Yes, Just make sure you are in Inches or MM before you open your DXF file. The control will see numbers so it will try to make a MM part in Inches and vise-vera. T.P

Hi Jordan. On the SMX, you are stuck with the X-axis tool path. There is no option to change it. It should be noted that in the new RMX, you can cut any face mill or pocket at any angle you want. If you need to face a part in the Y-axis, the easiest way to do so is to just use a mill event and then use a repeat with your desired stepover and number of repeats. I hope this helps you! T.P.

The biggest difference os that you only need one solid model to cut any side of the part. With DXF, you need one for each side. On top of that, DXF is only 2D so you have to refer to your print for all of your Z dimensions. T.P.

Adam, I apologize for not having a print for this part. We made this video more than 5 years ago. Basically, I had a piece of aluminum with a 3.125" hole in it that was 2" deep. I needed to bore it out to 3.4" and add a .050" chamfer to the front of the hole. I used the inside cycle instead of the bore event because the bore event doesn't have the ability to have multiple cuts, a finish cut, or a chamfer to the front of the hole. I hope this helps you. T.P.

The DPM RX3,5 or 7 all use 40 taper tooling. You can choose from NMTB or CAT. The only difference is the length of the draw bar needed so be sure to order your machine with the proper draw bar for the type of tooling you choose to use. FYI, NMTB tooling has an extra 1 inch of shank on top of the tool holders where the draw bar screws in. Generally, there are more tools available if you use CAT. T.P.

The new mill is coming with the air tool changer like the mill shown in this video.

Thanks! I'll make sure to pass that along to TRAKing Pat. ~PK

Hi Nicholas! What you may want to do to check this is as follows. 1. I usually go to DRO and call up tool #1 from my program. 2. I send it home. 3. I save temp. 4. I shut down the control. When I turn on the control and open temp, it will already be looking for tool #1 so the zero position should be the same as you left it. If you don't use tool #1 before you save temp. you should just have to call up the tool that was in the cutting position and it will show you the correct position. I hop this helps you! T.P.

@@trakingpat2750 "Send it home" as in part zero? What if you can't because your origin is in the material, part, or chuck? Would you just park it at a known dimension like X6 Z6, then open temp, then just set your work offsets to 6 and 6?

Hi Patty, as long as you have the DXF option, you can do any of the things you mentioned. 1. You can program all of your geometry straight from an existing DXF file. 2. You can create a program in your ProtoTRAK and save it as a DXF. 3. You can make changes to an existing DXF file and then re-save it with the changes. You should see most of those things if you search for DXF videos. Thanks for asking! T.P.

Hi Patty! I thought I answered this last week but maybe that was in a different video. As long as you have the DXF option in your control, you can create a program from any drawing or DXF file. Once you create it, you can save it as a standard ProtoTRAK file such as .PT10. You can also take any ProtoTRAK file and save it as a DXF file by using the "file type" drop down menu. T.P.

Good choice! You definitely need to buy what's right for the job. Enjoy your new machine! ~PK

Hi Eric, is this a DPM or a knee mill? The DPM has a manual quill so it will know if you move the Z head or the z quill but the quill is fully manual. On a knee mill with 3-axis, it has an electronic Z handwheel so in DRO, you just turn the hand wheel to move the Z. Other videos should show this but if not, please get back to me. T.P.

@@patrickfitzsimmons5187 Thanks for the quick response. This is a bed mill. I figured out that pushing the "JOG" button was the missing step for me. I was confused why I could move X and Y, but not Z, until I pushed the JOG button.

Freaking inches 🫣

Thanks muchly!

Yes it does. Do you have the DXF convertor option in your machine? If you're not sure, call out service dept and they can help you. T.P.

I’m not sure we have had the machine for about 7 years I have just recently been assigned to it

Well, you have stumped our tech representative! They said that they can't see a reason why it wouldn't work, but it would have to be tested. We'll get back to you as soon as we can, but please share the answer if you get to it before we do. ~PK

Or, just go to DRO and call up tool #1

​@patrickfitzsimmons5187 Agreed. Could you please explain an internal hexagon program for 15 mm? I've tried point to point and A G E irregular profile. I know once I see it a giant light bulb will go on but I'm stumped. I'm very thankful for your videos sir

I got the hex on lockdown. Trial and error is what I suggest to all. Caution and awareness will take you places

Mike, upgrading to the RLX control is not possible right now. Sorry about that. ~PK

Hi Xavier! Thanks for the pat on the back...My team and I are glad to hear these are working for so many people. If you have an RLX, at the end of the day, send your machine back to home. Next, go to PROG IN/OUT where you save your programs and press SAVE TEMP. Now, you can shut down your machine. The next morning, before you move anything, go back to the PROG IN/OUT and press OPEN TEMP. It will warn you to make sure the machine hasn't moved. Just say OK and when you go back to DRO, you will see that it is exactly where you left it with the program, tools and part zero still in tact. If you have an SLX or older model, you have to do it a little is a little differently. Since there is no save temp in the other models, you just have to go to Tool #1 in the DRO mode. Next, send it home. After that, turn it off. When you turn it back on, just go to DRO again and set your X and Z axis's back to numbers you used for your home position. It will be right back where you left it and you just have to re-open your program. Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm sure others will be able to learn from these questions as well. T.P.

