EDIT: Editing CNC post-processors

[Caios3DMAX]

Can some one point me to a website where I can learn about writing post files to convert data files for different machines.

Thanks


*EDIT, I know what its called now so have edited thread title.

[CADTutor]

I'm not sure what you mean, can you be more specific?

[fuccaro]

I think Caios3DMAX needs programs for CNC machines, am I right?

[Caios3DMAX]

Sorry, I'm not even that shore what I'm on about myself. I'll have another go at trying to explain it. :) :D

I went to see the guy who runs my local machine shop to ask him about getting into CAD/CAM. The thing is, he was telling me about this .NV file he exports to send to the machine. ( I think it was called .NV) He was using Inventor and an Heidenhain machine. This file has all the instruction/coordinates for the machine to cut, also other bits and bobs of info. The problem he often finds is that the format of this data doesnt match the format that the machine needs to operate correctly. He has some post files that are supposed to convert it correctly but these often dont work very well and need sections of them rewriting.

For my final year degree (Bsc Virtual Reality Design) project I wrote a model data exporter for 3D studio max and to accompany it a standalone model viewer (opengl) that opened the exported model data so you could view it and check the export went well. So, looking at what he had to show me Im pritty confident that I could write or defiantly rewrite some of these post files. He thinks that if I could do this then an employer would be far more likely to take me on even with no machining experience. Does what Im saying make any sense to you guys? Is there any websites you know of that can help me learn to write these post files?

[Caios3DMAX]

Its somthing to do with a program called mastercam.

[Caios3DMAX]

Finally I've found out what I'm asking about its information on editing CNC post-processors! :shock: Anyone?

[gcp310]

theres programs like Alphacam, Cadcode and Mastercam the process cad information and turn it into machine code. all amchines are different pending the type of nc processor they use.

G

[Caios3DMAX]

That’s what I'm on about. :oops:

You get these post files that come with mastercam. I think they may be machine specific and tell mastercam how to arrange/format the data for each CNC machine.

The problem is that these post scripts often don’t work according to the guy I went to visit. They often need rewriting to work correctly. Its this that I want to research on the net? Could you point me to a more specific forum or other resource?

[gcp310]

Not sure on what you want to try and do but check out the cadcode discussion forum at www.cadcode.com :geek:

you will find many cnc machine related discussions and maybe someone will know what your trying to do.
:?


G

[Caios3DMAX]

Thanks gcp310 I'll take a look

[hendie]

You get these post files that come with mastercam. I think they may be machine specific and tell mastercam how to arrange/format the data for each CNC machine.
...They often need rewriting to work correctly.

It's been my experience that each CNC machine manufacturer uses their own language to control the machines. which is only to be expected ~ it means they tie you into thier product and force you to buy more stuff.
Even then the software is not guaranteed to work.
At one place I worked we used Radan for drafting, and all the CNC machines were "controlled" by Radan software... the theory was that we could download the drawings straight to the machines for manufacture..... HA !
and we had to employ 4 guys to re-write every single piece of code for every drawing

[Caios3DMAX]

Thanks hendie, What where these four guys trained as? What was there job called?

Somthing like that is probably the best way for me to get into CAD/CAM. I've got a fair bit of programing experience which would be useful to a machine shop with the problem you've described above.

[hendie]

they weren't really trained as anything ~ they were originally drafters (I think) but got forced into the job when it was discovered how crap the software was

[Dazza1972]

You could try looking at www.delcam.com (http://www.delcam.com)

They have design, machining and inspection solutions.

The can sent toolpaths used for inspection with a suitable probe and machining.

A company I used to work for used them and they were great.

Dazza