Why Open Source????? A White Paper. FLAME away!

[holbieone]

here's a link to my web site http://voodoocnc.com/

this is the beginning of what i hope to be A Long, Interesting Journey

BUMP

[aptbob]

BOSTOSH1- Tried your labrint programme. Great!
Here it is again with a couple of mods and also output from catia. see the zipfile.

[TruePrecision]

Very cool stuff!

Attached is an image of WPCView backplotting the SCL "labrynth" file I compiled with PROAPT. It compiled without a single error...cool stuff!

Anyhow, I look forward to seeing more of this VOODOO APT interface, and I'm happy to help in any way I can.

Although I program on a daily basis using Catia V5, I also make parts sometimes using good old fashioned APT.

Glad to see some people keeping APT alive!

[TruePrecision]

Oh yeah...my recommendation (unsolicted) for Voodoo APT is to convert the APT program to a generic "dumb" aptsource text CL file, so that programmer can use or create any common post-processor of his choice. This way, the CL file will not be machine specific. This is how most CAM systems work. Post-processing is a secondary operation. Great job- I had a chance to try it out, and it's working on my Windows 7 64 bit system.

[bostosh]

I fired up VDC_APT, sample part program works well,

How does one go thru the debug/error process?

Any hints or docs?

[TruePrecision]

It seems like it's still a work in progress. It appears to be a first release to show us what is possible in the future...and I'm liking it very much. As for debug, error, testing...well- I ran a few real APT programs I've written, and they all bombed out. I'm sure HOLBIE is aware of some of the issues, and probably working on it when he has time.

My current setup is to program in text editor, run through my APT compiler, then run SCL file thru WPCView, but I can only see the CL path, no geometry. VDC_APT will show the geometry, also- so this is cool.

Still, for $200, Personal APT is available, works perfect and will do the same thing in DOS, and there is a Windows Version for I think $50 more. VDC_APT seems to be a project, more for fun and interest, rather than to fill a neccessity, but I understand. I wrote my own post-processors using BASIC for much the same reason...I already had posts, but I just wanted to see if I could do it...

[bostosh]

Understanding now,

I am going to fire up the trusty IBM Windows NT 4.0 box with PCApt

(IBM 360 full version) Mike Kindt version

But that Mastercam X5 does have my attention

[TruePrecision]

I can't stand using any CAM system that isn't APT based. I use and own Catia V5 in my business, and it is basically APT on steroids on steroids. All the 5-axis motion was coded by NCCS (NCL).

I would LOVE to get ahold of PCAPT. Mike shut down the business a year or two ago, unfortunately. He said he hadn't sold a seat in a couple years. He had a CAD company that interfaced with PCAPT to create a road-map, and that company folded, so PCAPT lost the graphics. But still, I just needed it as an APT compiler.

I wonder if there is any way possible for me to get PCAPT. If you know any way, please let me know. Although I have a Windows APT compiler that I run on my Windows7 64 bit computer, through DOSBOX, it is no longer supported, and has a few minor bugs. It was never actually released to the public, so it never got a chance to get the bugs worked out. However, it works very well, even so. I know the guy who created it, is why I have a copy.

If you are interested in it, contact me, and I might be able to help out.

Bryan
trueprecisioncnc@yahoo.com
CNC CONTRACT PROGRAMMER

[TruePrecision]

I'm happy to say, I was able to get APTOS, the apt360 program compiled and running on my Linux box with Ubuntu 10. I also got postp working great. I just use the "DMB.py" configuration - MACHIN/dmb, so I can use my existing post-processors.

Next, I will try to see if I can get it to run on Windows...which may be a little tricky, but I think it can be done.

[randy794]

Hi Guys,

I am a "newer" NCL user and I am curious as to how compiling and PCAPT and these other programs you guys talk about how they benefit someone who is an NCL user.

You will please have to forgive my ignorance.

I realize NCL is an APT based language (right?). I am apart of the "new" generation of programmers so a lot of what you guys are talking about is foreign to me.

Just curious and trying to learn something here! ha ha

Thanks again,

Randy

[holbieone]

It seems like it's still a work in progress. It appears to be a first release to show us what is possible in the future...and I'm liking it very much. As for debug, error, testing...well- I ran a few real APT programs I've written, and they all bombed out. I'm sure HOLBIE is aware of some of the issues, and probably working on it when he has time.

My current setup is to program in text editor, run through my APT compiler, then run SCL file thru WPCView, but I can only see the CL path, no geometry. VDC_APT will show the geometry, also- so this is cool.

Still, for $200, Personal APT is available, works perfect and will do the same thing in DOS, and there is a Windows Version for I think $50 more. VDC_APT seems to be a project, more for fun and interest, rather than to fill a neccessity, but I understand. I wrote my own post-processors using BASIC for much the same reason...I already had posts, but I just wanted to see if I could do it...

I've worked out alot of the problems with the math, added alot of new stuff , re writing the code in visual c ,I'll have an update with in the next month