Overview: This guide provides step-by-step instructions for adding an additional post processor to your FastCAM software.
1. Purchase the Post Processor
- Contact FastCAM Support to request an additional post processor.
- You will receive a link to purchase the post processor via the FastCAM Webstore
- After purchase, FastCAM will send you a ZIP folder containing the post processor files.
2. Prepare the Directory
- Navigate to the following location on your computer: C:\Program Files (x86)\FastCAM\
- Create a new folder named: Machines
- Inside the Machines folder, create two sub-folders:
- One for your current post processor
- One for the new post processor
- Name each folder after the corresponding post processor, e.g., Start, Adtech
3. Organize Files
- For your EXISTING Post:
- MOVE the following files from your existing post processor and place them in the appropriate subfolder. Do not leave them in the main application folder, or they may impact the multi-machine setup.
- SETUP.DAT
- This one in particular must move to the new folder.
- *.CON File.
- This can vary depending on your controller. Open the SETUP.DAT and it will say what the control file will be. For example here it is START.CON
- MATERIAL.DAT
- For your NEW post:
- Extract the new POST From FastCAM into the folder for the new post processor.
- Example path: C:\Program Files (x86)\FastCAM\Machines\Start
- Files in the new folder:
4. Update FastCAM Machines.DAT
- This file defines the machines and the location of each post processor.
- In machines.dat, include the details for each post processor. It should be in the format:
- [Machine Number], SETUP.DAT,[CONTROL FILE NAME], [PATH_TO_CONTROL_FILES]
- For example in this case it is:
- 18,SETUP.DAT,Adtech.CON,C:\Program Files (x86)\FastCAM\machines\Adtech
- 19,SETUP.DAT,START.CON,C:\Program Files (x86)\FastCAM\machines\START
- Save the file. Both machines are now defined in FastCAM.
5. Switch Between Post Processors
- Launch the FastCAM software.
- Navigate to the Machine tab.
- Click on Change Machine.
- You can now switch between post processors as needed.
