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IntelliPost 2000 Post Processor
Features
Over
600 Controllable Parameters ("SPECs")
A
rich, mature set of standard SPECs can be set through a series of meaningful
screen layouts while using the IntelliPost® Configuration Utility. The
postprocessor parameters are defaulted to produce IEEE RS-274D standard MCD,
providing a convenient point of departure that minimizes user input. All
SPECs can be selectively redefined from within a macro based upon the CL
file input or selected events which occur during postprocessor execution.
Controller
Initialization Sequence
A
series of machine tool controller settings can be automatically generated by
the postprocessor upon initialization, or the postprocessor logic can be
aligned with the controller without generating the equivalent MCD blocks.
Built-In Tool Change
Sequence
Up
to sixteen user selectable functions can be triggered upon encountering a
"LOAD", "LOADTL/" or " TURRET/"command in the
CL file. The user also has the option of generating a special "first
tool change" sequence via this same facility, allowing even a novice
programmer to automate this critical area of MCD generation.
Thirty-six (36) User
Definable MCD Registers
IntelliPost® supports a
full range of thirty-six letter (word) address registers required for
comprehensive MCD generation. It contains facilities to intelligently
support controller requirements for multiple "G" and "M"
codes in any single MCD block with any of nine (9) "G" code and
three (3)"M" code categories. Each letter address can consist of
from one to four (1-4) ASCII characters; useful for supporting advanced CNC
controller functions such as the GE2000 series "P1="register . The
user has complete control over the format and zero suppression
characteristics of each register, and the order in which the letter address
registers are output in an MCD block,via easily understood screen menus in
the Configuration Utility.
Complete Control of Operator Listing
The
operator listing format, layout, and contents can easily be altered. Output
values can be arranged in any order to accommodate user requirements or to
output special run-time values with user-defined headings. Separate inch and
metric field width formats are also available as are user definable lines
per page and header control, further increasing flexibility.
Secondary Output Print File
The
system allows the user to create his own personalized output file which is
independent of the standard IntelliPost® listing file. The contents of this
file can vary with the application, and is totally defined by the user in a
macro. The user may display items such as the postprocessor header, the time
of day and date, the postprocessor summary, as well as the values of any
user defined variables or common variables. Information passed to this
secondary output file is not passed to the MCD file.
Fourteen (14) Canned or Simulated Spindle
Cycles
A
full selection of fourteen spindle cycles is supported via standard
"CYCLE/keyword" statements in the CL file, expressed in either
ANSI couplet or ISO fixed format syntax. Cyclic motion can be output as the
typical "G80" series canned cycles, or emulated via
"G00" and "G01" motion blocks", and the
postprocessor can switch between canned and emulated cycles during
execution. In addition, a special sequence of user-defined logic can be
activated at each location where normal cycle processing is to occur.
Sophisticated Spindle Controls
Lathe
programmers will find a sophisticated series of SPECs to explicitly control
all aspects of spindle range changing, speed, and speed constraints to a
degree expected only in a custom postprocessor.
Thirty (30)
Function-Specific Dwell Controls
Thirty (30) individually
controlled dwell values can be specified for automatic generation by the
postprocessor when it encounters certain program functions, such as starting
or stopping the spindle, changing spindle direction, etc. Dwell values can
either be output in the MCD and added to the cycle time, or simply added to
the cycle time if the controller automatically invokes the corresponding
dwell based upon the appearance of a "G" or "M" code in
the MCD.
Full Inch/Metric
Support
Close
attention has been given to provide equal flexibility for inch and metric
feed rate and axis units conversion. All default dimensions assumed by the
postprocessor are reasonable for the units of measurement currently in
effect. Initiated in a separate "coordinate system" screen within
the Configuration Utility, all CL file coordinates will be converted from
one coordinate system to another for all subsequent motion records and
circle records. Feed rate velocity and tool gauge lengths will also be
converted between systems unless overridden by the programmer.
Default Metric/Default
Inch
IntelliPost®
can be configured with either metric or inch default units. If no units are
specified, a native inch system will be supplied by SMI.
External Tooling File
IntelliPost®
has the ability to read tooling data from an external data file. The format
of this file is up to the user and is defined by a declaration statement
within the configuration file. Comments may be interspersed in the tool
file. Tool data is stored and recovered by the number assigned to each tool
description.
Tooling Summary
IntelliPost®
has the capability of allowing the user to produce an extensive tooling
summary at the end of a job, in a format of his choosing. Tooling
information gathered during processing of a job is saved during Cl-file
execution. This output is prepared in a preset format for display in the
Operator Listing or the user has the ability to change the format of the
tooling summary to suit his particular application.
