Re: MasterCAM post processor for EMC, anyone?

["Darrell Gehlsen" <darrell-at-machinemaster.com>]

I have some experience with the MasterCam Post. Using the FANUC post to
start, I can modify it to take care of things that EMC doesn't like.
more below.
----- Original Message -----
From: Fred Proctor <frederick.proctor-at-nist.gov>
To: Multiple recipients of list <emc-at-nist.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 2:37 PM
Subject: MasterCAM post processor for EMC, anyone?


>
> EMC folks,
>
> Does anyone have experience writing MasterCAM post processors, and could
> do it for the EMC dialect? emc/programs/skeleton.ngc is a typical
> program.
>
> I ran a part through the MasterCAM Fanuc post processor, or another
> fairly common one, and noted the following errors when I ran the NC code
> on the EMC:
>
> 1. Prologue line "G0 G80 ..." doesn't work. You can't have G0 and G80 on
> a single line. One solution is not to put G0 on this line, and force G0
> for the first rapid.

Here the post can be modified to write the prologue on as many lines as
needed.

>
> 2. M00 is the program pause. M01 (optional stop) doesn't work.

Easy to fix

>
> 3. There's no G28, which is commonly used for a rapid spindle-to-home.
> Use "G53 G0 Z0" instead. G53 inhibits program offsets for that block
> only.

G28 is used to rapid X, Y and Z to Part Home. I would have to look at the
call to see how to change it.

>
> 4. M2 is the program end. Some posts do M30, or M60.

easy change

>
> 5. The dwell time parameter (for G4 and some canned cycles) is "P
> <seconds>", e.g., "G4 P1.5" dwells for 1.5 seconds. Some posts generate
> a P value in milliseconds.

Have to check on this, may be just a decimal point change.

If I send you a modified FANUC with these changes can you test it? And, what
version MasterCam do you have?
Darrell

>
> --Fred
>