Really glad to hear that, Billy. We appreciate the positive feedback. And, we just released the latest software for RX machines, v3.1.0. You can download it here: www.southwesternindustries.com/software/page/prototrak-rx-cnc-software

Yes sir! In 2-axis, you have to press go in order to move from one eve to the next unless they are connected milling events. T.P.

Hi. Clear Off is a separate option. Your sales rep can help you get that when you're ready. If you need help from us at TRAK Headquarters, please give us a call 310-608-4422 or send us a message: www.southwesternindustries.com/contact/request-a-quote-or-demo ~PK

@@TRAKMachineTools shoot,I guess its too late. I have a quote already from dealer in Canada, they did not it this on the option and i just got message the Cap expenses already approve.

@@marknabia8706 I'm sorry to hear that. Which machine are you purchasing?

@@patrickkalscheuer5931 no worries, we are getting the TRAK DPM RX5. this will be our second trak machine the first one is the TRAK TRL 1630RX

It's on the wish list so we hope to have it in the future. I don't have a timeframe yet. T.P.

I think it will however, don't thank me, I'm just the messenger! T.P.

Thank you for all the kind words...Our aim is to provide videos to help everyone understand the ease of use and power of our products. T.P.

Unfortunately, not yet but it is on the list of improvements. T.P.

Hello, It sounds like you are referring to a groove, is this correct? If so, here is what you need to know. In a OD or ID groove, X begin is the diameter you are starting to cut the groove from. X end is the diameter at the bottom of the groove. These two change places when making either an ID groove or an OD groove. This is why we don't ask for major and minor dimensions. In a face groove, Z begin is the face of the groove and Z end is the bottom of the groove. T.P.

Hi, First of all, I need to make sure that you have your dongle key in your machine and you have the advanced features turned. Assuming you do, are you setting up your tools in the library or just in the program tools? If you set them up in the library, they will stay in there until they are deleted. If you set them up directly in the program section, they will stay with the program so if you save the program and open it at a later date, you will know which tools you used the last time to ran that program but you will still have to touch them off or assign them from the library. Does thus answer your question? T.P.

Hi Joe, the canned cycles of the SMX control do not have a way to do what you are asking however, the RMX does. It is a newer option called Clearoff. With Clearoff, you can describe the outside of the part and also whatever profiles or bosses you want to leave standing. The control will start at the outside and work it's way in. If you only have an SMX, you would have to create multiple profiles changing the dimensions for each one to fool the control into giving you what you want. Otherwise, you could program and run it from G-code. T.P.

Hello, I think I answered this on a different video but just to clarify, after you finish setting up your tools, the last tool will already be in the spindle and the DRO so it makes sense to use that tool to set your part zero in the DRO mode. In reality, you can use any tool from your program as long as you call up that tool in DRO before you touch it off the part. T.P.

Any tool in your program can be the one that you touch off the part to set zero however, the tool you use has to be in the top line when in the DRO mode. Usually, if you just set up or added a new tools(s), that last tool will be in the DRO so I always suggest that you use that tool to set part zero. Once you go to run mode, the control will tell you which tool needs to be loaded. I hope this helps you. If not, reach out again. T.P.

@trakingpat2750 thanks alot for the reply. I will go Head and and try to do a simple program. 2 guys from my job had the training on site, bit unfortunately I was in vacation I wasn't able to attend, but I'm learning this little by little thanks

Unfortunately, sometimes you are limited with conversational programming. In your case, the only way to adjust that is to run it in G-code.

No, but you don't really need one. All you need is to use a turning event so that the knurling tool can travel into the part, then travel along the part and pull away from it at the end. T.P.

keep your opinion to yourself

my goodness! :)) its for Demo purposes you can do whatever you want once you have the machine

Yes, on the RLX we can. You simply switch from standard thread to NPT, choose the thread size and the control fills in all the values to make the thread. We currently do not have a video on this but it is in the works. n the meantime, have your local TRAK rep show you how easy this is. T.P.

@@trakingpat2750 so in options select custom. dose my hole have to be bored out with a tapper. thank you

Most likely, it's a 1/4-20. T.P.

Thank you

Hi. Our tech support says "yes, you can" and you'd have to contact Fusion for the post processor. ~PK

@@TRAKMachineTools many thanks. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

It's exactly the same as how I did it on the RLX here. You may want to watch a few more of the videos on both the SLX and the RLX to understand what's different from from doing outside and inside cycles but the process is always the same. T.P.

Mark, We no longer make the SLX control but our new RLX model does have the ability to do so. Our lathes can make up to a 10 lead thread and all custom threads such as acme can be programmed. As for the SLX, it has the ability to cut the thread but as you can see from the video, you would have to mount your tool upside down because you have to tread towards the headstock. T.P.

Give our tech support line a call. I'm sure they can help you out. 800-367-3165

@@TRAKMachineToolsThanks, I was able to solve it using service code 540.

@@Handle4012 Glad to hear that!

The ID tool holders mount to the outside of the turret. They are available through our service department. I show what one of them looks like around the 2:50 minute mark. You can see what they look like on the 8 position turret but they have a special mount that fits in the slot of the 4 position turret and then the ID holder mounts to that. T.P.