Turn the ProtoTRAK EMX On

If you don't use the ProtoTRAK for 20 minutes, its screen will go blank. This is the screen saver. Press any key or turn the X or Y hand wheels and it will come on immediately.

Screen Organization

Almost every screen is organized like the one below and divided into four sections. The screen below will show a Z readout if purchased with that option.

The STATUS line is on the top. It tells you what mode of operation you are in, whether you're in inch or metric, if the servo motors are on, etc.

The INFORMATION area is below and is the largest part of the screen. It shows information or data depending on what you're doing. In DRO operation it shows the axis readout; in Programming it shows the program; when you press LOOK in programming it shows a picture of your part, etc.

The CONVERSATION line is below the information area. This is probably the most important line because this is where you input all the data and this is where the ProtoTRAK will prompt you for the information or activity that it wants.

The SOFT KEY definitions are shown in the 5 boxes on the right. These explain the function of the 5 gray arrow keys directly to the right of each box. In this manual if we say press the JOG soft key, we mean press the gray arrow key to the right of the JOG box on the screen.

Keyboard Organization

The keyboard is made up of three sections: the soft keys, the data input keys, and the motion control keys.

The SOFT KEYS are the 5 unlabeled keys on the right side of the screen. Their function is defined by what is written on the screen in line with the key. If there is nothing written, then the key will not work.

The DATA INPUT keys are the number keys and the other keys close to them. The operation of these keys is pretty obvious or will be explained in the next section. One thing to note at this point is the difference between the INC SET and the ABS SET keys directly above the number keys. If you are inputting an X or Y dimension it is important to set or load this into the system with the correct key. If it is an absolute-referenced number, press ABS SET; if it is an incremental number, press INC SET. If you are inputting any value other than an X or Y, you may press either ABS SET or INC SET. In this case the manual will simply say SET.

The MOTION CONTROL keys are located to the upper right of the screen and consist of the GO, STOP and FEED keys. The FEED keys are the UP and DOWN arrows above and below, respectively, of the soft keys.

Modes

Press the MODE function key. The screen will show:

This is how you change from one mode of operation to another. After you press the MODE key, just press the soft key to the right of the box describing the mode of operation you wish. If you ever get confused just press MODE to get back to this beginning screen.

Manual Operation

Now press the DRO soft key from the Select Mode screen above. The screen will once again show:

Do the following:

1. Press X, ABS SET, Y, ABS SET, X INC SET, Y, INC SET. This will zero or reset the absolute and incremental readouts.
2. Press the INC/ABS key above the 7 key. Notice the ABS on the screen changes to INC.
3. Manually crank the X hand wheel so that the table moves left. Move the table so that the readout is X 1.0000 INC.
4. Manually crank the Y hand wheel so that the saddle moves away from you. Move the saddle so that the readout is Y -1.0000 INC.
5. Press X, INC SET and Y, INC SET to reset the X and Y incremental readout to zero.
6. Move X another inch to 1.0000 INC and Y another inch to -1.0000 INC.
7. Press the INC/ABS function key to show your absolute position. That is, how far you have moved from Step 1 above where you set absolute. X should read 2.0000 ABS, and Y -2.0000 ABS.
8. Press X, ABS SET, Y, and ABS SET to reset absolute to the position you're at now.

