yes the machine def and control def do have an impact on the generated code and also the toolpaths you have avalible at the time of programming.
The machine definition contains info about the physical machine and components, along with how coolant and feeds are handled. For example if in your machine build in the machine definition you do not have a 4th and 5th axis in your machine then when you are programming you should not have the multiaxis toolpaths available at the time of programming.
The control definition plays the largest part in the gcode that is output. In previous versions there were a series of switches at the top of the post processor that the user/post person would configure to change things like how arc's are output (IJK values or R values), If line numbers were output..things like this. Now in the control def most of these things are set in the different control topics. This does not apply to custom switches that might have been added to your post, and not all default switches are supported yet.
There are a lot of options in the machine def especially that are not supported yet in most post processors including the ones that come with the X system. These things somtimes can be added into your post so that they are supported but some things are not available in the NCI file yet so we cannot impliment them. They are there for future use.
Overall posting in the X system has proven to be very nice once you get some of the main differences figured out.
Just a side note: when you update a post from a previous version into X make sure you check the boxes to create a machine and control definition. When the post is being updated the system scans and reads all the switches at the top of the post processor and configures the control definition to match as closely as possible. This saves you the grief of having to go into the control def and configure everything. The machine def file that is generated is just a copy of the default which should support everything from 3 axis up to 5 axis machining. Once these files have been updated they are then associated together. Do not re-name or move these files from there current locaiton or they will loose there association to each other and then your program format will most likley change. THey must then be re-associated together for the post to function the way you are expecting. Explaining this here would take to long...I apoligise but your local reseller I am sure would be happy to walk you through it.
Hope this helps.
Alex  |