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To prepare new thumb drive for use


The OmniTurn CNC ships with a thumb drive suitable for program backup, and for copying programs to and from your desktop computer. That drive also has the OmniTurn operating system on it, and can be used to boot the CNC if the computer hard drive should ever fail.

This procedure describes how to create a replacement for the original thumb drive.

Better yet, order a replacement thumb drive from the factory.

OmniTurn G4 CNC

Overview: see below for step-by-step w/screenshots

A thumb drive of any size can be used because this procedure installs an "image" of the original operating system onto the stick. Both the installation software and the "image" file must be downloaded before installation.

First download the "image" file G498.zip. This zip file contains a disk image of a drive that’s formatted with the new operating system. After downloading it, right-click it and select "Extract All" from the menu that pops up. It will create folder called g498 in the same folder that contains g498.zip. In the new folder will be a file called g498.img. Be sure to note where your browser downloaded the file because you will need to navigate there from the installation software.

Next, download the imaging software. Double-click it and follow the instructions that come up to install the Win32 Disk Imager program.

Check the box that prompts to create a desktop shortcut.

After the disk imaging program is installed, put a thumb drive (at least 2GB: no matter how big it is it will look like a 2GB drive once the image is installed) in your computer. Double-click the Win32 Disk Imager icon. It will open with an empty dialog near the top of its window, labeled “Image File”, with a small folder icon next to it. Click on the folder icon to bring up a File Explorer window. Navigate to the g498.img file and click it, then click Open. Click the Write button and the image will be written to the thumb drive. This takes quite a while. Once it’s completed, close the imaging program.

Next, customize the drive for your machine, if necessary. The thumb drive you just created is suitable for the standard 5HP spindle drive. If your machine is a C-Axis you must delete the runfiles\filepath.cfg file, and copy either filepath.yas (if you have Yaskawa C-Axis drive) or filepath.bml (if you have Baumuller C-Axis drive) as filepath.cfg.

Finally, Update the software. The G498 image is appropriate for creating a bootable thumb drive from scratch, but the image is not kept up to date.

(Better yet, order a replacement thumb drive from the factory.)

Open Win32 Disk Image program.
Image of Win32DiskImage shortcut
Verify that the correct USB drive is indicated.
Win32DiskImage verify device
Click the "folder" icon to open explorer.
Image of Win32DiskImage browse
Navigate to g498 folder, then select img file.
Win32DiskImage select image
Verify image file loaded, then click "Write".
Win32DiskImage write
A warning box will pop up; click "Yes" to continue.
Win32DiskImage write confirm
Writing the image can take a while.
Win32DiskImage writing
When write is complete, click "OK" then click "Exit" to close the imaging program.
Win32DiskImage write complete
If your machine has a C-Axis spindle drive, you must 'customize' the thumb drive for your machine. Scroll down for step-by-step details.
If your machine has a standard 5HP spindle drive, your next step is to update the software. The G498 image is appropriate for creating a bootable thumb drive from scratch, but the image is not kept up to date.
Better yet, order a replacement thumb drive from the factory.

Navigate to the OmniTurn system thumb drive. The drive is named "2GB".

If your folder view is set to "Large Icons", it can be difficult to see the files in the RUNFILES folder, so click on the "View" tab, and select "Details".
OmniTurn System Thumb Drive: Large Icons
Double-click on the "RUNFILES" folder.
OmniTurn System Thumb Drive: Detail View
Right-click on "FILEPATH" to open the dialog box, then select "Delete".

(Note: if your folder view is set to show all extensions, you will see FILEPATH.CFG).
OmniTurn Runfiles Folder: Delete FILEPATH.CFG
Select "Yes" to confirm delete.
OmniTurn Runfiles Folder: Confirm Delete FILEPATH.CFG
Right-click on "FILEPATH.YAS" to open the dialog box, then select "Copy".

Note: If your C-Axis drive is a Baumuller, right-click on "FILEPATH.BML".
OmniTurn Runfiles Folder: Copy FILEPATH.YAS
Right-click anywhere to open the dialog box, then select "Paste" to create a copy.
OmniTurn Runfiles Folder: Paste FILEPATH - Copy.YAS
Right-click on "FILEPATH - Copy.YAS" to open the dialog box, then select "Rename".

Note: If your C-Axis is a Baumuller, the filename will be FILEPATH - Copy.BML.
OmniTurn Runfiles Folder: Rename FILEPATH - Copy.YAS
Rename FILEPATH - Copy.YAS
(or FILEPATH - Copy.BML, if Baumuller) as FILEPATH.CFG.
OmniTurn Runfiles Folder: Rename FILEPATH.CFG
Your final step is to update the software. The G498 image is appropriate for creating a bootable thumb drive from scratch, but the image is not kept up to date.
Better yet, order a replacement thumb drive from the factory.
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