JOG

1. Fold up the X and Y hand wheels (pull out, and then fold up).
2. Press the JOG soft key. The conversation line will say "Feed rate 100". This means the ProtoTRAK is ready to jog in the plus X or Y direction at 100 inches per minute (since you are in INCH mode).
3. Press and hold X. The table moves to the left at 100 ipm. Release the X key to stop.
4. Press and hold Y. The table moves towards you. Release.
5. Press the +/- key. Notice the "Feed rate 100" in the conversation line changes to "Feed rate -100".
6. Press and hold X. The table now moves right. Release.
7. Press and hold Y. The saddle now moves away. Release.
8. Press the DOWN arrow key. Notice the "Feed rate -100" changes to "Feed rate -90". Press the DOWN arrow key several more times.
9. Press and hold X. Notice the table moves slower. Release.
10. Press the UP arrow key several times until you are back to "Feed rate -100".
11. Press number key 9 and ABS SET. Notice that the conversation line now says "Feed rate -9.0". It took 9% of the current federate displayed.
12. Press either X or Y. The table or saddle now moves at 9 ipm. This is the way to get low feed rates for power feeding straight cuts in X or Y.
13. If you press the X or Y key on the DRO and simultaneously press the start button of the remote you can let go of the DRO button and the table will continue to move until you release the remote button.
14. Press the RETURN soft key to exit jog operation and go back to manual.

Return to Absolute Zero

1. Ensure the spindle is clear of the top of the vise/part.
2. Make sure the readout is displaying absolute (ABS). If not, press the INC/ABS key.
3. Move the hand wheels to make sure you're not at zero.
4. Press the RETURN ABS 0 soft key.
5. Press GO. The table and saddle will automatically move to the absolute zero you set earlier.

Teach

Teach allows you to machine a part by hand and command the ProtoTRAK EMX to remember the tool positions. This "taught" program can then be run for subsequent parts.

Imagine you have this simple job: (This is not actually the material you will be machining, the material you will be using will be mounted in the vise later in the training)

• Drill the two ¹/₄ inch holes
• Mill ¹/₄ inch slot

1. Set ABS 0 over the bottom left corner and make sure the table in X and Y is positioned so they are near the center of their travel.
2. Press TEACH.
3. Press INC/ABS (or not) to get into ABS readout.
4. Using the hand wheels, move the table to X=1.0000 abs, Y=1.0000 abs. This is the position of the first hole.
5. Press POSN DRILL.
6. Move the table to X=2.0000 abs, Y=1.0000 abs. This is the second hole.
7. Press POSN DRILL.
8. Move the table to X=1.0000 abs, Y=2.0000 abs. This is the beginning of the slot.
9. Press MILL BEGIN.
10. Move the table to X=2.0000 abs, Y = 2.0000 abs. This is the end of the slot.
11. Press MILL END.
12. You have now "taught" the program.
13. Press END TEACH. The events that you "taught" are now in the current program. To edit the events (which is required to select the tool numbers and set the feed rate of the mill event) press MODE and then PROG. To go to the beginning of the current program, press GO TO BEGIN.
14. Press DELETE EVENT until TEACH POSN is the title of EVENT 1 (if there was no program already loaded, this will not have to be done).
15. Press the DOWN ARROW until TOOL # is selected. Press ABS SET to give it the default number (or if you had a specific tool number, input it here).
16. With the TOOL DIA selected, press ABS SET to give it the default value (since this a position event, no offsets are required).
17. The second position event should now appear in the right window pane. Press the DOWN ARROW until TOOL # is highlighted. Press ABS SET. Press ABS SET again to give the TOOL DIA the default value.
18. The mill event should now appear in the right window pane.
19. Press the DOWN ARROW to select TOOL OFFSET.
20. Press 0 for CENTER, ABS SET. You have now told the program that the programmed locations are for the center of the cutter.
21. Press 6 to change the feed rate, and press ABS SET.
22. Press 2, ABS SET to change the tool number.
23. Press ABS SET again to give TOOL DIA the default value (since the OFFSET is CENTER, no actual offset will be calculated).
24. Press 2, ABS SET to say that the mill event does not continue.
25. You have now given the program enough information to run.
26. Press MODE.
27. Press RUN, START, and GO. The conversation line will tell you to load the specific tool number and to start the spindle. At this point, the X and Y hand wheels are under servo motor control and cannot be moved by hand.
28. Press GO and the table will move to the first hole position and the conversation line will read "SET Z". This is where you lower the quill in order to drill the desired hole.
29. Press GO. The table moves to the second hole position.
30. Pres GO. The table moves to the beginning of the slot. The conversation line will then prompt you to change your tool (this is where you load your end mill) and SET Z.
31. Press GO. The table moves to the end of the slot at 6 inches per minute.
32. Press GO and the conversation line will read RUN OVER at which point the CNC program has reached its end.
33. Press MODE to exit out of the CNC mode and regain manual control over the X and Y hand wheels.

