ProfileLab questions

[c-square]

I'm a shopbotter since 2001, but a first time poster.

My computer that drives the SB died last week and I've had nothing but problems since.

I first upgraded computer to a newer dell w/ win98. (Also had to upgrade Hasp4 dongle driver, and SB sw.) After several days of frustration, I am now able to output a sb file from profilelab -- without any zm instructions.

I have tried to recreate all of the proper settings in P-L, but it still does not output any z-instructions.

I am able to use saved older SB files created from P-L to SB, but any new files I try to create lack z-insts.

Does anyone have any similar experiences or advice as to how to get ProfileLab to once again output z instructions?

I would appreciate any help or advice you can send.

Thanks

[garyb]

Ed, I would check the post processor, are you selecting the correct one?

Gary

[curtiss]

Anyone who owns a Shopbot since 2001 and asks his FIRST question NINE years later, should get some sort of award...

[myxpykalix]

You say the unit is from 2001 but the computer was how old? Does this run in DOS?

I don't know what Profile Lab is, is that your toolpath creation program?

If you are lacking only Z moves and x/y work ok then it would seem you may be missing some settings in the software to tell the program to make those moves (if i explained that correctly).
Do you have a setting for Unit Values? Maybe that is not set for your Z?

Does the resulting SB code you create lack Z moves or does the code have the Z moves but the machine just does not perform them?

[c-square]

Thanks for the responses.

ProfileLab creates tool paths and is able to output a file in SB format. I'm not sure what a post processor is, but prior to my computer failure, the SB output files from P-L executed properly by the SB.

My computer was a Win 98 HP laptop, but SB software at that time was more DOS-like. I have upgraded to SB3 os and updated firmware.

In P-L, I set depth of cut as well as type of cut (male, female, hog, etc.) The depth (Z) looks correct, but when I edit the SB output file, all Z instructions are missing, except the very first z move from zero setting. When the file executes, the cutter "floats" above the surface perfectly executing the x and y moves, but never the z moves.

When I execute a P-L output file prior to the "crash", all moves work like they originally did -- which makes me think there is something I am not setting correctly in P-L on the new computer. I have carefully reviewed all of the P-L SB output parameters, but still no Z insts output.

Thanks for the responses, please keep them coming.

[garyb]

Ed,
The post processor file converts your toolpath information to machine language to run on your SB.
When outputting your toolpath you need to select the correct post p file for the correct output to your machine this will be done in Profile Lab.
If you are running an older version of PL you may need to have the post p file updated to match the updated SB changes.

give me a call and i will see if I can help you through it.

Gary