CL File Coordinate Mapping
IntelliPost®
allows mapping of CL file coordinates from the original definition part
coordinate system into the coordinate system which IntelliPost® and the
machine tool expects. This allows the programmer or graphic system user to
use any convenient coordinate system and the postprocessor will convert to
the required output format.
Integral Macro Processor
An
integral macro processor provides flexible and absolute user control over
MCD generation and comprehensive error analysis. Macro calls can be
initiated by the occurrence of normal, or user-defined, postprocessor
command syntax in the CL file for which macros have been defined.
Macro Definition
Macro
definitions are created/edited with the IntelliPost® Configuration Utility.
All input is immediately verified for correct syntax, and then
cross-referenced with all available configuration data to insure proper
execution. For example, any reference to MCD registers will only be allowed
if the register has been noted as active.
Macro Contents
User-defined macros can
contain:
Auxiliary postprocessor
commands containing either entered or computed values; structured program
logic with conditional and repetitive command control; local and global
variables that can be shared by other macros or by the postprocessor itself;
explicit MCD to be automatically formatted and output according to MCD
register settings logical commands which may be specified in APT, FORTRAN,
or BASIC language syntax and used to control macro processing;
read/write access to postprocessor SPECs and run-time system variables;
switches to activate alternate processing logic for INITAL,INPUT, OUTPUT,
BREAK, LINEAR, CIRCLE, ERROR, TOOLLIST, FEEDRATE,CYCLE, TLCHNG, MODEMILL,
or MODETURN activities; and calls to other user defined macros.
Macro Calls Via Postprocessor Command
You
can cause macros to be called before, after, or as a complete replacement
for standard postprocessor action for a specific command. You can also
supplement the same postprocessor command with macros that execute before
and after that command. Minor words on the calling postprocessor statement
can be designated as optional. In this case, they are used to invoke
processing, and can be queried to control the logic within the macro, but
are not passed along to the normal postprocessor logic. Numeric entries in
the calling postprocessor command record can be referenced by user macro
logic as local variables such that alternate actions can occur depending
upon the value input by the part programmer.
Functional Entry Points
You
can define macros that are invoked each time a specific function is
encountered. Functional entry points are available for the postprocessor to
call user-written macros when INITAL, INPUT,OUTPUT, BREAK, LINEAR
motion, CIRCLE motion, ERROR,TOOLLIST, FEEDRATE, CYCLE, TLCHNG,
MODEMILL, or MODETURN functions are detected. ON-OFF
switches can be programmed within other macros that cause these macros to
function only when a specific set of conditions are true. The Functional
Invocation facility allows you to: perform repetitive special effects at a
series of events alter MCD output register contents just before
formatting and redundancy checking intercept all incoming CL file
records only intercept incoming CL records if a linear or circular
move is about to occur control error analysis create a special tooling
summary issue special command sequences just before a tape break is to occur
and many more. The MCD/ON-OFF facility allows you to process forward
in the CL file without generating MCD. This allows
sophisticated "what if" and decision logic for such things as
monitoring tool life, finding what a MCD sequence number is going to
be further down in the CL file, and much more. The functional entry
point "TOOLLIST", when combined with the ability to process
with MCD/OFF, allows the generation of customized tooling summaries
at the beginning of the operator listing, at each tool change, or wherever
it makes sense. The "INITAL" functional invocation call
serves as a convenient, foolproof way to initialize postprocessor variables
before any processing has occurred.
BLKFUN Insert Function
The
BLKFUN function allows for dynamic insert of machine control data
while updating the register buffers. BLKFUN also allows the use of
variables so that register values need not be hard coded.
Enhanced Support for RS494-B
IntelliPost®
has added some new features to support the RS494-B standard which
includes ASCII CL files (ACL). The following statements are now
supported:
ARC/x1,y1,z1,i,j,k,x2,y2,z2
IntelliPost®
supports the ACL ARC record as defined in EIA standard proposal
number 2918, section 8-9.
HEADER Record.
The
ACL HEADER record can be recognized by IntelliPost® provided that it
is set up properly.
ISN numbers
IntelliPost®
allows the inclusion of a number preceding each ACL record. This
number, if present, is assumed to be an ISN number which will be
saved and logged in the normal IntelliPost® print file as the ISN
number which created the corresponding output block of MCD.
Support SYNCTR Vocabulary for WIRE EDM
EDM
tilt wire operation can now be controlled with SYNCTR vocabulary. In
addition to the current IntelliPost HEAD/ statements, EDM
merge operations can also be controlled with a parallel SYNCTR
vocabulary. SYNCTR / LOWER | UPPER can be used to determine
the current wire guide being programmed. SYNCTR/ NEXT, # will
establish synchronization points for the current head that may be used is
subsequent merging operations.
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