Program Strategy

If you wish to place the part in the vise before programming consult section Set up the Part Reference. Before programming a part, it's important to figure out what you want to do and what order you want to do it. Part A's programming strategy is as follows:

1. Decide that the lower left corner of the part will be our absolute zero or absolute reference and enter the absolute zero location.
2. Drill the left most hole in the row using a Position Drill Event.
3. Drill the next 3 holes using a Repeat Event.
4. Drill the 8-hole bolt circle pattern using a Bolt Hole Event.
5. Mill the diagonal in the upper left corner using a Mill Event.
6. Mill the arc in the lower left corner using an Arc Event.
7. Mill the circular pocket with a Pocket Frame Event.
8. Mill the rectangle profile with a Pocket Frame Event.

Making and Inputting the Program

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The Program Part Number

1. Press MODE and then press PROG soft key to enter the Program Mode.
2. The conversation display says, "Program Name". Input 123, SET (INC SET or ABS SET). If there is a program already in the current memory, you can erase it by pressing Erase in the Prog In/Out Mode before entering the program number.

Event 1 — Spot Drill the First Hole

1. The conversation says, "Select an Event". Press POSN/DRILL soft key. Now, press ONE to select the single hole.
2. The right side of the information area shows that Event 1 is a Position/Drill and it lists what data is required. But keep your eye on the conversation line.
3. Conversation says, "X END". Input 2.75, ABS SET. Remember the lower left corner is our Absolute zero.
4. "Y END". Input .75, ABS SET.
5. "TOOL #". Press 1, ABS SET.
6. Tool number 1 is the spot drill, so the diameter is not important, press ABS SET.

Event 2 — The Next 3 Holes

1. "Select an Event". Press the SUB soft key, and then the REPEAT soft key for Event 2 to make the next 3 holes in the row.
2. Event 2 is a Repeat Event and the data needed is shown on the right of the information area. Notice Event 1 has shifted to the left.
3. "First Event #". Press 1, ABS SET because you want to repeat Event 1.
4. "Last Event #". Press 1, ABS SET because the only event you want to repeat is Event 1.
5. "X Offset". Input .75, INC SET because that's the distance between the holes in the X direction.
6. "Y Offset". Press 0, INC SET because the other holes are not shifted in the Y direction.
7. "# Repeats". Press 3, ABS SET because you want 3 more holes each offset .75 inch.
8. "Tool #". Press 1, ABS SET because you are using the same tool.
9. "Tool Dia." Press ABS SET because you do not want to change the diameter for this tool.

Event 3 — The Bolt Hole Pattern

1. "Select an Event." Press POSN DRILL, then the BOLT HOLE soft key for Event 3.
2. Event 2 has shifted to the left and the data you need to input is shown on the right.
3. "# Holes". Press 8, ABS SET because there are 8 holes.
4. "X CENTER". Input 1.5, ABS SET.
5. "Y CENTER". Input 2.5, ABS SET.
6. "Radius". Press 1., ABS SET because the radius of the bolt hole pattern is 1.000 inch.
7. "Angle". Press 90., ABS SET. This is the angle measured in the counterclockwise direction from 3:00 o'clock to the first hole you want to drill. You could have input 0 and then you would drill the right most hole first. Instead you are going to drill the top/highest hole first.
8. "Tool #". Press ABS SET. You are still using tool number 1, but notice you do not press the 1. If you do not input a number, the ProtoTRAK assumes the last tool is used again.
9. "Tool Dia." Press ABS SET.

