Hi I have just taken delivery of my old triac and have a few questions which you may think are daft, can you key in the program directly on the keyboard and save it ? or do you have to download it to the machine.
Is there a user manual for this early version, I have found a parts/electronics manual and an examples of programs manual.
Has anyone a copy of the tutorial tape that would have been supplied with this style machine.
By the way it all seems to function properly.
Triac 1988 newbie user
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Hi
I have, and use a Triac 1988. Here's a quick run down of what you need to know.
In its original form:
It won't do 3D, only 2.5D.
It cannot be up-graded though Denford.
You can programme at the machine and save it to tape,but if you can find a tape that fits, the player will probably be broken. Much better to connect an old PC.
The most reliable programme to get information to the Triac is the "Industrial Text Editor" with the correct settings.See viewtopic.php?t=352&highlight=
("Mr Magoo" is very helpful as he is retired but used to work at Denford's in the 80's and knows the machines well.)
This only transfers code to the Triac. You need to write the code in a Notepad file and change the file extension to ".pnc".
I draw in AutoCAD then import them into Denford QuickCAM to produce this code. Denford Admin very kindly wrote a postprocessor for us and in now included with the programme. Works very well but isn't very economical with the amount of code it produces so can give you problems with the small Triac memory. I think it limited to about 700 lines but you can load it up many different times to cut a part, but you can normally work around it with one. Or you can drip feed it, didn't work on my machine but looked like it would be slow.
You should be looking at converting it to work with Mach3 but it should work fine for simpler stuff as it is.
Hope this is of help.
Matt
I have, and use a Triac 1988. Here's a quick run down of what you need to know.
In its original form:
It won't do 3D, only 2.5D.
It cannot be up-graded though Denford.
You can programme at the machine and save it to tape,but if you can find a tape that fits, the player will probably be broken. Much better to connect an old PC.
The most reliable programme to get information to the Triac is the "Industrial Text Editor" with the correct settings.See viewtopic.php?t=352&highlight=
("Mr Magoo" is very helpful as he is retired but used to work at Denford's in the 80's and knows the machines well.)
This only transfers code to the Triac. You need to write the code in a Notepad file and change the file extension to ".pnc".
I draw in AutoCAD then import them into Denford QuickCAM to produce this code. Denford Admin very kindly wrote a postprocessor for us and in now included with the programme. Works very well but isn't very economical with the amount of code it produces so can give you problems with the small Triac memory. I think it limited to about 700 lines but you can load it up many different times to cut a part, but you can normally work around it with one. Or you can drip feed it, didn't work on my machine but looked like it would be slow.
You should be looking at converting it to work with Mach3 but it should work fine for simpler stuff as it is.
Hope this is of help.
Matt
Architectural Model Maker www.matthewwood.co.uk
Hi all
I use a 86-Triac. I suspect that the controlsystem is the same (PNC3, correct me anyone if I am wrong).
There is an alternative route if you dont want to go the dos way. I have succesfully used easyDNC which has complete coverage for the PNC3 protocol. This is probably the best way to go. Also there is a way of using the free version of precision DNC, but then you will only beeing able to send code, and you wont get any error messages eighter. But set up correclty it work ok.
As CAM I use CamBam that converts dxf files to G-code and I have written a small and simple postprocessor that will convert the code into PNC3-friendly G-code (it is a bit different to "normal" G-code).
But bottom line, as the PNC3 is good for smaller hobby stuff, you might consider converting the machine to mach3 as stated before.
Good luck
Per
I use a 86-Triac. I suspect that the controlsystem is the same (PNC3, correct me anyone if I am wrong).
There is an alternative route if you dont want to go the dos way. I have succesfully used easyDNC which has complete coverage for the PNC3 protocol. This is probably the best way to go. Also there is a way of using the free version of precision DNC, but then you will only beeing able to send code, and you wont get any error messages eighter. But set up correclty it work ok.
As CAM I use CamBam that converts dxf files to G-code and I have written a small and simple postprocessor that will convert the code into PNC3-friendly G-code (it is a bit different to "normal" G-code).
But bottom line, as the PNC3 is good for smaller hobby stuff, you might consider converting the machine to mach3 as stated before.
Good luck
Per
triac 1988 newbie user
Many thanks for the help I may convert and run Mach3, I will have a play with it for now and see how it goes.
It amazes me that after all these years it all works fine, must be down to the build quality.
Regards Peter
It amazes me that after all these years it all works fine, must be down to the build quality.
Regards Peter