC that is not currently listed. F9 CNC-Trailblazer and load file: ================================= Press F9 to execute CNC-Trailblazer and load the file currently listed. F10 CNC-Trailblazer: ==================== Press F10 to execute CNC-Trailblazer. CNC-Trailblazer start-up: On the initial start-up the code identification input is needed in each directory that has been set-up. The file is named CODE.DAT. X horizontal Y vertical I Hor Radius J Ver Radius 0 X-Y X-DIA Program Start X, Y, I, J are the standard code identifiers, but some machines are different. A lathe for example, the identifiers are in the order of X, Z, I, K and X is vertical instead of horizontal. Also X is a diameter. When plotting, the standard code identifiers are used and will be converted when the file is saved to disk. Do not use diameters when plotting. To convert the code for a lathe enter "1" for the (X-Y X-DIA) entry. You may enter a typical start code for your machine. The typical start code for a wire EDM could be: G20 G90 G92. The codes are not the same for all machines, so refer to your machines documentation. General procedure for making CNC code: 1 Window Area Input the window area coordinates. The window area is determined by the size of the part and the start point of the program. Example 1: Start of program is X0, Y0 Part size = X1, Y2 Start point = X0, Y0 Min X -1.1 Max X 1.1 Min Y -1.1 Max Y 1.1 Example 2: Start of program is X.5, Y.5 Part size = X.5, Y.5 Start point = X.5, Y.5 Min X -.1 Max X .6 Min Y -.1 Max Y .6 2 Geometry Place the geometry of the part on the screen by using the geometry ICON's. The geometry section gives details of each geometry ICON. 3 Plot Tool Path Select the plot ICON (the pencil) and press the left mouse button on the item, and near the start intersection, that will be included in the next plot move. Continue until your path is complete. Note: If the intersection has other close geometry nearby then you may need to separate the intersection to select the correct geometry. If the wrong path is found then select the Delete Plot ICON (the crossed out pencil) to delete the last path move. The "D" key on the keyboard will also delete the last current plot move. If another geometry item is too close so that you cannot make the correct path move then use the Delete Geometry ICON (the crossed out circle and line) to temporarily delete that geometry. A yellow dot in the center of the Delete Geometry ICON indicates that there is a geometry in memory. Press the "R" key on the keyboard to replace the geometry. 4 Save File Always remember to save the program before exiting CNC Trailblazer. File names can be up to 8 characters. 5 Other Options Printout the geometry and plot code. Also you may printout the window area graphics, either the geometry as seen on the screen or only the path shown on the screen. After saving the program you may leave CNC Trailblazer by exiting to CNC Transedit. Now you may send the program to your CNC machine or to another device. Identify your programs and printout your program code. You may also edit your program by using the editor. Window size: Enter the window size dimensions. For example if a two inch square area is needed and zero is the center then enter: Min X -1 Max X 1 Min Y -1 Max Y 1 If the minimum and maximum Y's are the same as the X's then you may just press enter for the Y entries. Geometry coordinates: To display the coordinates of a geometry snap the right mouse button with the mouse cursor near the desired geometry. The information will be displayed on the lower left corner of the screen. This will not function in the zoom mode, so choose a geometry ICON or PLOT to exit the zoom mode before using this feature. Mouse problems: If your mouse does not seem to be working then check to make sure that you have installed your mouse driver properly. Also if your mouse is not a newer model high resolution mouse then it may not work in VGA graphics mode. You will need to purchase a newer model mouse. VERTICAL LINE After this selection has been made then enter the X coordinate point. HORIZONTAL LINE After this selection has been made then enter the Y coordinate point. CIRCLE After this selection has been made then enter the X coordinate point, Y coordinate point, and the radius of the circle. ANGLE After this selection has been made then enter the X coordinate point, Y coordinate point, and the angle of the line. PARALLEL LINE After this selection has been made then move the mouse cursor near a line and snap the mouse button to select that line. Now enter the distance desired either positive or negative. The result will be measured at 90 degrees of the selected line's angle. LINE circle to circle After this selection has been made then move the mouse cursor near a circle and snap the mouse button to select that circle. Now move the mouse cursor near the second circle and snap the mouse button to select the second circle. When selecting circles snap the mouse button near the area that the line will be tangent to that circle. CIRCLE circle to line Will be included in next update. CIRCLE circle at angle After this selection has been made then move the mouse cursor near a circle and snap the mouse button to select that circle. Now enter the angle of intersection and the radius of the new circle. CIRCLE between two lines After this selection has been made then move the mouse cursor near a line and snap the mouse button to select that line. Now move the mouse cursor near the second line and snap the mouse button to select the second line. Now enter the radius desired. When selecting lines snap the mouse button near the area that the