Event 4- Sub Repeat to drill holes after spot drilling

1. "Select an Event". Press the SUB soft key, and then the REPEAT soft key for Event 4 to drill all the holes you have just spot drilled.
2. "First Event #". Press 1, ABS SET because you want to repeat Event 1.
3. "Last Event #". Press 3, ABS SET because the only event you want to drill all the holes you have spot drilled.
4. "X Offset". Press 0, INC SET because the holes to be drilled are in the same position.
5. "Y Offset". Press 0, INC SET because the other holes are not shifted in the Y direction.
6. "# Repeats". Press 1, ABS SET. If you wanted to countersink the holes you are drilling press 2, ABS SET. This would enable all the holes drilled to be immediately countersunk as well.
7. "Tool #". Press 2, ABS SET because you are using a different tool.
8. "Tool Dia." Input .25 ABS SET since the diameter of the drill bit is ¹/₄".

Event 5 — The Upper Left Diagonal

1. "Select Event". Press MILL soft key for Event 5.
2. "X Begin". Press 0, ABS SET to define the beginning of the milling cut at its lower left point on the diagonal.
3. "Y Begin". Input 3.25, ABS SET to define the beginning of the milling cut.
4. "X End". Input .5, ABS SET to define the end of the milling cut.
5. "Y End". Input .75, INC SET to define the end of the milling cut. Notice you defined this as an incremental change of .75 inch from the beginning. You could have also input 4.0, ABS SET to also define the end point. Think about this and make sure you understand.
6. "CONRAD". Press ABS SET because you do not want to blend this mill cut into another cut.
7. "Tool Offset". Press 2, ABS SET because you are selecting that the tool is to the left of the work piece as it moves from beginning to end.
8. "Feed rate". Press 5. , ABS SET to mill at 5 inches per minute.
9. "Tool #".  Press 3, ABS SET because you re calling the 3/8 end mill tool number 3.
10. "Tool Dia." Input .375 ABS SET.
11. "Continue". Press 2, ABS SET because this is not continuous path milling.

Event 6 — The Lower Left Radius

1. "Select Event". Press soft key ARC for Event 6.
2. "X Begin". Press 0, ABS SET because you are going to start at the top and mill down and to the right.
3. "Y Begin". Input .5, ABS SET.
4. "X End". Input .5, ABS SET.
5. "Y End". Press 0, ABS SET.
6. "X Center". Input .5, ABS SET, or you could have input 0, INC SET since the X Center is the same as the X End.
7. "Y Center". Input .5, ABS SET.
8. "CONRAD". Press 0, ABS SET.
9. "Direction". PRESS 2, ABS SET because you are milling in a counterclockwise direction.
10. "Tool Offset". Press 1, ABS SET because looking from beginning towards end (the direction of the tool cut) the tool is to the right of the work piece. Think about this to be sure you understand.
11. "Feed rate". Press 5., ABS SET.
12. "Tool #". Press 3, ABS SET because that is still the tool.
13. "Tool Dia." Input .375 ABS SET (or ABS SET).
14. "Continue". Press 2, ABS SET because this is not a continuous milling path.

Event 7 — The Circular Pocket

1. "Select Event". Press POCKET FRAME soft key for Event 7.
2. "Select". Press CIRCLE PCKT soft key because our pocket is circular.
3. "X Center". Input 1.5, ABS SET.
4. "Y Center". Input 2.5, ABS SET.
5. "Radius". Input .75, ABS SET defining the radius of the pocket.
6. "Direction". Press 2, ABS SET to select counter clockwise tool motion.  (Climb milling is preferred.)
7. "Fin Cut". Input .02, ABS SET to select a finish cut of .020 inches. When machining, the program will machine the pocket .020" undersized then make a finish cut pass to the proper size.
8. "Feed rate". Press 8., ABS SET.
9. "Fin Feed rate". Press 8., ABS SET (the finishing feed rate doesn't have to be the same as the roughing feed rate).
10. "Tool #". Press ABS SET.
11. "Tool Dia." Press ABS SET.

