MachineMate Part Program Conversion Utility

There are two versions for this utility.

1) mmconvrt.exe

	This is a DOS utility that runs from a command line prompt.
	It should be compatible with the various Microsoft operating 
	systems: DOS, Windows 3.1, 9x, ME, NT, etc.

2) pconvert.exe

	This is a Windows 3.1 utility that runs interactively.  
	It should be compatible with the various Microsoft operating 
	systems: Windows 3.1, 9x, ME, NT, etc.

To run the DOS version:

1) 	Copy the mmconvrt.exe to an appropriate disk directory using 
	MS Windows Explorer (or the like).
2)	Open a command prompt window (this depends on the OS).
3)	If necessary, type mmconvrt.exe after the prompt to get the 
	syntax for the command line. There are several command line
	options depending on the conversion requirements, as well as 
	there are several names for specifing the target control type.
4)	Prepare to do a program conversion:
	a) determine the directory path and the file name of the input
	   part progam to convert 
	b) decide on the directory path and name of the output program
	c) determine the control target for the original (exact name)
	d) decide on the program number for this program in MachineMate
	e) determine the number of decimal places in MachineMate 
	   (typically 3 for metric and 4 for inch programming)
	f) decide whether spaces should be suppressed in the output
	   (default is spaced) and whether the blocks should be 
	   renumbered (recommended if output will be run; default: no)
	g) decide whether any MachineMate options are applicable
	   (either G8x letters or Tx1/Txx22 processing) or whether the 
	   G8x output variation is desired (first hole generated for 
	   the cycle for the G8x line) and/or the U/K swap for the
	   G8x letter option is desired or whether either lathe output
	   variation is desired (X is dia and/or I is dia or 
	   convert X as radius to diameter).
5)	Run the utility with the correct command line (per above).
6)	Check the output file.  
7)	Always do a test run to make sure that the program content is
	acceptable. There could be unexpected G codes and/or different 
	I/J/K parameters and/or incorrect parameter conversions. The 
	I/J/K and G8x parameters are not interpreted the same in all 
	of the vendor formats.
8)	This command line version enables the creation of a .bat file
	that can quickly convert any number of files.

To run the Windows version:

1)	Copy the pconvert.exe to an appropriate disk directory using 
	MS Windows Explorer (or the like). The accompanying dll is
	required in the same directory.
2)	Using explorer, click on the pconvert.exe. Alternately, create 
	a shortcut and place it on the desktop and/or in the 
	Windows Start->Program menu (perhaps in the MM program group).
3)	Prepare to do a program conversion:
	a) find the directory path and name of the part progam to 
	   convert; a File | Open dialog is provided to navigate to 
	   the desired file
	b) find on the directory path and name of the output program; 
	   a Convert | Output File dialog is provided to navigate to  
	   the directory and to specify its name
	c) a Convert | Convert To dialog is provided to specify the 
	   program number for this program in MachineMate; the dialog
	   also shows the following parameters for the conversion
	d) specify the control target for the original; a choice list 
	   is provided for the known control targets
	e) specify the number of decimal places in MachineMate 
	   (typically 3 for metric and 4 for inch programming); a pair
	   of radio-buttons is provided
	f) specify whether the output lines should be renumbered
	   (0 preserves the old line numbers; a number (like 5 or 10)
	   should be entered when the program will be run on a control,
	   rather than just checked visually using this utility)
	g) specify whether the output lines should have no spaces; a
	   checkbox is provided (the default is spaced output)
	h) decide whether any MachineMate options are applicable
	   (either G8x letters or Tx1/Txx22 processing); a checkbox is 
	   provided for the G8x option; a checkbox is provided for the
	   output of the first hole with the G8x; a checkbox is provided
	   to swap the U/K for the G8x option; a set of radio-buttons is
	   provided for the T-code processing options; two checkboxes 
	   are provided for the lathe 'X is diameter' or 'I is diameter'
	   or 'change X as radius to diameter' options.
	   For some of these options, the operator must know if the 
	   MachineMate has them because the wrong selection can result in 
	   incorrect execution of the output part program.
4)	Perform the file conversion; the output file is displayed in its 
	own window.
	Note that only about 30KB of either file is displayed. The entire 
	files are intact on the disk; these windows allow a quick overview 
	of the beginning of a part program. However, if a file is edited 
	and saved with the utility, then only that shown in the window 
	(up to the 30KB limit) will be saved in that file.
5)	Check the output file.  
	Window | Tile allows a side-by-side viewing of the two files.
6) 	Always do a test run to make sure that the program content is
	acceptable. There could be unexpected G codes and/or different 
	I/J/K parameters and/or incorrect parameter conversions. The 
	I/J/K and G8x parameters are not interpreted the same in all 
	of the vendor formats.

Windows program user's note:
	If the same control type is always in use, then the Windows 
	shortcut can specify that as selection for the default. 
	In the shortcut Properties, provide the default control type 
	as the first argument. For example:
	Windows Shortcut, Properties, Shortcut, Target:
		C:\MMData\Convert\pconvert.exe c=other
	would define the 'other' control type as the default control type. 

	This entry is in all lower-case as shown above. The list of the 
	valid control types can be obtained by using the utility once 
	and checking the list in the conversion dialog's choice list.

	This default can be changed by the user in the conversion dialog. 
	While the application is running, the dialog recalls the 
	previous control type selection each time it is displayed. 
	Without this shortcut argument, the dialog will default to the 
	other control type for its first presentation.

Note that both utility versions run exactly the same conversion process. 
For a given input file and the same conversion parameters, both versions
will generate exactly the same output file.

Program changes:
1.1	Added support for the Siemans7T.
1.2	Added support for the AB8400.
1.3	Added support for two options in the MachineMate: 
	G8x letters (an option allowing conventional letters rather than 
	the cycle parameters); 
	Tx1/Txx22 formats (an option allowing expansion of a T-code where 
	Tx1 format results in TxDyHy; Txx22 format results in TxxDyyHyy;  
	the number 1 or 2 indicates number of digits in the compensation
	number and remaining digits in the T-code are assumed to be the
	turret position).
1.4	Fix N outputs for programs with more than 65535 lines.
1.5	Added support for Dynapath Series 5; added G8x first hole option
	and option for swap of U/K for G8x letter option.
1.6	Added support for AB8400LP; fix / without N; drop . after S-value.
1.7	Added Bendix5, Bendix5SD (Spindle rpm Direct), Teammate2; added S0
	with M19; handle Z, R plane change during a drilling cycle; added
	options for lathe: X is dia, I is dia, convert X as rad to dia.
1.8	Added option for no trailing zeroes; Bendix does negate of Z;
	Bendix5SF uses spindle speed file while Bendix5 does not.
1.9	Added support for the AMCB; fix Bendix G4; fix # in a comment.
	Added renumber type; add default control type for the Windows user.
1.10	Added support for Siemens850; fix P3 for large Z;
	fix R (always to K if no G or if G2/G3).

Note that there are files in the zip for Bendix5 or Teammate2 conversions.

Any comments about the conversion utility can be forwarded to:
MachineMate Inc.
phone: 920-907-0001
email: info@machinemate.com