MasterCam post with G2 absolute I J

[Karl_T]

I really like Camsoft's Fanucarc=0 option for circles; G02, G03. For this option, you specify the absolute position of the circle center in your I and J parameters. MUCH nicer for manually coded programs, I think.

The mastercam post we've been using has relative I and J positions. Or the distance to the circle center from the machine's current position. I lose track of which Gcode program is using which arc type. My son does not know of a mastercam post that does absolute I and J. He'll write me one if I can find an example.

Anybody know of a MasterCam post that does this?

Karl

<Clip from Camsoft manual>
This setting tells the machine control software how to interpret I and J values while doing G02 and G03 commands. In a standard system (FANUCARC=0) the I and J values are absolute positions as are X and Y. In a FANUC type of system FANUCARC=1 the I and J values are incremental to start point of the arc in X and Y. If importing FANUC-style programs be sure to use FANUCARC=1 or your arc commands will produce strange shapes whenever an arc command is encountered. Another way that some shops program is to substitute the I and J for radius using an R code. For R codes set FANUCARC=2. If you set up your machine control to use the R values for arcs be sure to review the command structure for the CW and CCW commands.

[flinty]

Karl,
to the best of my knowledge and as a long ex user with MC go into edit the .PST and under general there is a switch that will make the post either output R or I & J, personally I was happy with R and my controller also was better.
But maybe speak to your reseller of MC I am sure they will be able to assist.
chris f

[Karl_T]

Originally Posted by flinty Karl, to the best of my knowledge and as a long ex user with MC go into edit the .PST and under general there is a switch that will make the post either output R or I & J, personally I was happy with R and my controller also was better. But maybe speak to your reseller of MC I am sure they will be able to assist. chris f

This switch is (apparently) just for I & J in incremetal or R. I don't have a seat,(too much $) my son's company owns one. He's allowed to bring the hasp home. I was hoping somebody else with Camsoft and Mastercam has been here before.

Karl

[Karl_T]

May be bad form to answer my own post:

In MasterCam X to have absolute I,J,K for G2 and G3:

click machine type on top toolbar
in drop down click machine definition manager

on top toolbar icon click edit controll definition

on left side click on ?arc

then on right side

change the drop down to

XY plane absolute
XZ Plane absolute
YZ Plane absolute

save save save then it will work

[Mike Mattera]

Taken from a Mastercam post. I think the variables speak for themselves.

arcoutput : 2 #0 = IJK, 1 = R no sign, 2 = R signed neg. over 180
arctype : 2 #Arc center 1=abs, 2=St-Ctr, 3=Ctr-St, 4=unsigned inc.

Mike Mattera

[fadood]

thanks