Event 8 — The Rectangle Profile

1. "Select Event". Press POCKET FRAME soft key for Event 8.
2. "Select". Press RECT PROFILE soft key for the rectangular frame.
3. "X1". Input 3.75, ABS SET which is the distance to corner number 1, which is the lower left corner of the frame.
4. "Y1". Input 1.75, ABS SET.
5. "X 3". Input 1.5, INC SET because corner number 3 is the diagonal corner and it is 1.5 inches in the plus X direction from X1.
6. "Y3". Input 1.25, INC SET.
7. "CONRAD". Input .3, ABS SET because the corner radius of the frame is .300 inch.
8. "Direction". Press 2, ABS SET to choose counterclockwise.  (Climb milling is preferred.)
9. "Tool Offset." Press 2, ABS SET because when the tool moves counterclockwise around the inside of the rectangle frame, it is to the left of the work piece.
10. "Fin Cut". Input .03, ABS SET to select a .030 inch finish cut.
11. "Feed rate." Press 5., ABS SET.
12. "Fin Feed rate." Press 5., ABS SET.
13. "Tool #". You press ABS SET because you are still using tool number 3.
14. "Tool Dia." Press ABS SET.

Look at the Program

1. Press the LOOK hard key to see what your program looks like. You don't have to finish the programming to see what you've done so far. Any time you see the SELECT EVENT prompt in the Program Mode, you can look at the part graphics.

The drawn part should look like this:

If your part draw doesn't look like this, don't panic. The four pluses in the lower right side of the part may be squares (depending on the software version of the controller you're using), that's ok. For any other differences, see if you can figure out what piece of geometry, and therefore what event looks wrong. Go back to that part of your program and check your inputs against these instructions.

If the ProtoTRAK refused to draw your part and indicated a data error, read the explanation and solution and it will suggest the way to resolve the problem.

1. Press RETURN. The program is complete

Program In/Out Mode

Now that we have a good program we want to save it. If you turn the ProtoTRAK off now the program will be lost. To prevent this, we will save it on the system's hard drive where it will stay (even without power) until you consciously erase it.

Do the following:

1. Press the MODE and select the PROG IN/OUT soft key.
2. Put in a part number you will remember at this time. Press SAVE soft key and wait a few seconds until it's complete. Notice your new part number is now in the list.
3. Also notice that the current program name is listed at the top of the screen in the status bar.

Program Run Preparation

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Setup the Work piece

Place a set of 1-1/2" parallels in the vise on edge with one parallel against the solid jaw and one parallel against to the movable jaw. (This will insure the material is above the vise.)  Place the HDPE material on top of the parallels as shown bellow and tighten the vise. Using a dead blow hammer lightly tap the material down onto the parallels. It is fine if the parallels are still slightly loose. (The material may not be uniformly flat) Make sure the material sticks out to the left of the vise by about 1-1/2".

Set up the Part Reference

1. Press MODE and select DRO soft key.
2. Press INC/ABS to be sure the display reads the absolute position (ABS).
3. X and Y ABS SET should be used to zero the DRO. Use the edge finder to position the center of the spindle over the lower left corner of your part. Run the edge finder at 600 — 800 rpms.
4. The read out should display X 0.0000 ABS and Y 0.0000 ABS when the spindle is over the lower left corner.

Program Run

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Enter the Run Mode

1. Press MODE and select RUN soft key.
2. The conversation line says, "Select". Press START soft key. The START EVENT # soft key allows you to start in the middle of a program, but you do not want you to do that.
3. Press GO, and the saddle will move to the first hole location.

Spot Drill the Holes

1. "Load Tool 1". Load the spot drill in the spindle, then start the spindle, and adjust the RPM according to the RPM calculator.  Here.
2. X and Y readouts should read zero ABS. Beneath them the actual feed rate (now zero), and the feed rate override percent (now 100%) are shown.
3. Press GO. The table will move to the first hole in the row.
4. "Set Z". Move the quill down until the spot drill just makes contact with the work piece and zero the digital scale, then lightly spot drill the first hole to a depth of -0.040" on the digital scale.
5. Shut off the spindle and bring the spot drill down into the bottom of the spot drilled hole. 
6. Lock the quill and set the quill stop at that position. Now all the spot drill holes will be approximately the same depth.
7. Raise the quill and start the spindle.
8. Press GO to drill the remaining holes and in the bolt hole pattern each time the conversation line says "Set Z".