circle will be tangent to that line. LINE circle angle at angle After this selection has been made then move the mouse cursor near a circle and snap the mouse button to select that circle. Now enter the angle of the tangent point and then enter the angle of the line. CIRCLE between two circles Will be included in next update. DELETE Geometry Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor over the delete geometry ICON to enter the delete mode. Now move the mouse cursor near the geometry that is to be deleted and snap the mouse button. The geometry selected will turn red. Pressing the left mouse button will delete the geometry and pressing the right mouse button will deselect deleting that geometry. Select another ICON to exit the delete mode. After deleting a geometry, a small yellow dot will appear in the middle of the delete ICON. This indicates that the last delete geometry item is in memory and can be recalled by pressing the "R" key on the keyboard. This can be useful when plotting an intersection that has many close geometric shapes in a small area. PLOT Path Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor over the plot path ICON to plot your tool path. Plot path may be activated at any time. When activated, snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor on a geometry and near an intersection that the path will start from. Always select the specific geometry that will be included in the next path. Select another ICON to exit the plot path mode. DELETE Plot Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor over the delete plot ICON to delete the last current plot move from the screen and memory. If your last plot move found the wrong location then use the delete plot function and try again. Use the zoom function if you are having difficulty plotting the location desired. Pressing the "D" key on the keyboard will also delete the last current plot move. Circular Direction This is a circular plotting function. To change the direction, either clockwise or counter clockwise, move the mouse curser over the circular direction ICON and snap the mouse button. The current direction will be displayed in blue. LINE-CIRCLE Indicator This indicator shows you that your last plotting move ended on either a line or a circle. This is important because if your next plot move will be plotted a radius and if your last plot location was on a line then your next plot move will be plotted a straight line. You must snap the mouse button on the geometry that your next move will start from. MIRROR change Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor on the mirror, change ICON to display the mirror, change menu. Now select your option by snapping the mouse button on the desired box. If you select X mirror then the X dimensions will be mirrored and if you select X mirror again then the X dimensions will mirror again and will be as it was. X mirror is a horizontal mirror and Y mirror is a vertical mirror. XY change will swap X dimensions with Y dimensions. Window area allows you to change the dimensions of the window work area. PRINT Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor on the print ICON to display the print menu. Now select your option by snapping the mouse button on the desired box. The source box selection prints the geometry and plotting code. The graphics box selection prints the work window area. To print graphics, an Epson compatible 24 pin printer that has graphics capabilities is required. FILE Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor over the file ICON to display the file menu. Now type the file name and select either load, save, or new. Use CNC-Transedit to select a program file to load if the file name is unknown. New clears the memory to make a new program. Always remember to save a file before you exit. ZOOM Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor over the zoom ICON. Now enter the a multiplier from -50 to 50 and enter the X and Y coordinates or snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor at the location in the work window desired. To return to normal press enter three times when in the zoom mode. Select another ICON to exit the ZOOM mode. REPLOT Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor over the replot ICON. This will replot any geometry and plot information that you have in memory. This may be needed if extensive editing is done. EXIT Snap the mouse button with the mouse cursor over the exit ICON to display the exit menu. Now select your option by snapping the mouse button over the box desired. You may exit to CNC-Transedit, exit to DOS, or resume by selecting the no box. $95.00 The CAD Package - CNC-Trailblazer, CNC-Transedit, TRIG-IT. Manual, 6 months phone support and upgrades. $25.00 1 year phone support and upgrades after initial support period expires. $200.00 * Installation, cable up to 100 feet - one machine. $100.00 per each additional CNC $250.00 * Training, 4 hours, up to 5 persons, $50.00 for each additional person. One manual per student. Note (*) If within service area. Low price of $95.00 for the CNC-CAD-CAM Package. Please add $8.00 for shipping and handling. Included with purchase is CNC-Trailblazer, CNC-Transedit, TRIG-IT, a manual in an indexed binder, and 6 months phone support and upgrades. Brian Pfaffl Northland Multisoft 1501 S. Glendora Ave. Glendora, CA 91740 Registration $ 95.00 Shipping $ 8.00 ------ Total $103.00 If outside of the USA add $15.00 for shipping. Name ________________________________________ Address ________________________________________ City ________________________________________ State _____________________ Zip ____________