Specifications

139
Southwestern Industries, Inc.
TRAK LPM Programming, Safety, & Operating Manual
14.10.1 File Formats
The ProtoTRAK PMX CNC can store and retrieve the following ProtoTRAK and TRAK
CNC file formats.
Previous ProtoTRAK and TRAK CNC file formats:
ProtoTRAK M3 .mx3
ProtoTRAK MX3 .mx3
ProtoTRAK MX3E .mx3
TRAK AGE3 .mx3
TRAK QMV .mx3
ProtoTRAK SM .pt4
ProtoTRAK VM .pt4
ProtoTRAK SMX .pt4
14.10.2 Opening .MX3 and .PT4 files on a ProtoTRAK PMX CNC
Programs written on previous generation ProtoTRAK and TRAK CNC’s may be opened
and run on the ProtoTRAK PMX CNC. The ProtoTRAK PMX CNC will automatically
convert the file (.MX3 or .PT4) to a .PT7 file. The original file will remain on the storage
device unchanged and the converted file will be in current memory. You will have to
save the converted file using the procedure in Section 14.4 above in order to place into
storage.
Note that older-generation ProtoTRAK and TRAK CNCs had a 3 and 4-sided pocket
canned cycle. This event type will be recognized and run by the PMX CNC, but
converted into an Irregular Profile event.
14.10.3 Running ProtoTRAK PMX Files on ProtoTRAK and TRAK CNC
Controls
In order to have a program written on a ProtoTRAK PMX run on a previous version of
ProtoTRAK or TRAK CNC, you will need to save the program as either a .MX3 or .PT4
file (depending on the control or program you want to run).
Since there are some feature differences between the CNC’s the process will generally
yield a useable .mx3 or .pt4 program but with the following exceptions:
Event or feature
Comment
Result
Hidden Areas in
Irregular Pocket
The ProtoTRAK or TRAK CNC
does not recognize Hidden Areas
in Irregular Pockets.
The Irregular Pocket will be converted to an Irregular
Pocket; however, the ProtoTRAK or TRAK CNC will
display an error message that there are Hidden Areas in
the Irregular Pocket. We recommend that you separate
the Irregular Pocket into two or more Irregular Pockets
using the ProtoTRAK PMX before conversion.
Tap Events
This routine does not exist in all
models of the ProtoTRAK or
TRAK CNC.
The routine will be ignored in the converted program.
We recommend that you reprogram the Tap Events
into Drill or Position events before conversion.
Copy Repeat
Subroutines with %Feed
The %Feed or %RPM function
does not exist in all models of
The %Feed or %RPM information will be removed
from the Copy Repeat Subroutines. The programmed