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Mastercam Post Processors 101
Next LIVE course starts Sat, June 1, 2013 12pm – 2pm PDT
This course is a prerequisite for Mastercam MP Post Processing 201.
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Colin Gilchrist
Post Processor Developer
for CNC Software
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COURSE OVERVIEW
Learn how to dial in your post processor yourself and eliminate costly manual editing time.
We’ve all been there; you mark up a CNC program, send it to an outside post developer and a time consuming back and forth begins. Take back control and save time and money by developing your post processors in-house.
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For the first time ever...live post processor training is available to you where you want to learn, on your computer wherever you are.
Colin Gilchrist is a post processor developer for CNC Software, the makers of Mastercam; he has worked as a CNC programmer at Boeing and as a Mastercam Instructor and trainer.
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WHO COULD BENEFIT
A "must have" course for CNC programmers or manufacturing engineers with responsibility for CNC process development using Mastercam.
COURSE OUTLINE
Section ONE
Introduction to Post Processing
- What is a Post Processor?
- Post Processing Work Flow
- The NCI File
- Control Definition Settings
- Basic sections of a Post Processor
- Variables, Functions, and Logic
- Looping – How it works
- Entry Post Blocks
- Use the debugger to examine output
Section TWO
The NCI File; Understanding the Inputs
- NCI Data format
- NCI gcode$ values
- NCI Data reference
- Tool Information - 20,000 series NCI parameters
- Common NCI events - reading data before the toolchange - 5 min
- Tool Change vs. Null Tool change - 5 min
- Common motion codes - 5 min
- Drill Cycles - 5 min
- Quick mention of Operation Parameter read functions
Section THREE
Machine and Control Definitions
- Overview of Machine Definition
- Coolant settings
- Kinematic Tree and machine components
- What is read by the Post?
- Overview of Control Definition
- CD overrides variable settings
- Arc settings
- NC output
- Setting CD Defaults
- Library vs. File Copy
- MD/CD Parameters – Introduction to ‘pmachineinfo$’ and parameter tables
Section FOUR
Numeric Variables
- Numeric Variable description
- Post Switch variables
- Pre-defined vs. user-defined variables
- Constants
- Global formulas
- Examples
Section FIVE
String Variables
- String variable description
- Pre-defined
- User-defined
- String literals
- Concatenating
- String functions
- Examples
Section SIX
Formatting Numeric Variables
- Format Statements fs/fs2
- Exercise
- Format Assignments
- Exercise
Section SEVEN
Postblocks
- Post Block definitions
- Pre-defined vs. user-defined
- Post Block Looping example
- Exercise
Section EIGHT
Postlines
- Output variables
- Output modifiers
- Exercise
- String output
- Calling other post blocks
- Functions, formulas, and command postlines
Section NINE
Modality
- Description
- String Modality
- Sequence Number Modality
- ‘prv_’ variable values
- Exercise
Section TEN
String Selectors
- Description
- String Selector Modality example
- Exercise 1
- Exercise 2
Section ELEVEN
Boolean Logic
- Making decisions
- If/Else statements
- Implied Post Blocks
- Logical Operators
- Boolean Rules
- While Loop example
Section TWELVE
Boolean Logic Exercises
- Exercise 1, ‘if’ only
- Exercise 2 ‘if/else’ example
- Exercise 3 ‘while’ loop example
MP Post Processing 101 Supplemental Exercises
Putting it all together – Editing the Generic Fanuc 4X Mill Post
Example 1 – Post Header
- Example Goals
- Walkthrough: making edits to the Post Header section
Example 2 – Tool Table Output
- Example Goals
- Walkthrough: making edits to the Tool Table, ‘pwrtt$’
Example 3 – Mill Start-of-File
- Example Goals
- Walkthrough: making edits to the Start of File
Example 4 – Mill Toolchange (actual)
- Example Goals
- Walkthrough: making edits to the ‘ptlchg$’ section
Example 5 – Mill Null Toolchange (tool number repeats)
- Example Goals
- Walkthrough: making edits to the ‘ptlchg0$’
Example 6 – Mill Pretract / End-of-File
- Example Goals
- Walkthrough: making edits to the ‘pretract’ and ‘peof$’
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