MasterCam/Bridgeport Explorer

[minton]

When using MasterCam or other programs...is the program downloaded from a computer to an external 3 1/2" floppy drive disk, then from the 3 1/2" floppy disk to the machine or are there other methods? What is the preferable method? The term DNC (Direct Numerical Control)...please explain how this works.

Many Thanks,

Bob

[machintek]

You can transfer the program to the machine memory using a floppy or RS232.
Then it is loaded to the BMDC to run. If the program exceeds the memory of the BMDC you can DNC (sometimes called drip feed). It loads a line into the BMDC and one into the buffer. As each line is used it is replaced from the hard drive with the next line. This way you can run programs that exceed machine memory. This is true for Fanuc controls as well.
Cam systems are very prolific with unnecessary code. Using loops and macros I could take a seven page program made by EZCAM and condense it into a single page.

George