Drill the Holes

1. "Load Tool 2 Dia .25". Load the .25" Drill in the chuck, then start the spindle, and adjust the RPM according to the RPM calculator.  Here.
2. Press GO. The table will move to the first hole in the row.
3. "Set Z". Move the quill down until the drill just makes contact with spot drilled hole and zero the digital scale, then drill the hole to a depth of -0.125" on the digital scale.
4. Shut off the spindle and bring the quill down so the drill is at the bottom of the hole you just drilled. 
5. Lock the quill and move the quill stop up to that position. 
6. Raise the quill and start the spindle. 
7. Press GO to go to the next hole.
8. Drill the remaining holes to the proper depth by bringing the quill down to the quill stop when the conversation line says "Set Z".

Mill the Upper Left Diagonal

1. When the last hole is drilled the conversation line says, "Load Tool 3 Dia .375". Stop the spindle and raise the quill all the way up and lock the quill. Remove the keyless chuck.
2. Load the 3/8" end mill into the collet.
3. Start the spindle and adjust the RPM according to the RPM calculator.  Here.
4. Press GO. The tool will move to the upper left edge of the part where the diagonal cut begins.
5. "Set Z". Bring the cutting tool to 1" above the part using the quill handle and then lock the quill. Set the quill stop up to that position. Use the Z-axis hand wheel to raise the table until the cutting tool makes contact with the work piece. Zero the Z-axis on the DRO and raise the table until the DRO reads -0.125" ABS.
6. Press GO. The tool will move at 5 inches per minute (ipm) and cut the diagonal.
7. "Check Z". This is a warning to raise the quill because the next move will be at rapid speed (100 ipm). Be sure to raise the tool. 

Mill the Lower Left Radius

1. Press GO. The tool will rapid to the beginning position for the Arc cut.
2. "Set Z". Lower the tool down to the quill stop and lock the quill.
3. Press GO. The tool will move at 5 ipm and cut the arc.
4. "Check Z". Raise the tool.

Mill the Circular Pocket

1. Press GO. The tool will rapid to about the center of the pocket.
2. "Set Z." Lower the tool down to the quill stop and lock the quill.
3. Press GO. The tool will move at 8 ipm to machine the pocket. Press the FEED - and FEED + keys while cutting the pocket to see how you can adjust the speed while you're cutting. When the pocket is roughed out a little undersized, the cutter will automatically make the program .020 finish cut.
4. "Check Z". Raise the tool.

Mill the Rectangle

1. Press GO. The tool will rapidly move to the beginning point to machine the rectangular profile.
2. "Set Z". Lower the tool down to the quill stop and  quill down and lock the quill.
3. Press GO. The tool will move at 5 ipm (if you left the feed rate override at 100% when you adjusted FEED - and FEED + ) to machine the rectangle and make the finish pass.
4. "Run Over". The part is finished. If you were making a second part and could locate it in the vise in the same place, you could now press the NEXT PART soft key and the whole program would be repeated.
5. Press MODE to exit Run. Congratulations, you made your first part.
6. Remove your part and deburr the edges.
7. Show Part A to staff, so the part can be evaluated.
8. If Part A is successful, erase the program. (See below) 

      

Part B

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Use what you learned making Part A to make a program for Part B. Once you complete Part B, show it to staff, so the part can be evaluated. If Part B is successful, erase the Part B program (See below) 

Erasing the Program

      1. Press MODE and then press PROG IN/OUT. Enter the program number and press DELETE. Press .MX2 and then press YES to erase.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Progress

Troubleshooting

In Progress