Engraving toolpath

[marker4x4]

Hey, my Engraving Seq. always outputs Point-2-Point CL file; I suppose the fonts are treated as splines? Is there any particular font type that outputs CIRCLES as well? It just looks nicer machined that way.

Thanks

 

[appinmi]

Try different fonts. I usually use "Leroy" as my font type. I do not remember if it outputs arc moves, but it looks really good.

 

[marker4x4]

Try different fonts. I usually use "Leroy" as my font type. I do not remember if it outputs arc moves, but it looks really good.

Hi Allan, would you mind checking your output with the Leroy font - it's p2p for me...
No rush whatsoever

, thanks

 

[sjohnson]

marker4x4 - I don't know what post processor you are using (we use Icam) but I always use arcfitting so p2p is always converted to circle. If you have arcfitting that might be some thing to try.

 

[marker4x4]

marker4x4 - I don't know what post processor you are using (we use Icam) but I always use arcfitting so p2p is always converted to circle. If you have arcfitting that might be some thing to try.

We use Gpost which does have arcfitting option, however we prefer not to use it for accuracy reasons; arcfitting may add some errors in certain situations.

 

[MR_NC]

A couple of things come to mind.
1. If the geometry you are cutting is "lines" then all your going to get from the ProE side is going to be lines (far as I know). I don't "think" Pro can provide circle output if the geo driving the request is more or less a "circle of lines".
2. Post side option. This requires changes to your existing post.
A) Output the ncseq type as PPRINT.
B) Trap above output.
C) Alter gpost code output (turn on arc fitting, designate settings, etc)
D) Reset back to normal at next path. Pickup a toolchange, fixture offset call, cycle statement, etc.


All I got.
Best regards,
Sean

 

[marker4x4]

A couple of things come to mind.

1. If the geometry you are cutting is "lines" then all your going to get from the ProE side is going to be lines (far as I know). I don't "think" Pro can provide circle output if the geo driving the request is more or less a "circle of lines".

2. Post side option. This requires changes to your existing post.

A) Output the ncseq type as PPRINT.

B) Trap above output.

C) Alter gpost code output (turn on arc fitting, designate settings, etc)

D) Reset back to normal at next path. Pickup a toolchange, fixture offset call, cycle statement, etc.





All I got.

Best regards,

Sean

Hmmm, not a bad idea! Now, elaborating your concept further - is there any CL command or ProE parameter that (inserted before and after Engraving) would turn the arcfitting in Gpost ON and OFF automatically??

Thanks

 

[MR_NC]

FWIW, this is what I use to "catch" different stuff via PPRINT.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
CIMFIL/ON,PPRINT

TEST=TEXT/'NC SEQUENCE NAME'& nbsp;& nbsp;$$ Text to test for
OKCOM=INDXF(TXT,TEST)
IF (OKCOM.NE.0) THEN
MESS=TEXT/OMIT,TXT,1&nbs p;&nbs p;$$ Omit trailing blank
COL=TEXT/':'

COLPOS=INDXF(MESS,COL)&n bsp;&n bsp;$$ position of : in MESS
LEN=CANF(MESS,1)&n bsp;&n bsp;&n bsp;$$ number of char in MESS
ncseq=TEXT/RANGE,MESS,COLPOS+1 ,LEN$$ Extract from : to end

$$NO OUTPUT HERE
$$&nbs p;INSERT/'(',ncseq,')','$'

ENDIF


CIMFIL/OFF
$$*******************************************************

I would use something like this to trigger the start of engraving. I don't know what GPost setting are required for arc fitting right off. The Gpost manuals (PDF's installed with Pro) should provide the info you need.

If it were me, I would look to reset this on a fixture offset pickup. This is because Pro will output a fixture offset code at every ncseq. Handy to use...

Best regards,
Sean

 

[marker4x4]

Hi Sean, after much head-scratching, I think I figured your intent. My problem is, I'm not too sure if I can "remote-control the arcfitting in Gpost... I can't find any trace of the appropriate command.
Can anyone shed some light on my dilemma please?

Eternally grateful,

 

[sjohnson]

2007-07-04_195318_gpost_arc_fitting.zip


Marker, I have never setup g-post but I'm pretty sure it is close to the way ICAM turns on curve fitting. You issue a commant in gpost triggered by an event in your cl file or pass the command directly from the cl file. Here is some documentation I have on curve fitting in gpost (don't ask me where or when I got it because I don't remember) that I have incase I ever feel like messing with gpost. We use ICAM because we have ProE, UG, Delcam, Cadds, and Catia - lots of different CAM systems and I write all the posts in one external post processor. I have attached a word doc that has a lot of detail.



<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">APT setup requirements:<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />[/B]

The <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">CRVFIT/---[/B] commands must be specified in the input APT source to turn on this feature. This will inform the APT processor to examine the subsequent CL records and convert the proper <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">GOTO/x,y,z(,i,j,k)[/B] points into circular <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">ARC/SPLINE[/B] motion. All Curve Fitting (CRVFIT) options must be controlled via the <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">CRVFIT/---[/B] commands for APT. Also, you can place these commands in your <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">UNCAPT.INI[/B] file. This will allow site specific tolerance, etc. to be stated for curve fit.

<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">GPost setup requirements:[/B]

When using the GPost to perform the Curve Fitting (CRVFIT) routine you must set INTCOM(4334) = 1 in the option file using the Option File Generator, from the <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">