IntelliPost Postprocessor Features

Each IntelliPost® postprocessing system contains the following standard capabilities:

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 are 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 formt 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, 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 macrosor 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 inthe 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.

Interactive Debug Facility (IntelliBug)

IntelliPost® has a comprehensive interactive debugging facility which provides the user with a means to quickly debug his configured custom postprocessor. IntelliBug allows the user to:

Execute a program (CL file) one record at a time
Step through macros one block at a time
Examine the value of user or system variables
Change the value of user or system variables
Trace changes to user or system variables
Halt processing at any functional entry point
Halt processing at any specified CL file record
Restart the process from the beginning

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:

PARTOP/file_name

The PARTOP statement allows the user to combine multiple CL files within a single program.

READ/nn

The read statement allows the macro programmer to read data from an auxiliary data file and to use that in any manner in which he chooses. The data found in these statements can contain any appropriate data such as material properties, feeds and speeds information, etc.

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 Ipost 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.

Special features for Parametric Technology Corporation, PRO/MANUFACTURING

PRO/MANUFACTURING Interface

IntelliPost® has been integrated with PRO/MANUFACTURING by means of the PRO/DEVELOP tool kit. The interface allows the user to configure and run the postprocessor within the PRO/MANUFACTURING environment via added menu picks. The integrated system gives the user the ability to:

Create customized postprocessors.
Select which custom postprocessors to run.
List and examine the resultant MCD output files.
Test postprocessors by configuring and executing them interactively.
Execute a postprocessor automatically on output of a toolpath.

Support for ARC_ONLY option in PRO/MANUFACTURING

When the ARC_ONLY option in PRO/MANUFACTURING is selected, PTC creates circle data, which is different from the circle format IntelliPost® regularly handles. The format of the circle data is a CIRCLE (TY3000 record X,Y,Z, i, j, k, R) followed by three points. IntelliPost® has been enhanced to read this type of circle data, determine the direction of the circle move based on the circle's cylindrical vector (i, j, k) and output the circular motion. If there is greater than 3 points following the CIRCLE record, IntelliPost® will ignore the cylindrical vector, and read all the motion records to decide the circle direction.

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