How to generate APT CL file using Mastercam? HELP!!!

[ejatt]

Hi everybody,

at last, my 1st post ever!

I have a problem, in order to create a post processor for 5 axis machine, the machine maker ask me to create a CL file which is in APT format, i'm using mastercam 9.1 and i can't find a way to create a CL file.

Does anybody know how to create a CL file using mastercam?

what is exactly a CL file? thanks a lot, i'm still a newbie...

[NCDataServices]

ejatt,

I can provide you a FREE MasterCAM to CLFILE converter. I may also be able to provide you with a FREE configurable 3-axis AZpost postprocessor. NCData Services also provides 2,3,4,5,6,etc axis postprocessor services for
most CAD/CAM systems including MasterCAM.
=========================================================

A CLFILE is a ANSI standard generic output file for tool (cutter) path information that is required by most postprocessors. There are 3 formats for the CLDATA that is contained in the CLFILE.

1. Binary Cutter Location (BCL) - this is the old school traditional format containing computer dependent numbers (both integer & real) and characters. This file was unreadable to any text editors. Was only readable by an APT postprocessor that supported BCL.

2. ASCII Cutter Location (ACL) - This file is structured the same as the BCL but is readable by text editors (all the integers & numbers are in text form). This format is rarely used because words were still ASCII coded integers.

3. Source Cutter Location (SCL) - This file is based on the APT programming language, but most all computations are resolved, there is only the resolved cutter path (no geomery) and machine tool control syntax like COOLNT, SPINDL, etc. This is the file and format that the machine maker is refering to and is basically the only one of these three used with CAD/CAM systems today.

The MasterCAM generic output file has a .NCI file extension and contains ASCII text that is readable by a text editor (don't use a word processor) in the dos text format (no fonts!), but you will not be able to easily read this file format because it is similar to the ASL file in that most of the syntax is in a coded integer form and is documented in "MasterCAM Book for Windows" ISBN 1-886552-01-0 Chapter 21.

Sample NCI file:

20004
1 3 1 0 0.125 0. 0. 180. 41 1 2. 0. 0. 1200 2 4
20005
0 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0.
20007
0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0 0. 0. 0
1001
0 100 2 1 41 1 0 1200 2. 2 0.236 3.996 0.1 0. 0. 0. 0 0.
81
1 0.236 3.996 -0.5 0. 2. 0.1 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.1 0.1 0. 0. 0. 0.
100
0 0.236 2.526 -0.5 0.1 0.
100
0 0.236 2.41 -0.5 0.1 0.

Sample APT SCL file:

PARTNO 012 THIS IS A TEST
MACHIN/ VMC4X ,FADAL4,UNITS,INCHES,OUT,INCHES
SEQNO/ 100.,INCR, 2.
FROM/ .00000, .00000, .00000
LOAD/ TOOL, 1.,LENGTH, .0000,ADJUST, 1.
SPINDL/ RPM, 1200.
RAPID
GOTO / .23600, 3.99600, .10000
COOLNT/ ON
CYCLE/ DEEP ,DEPTH, .5000,CLEAR, .1000,IPM, 2.0000,STEP, .0500
GOTO / .23600, 3.99600, .00000
GOTO / .23600, 2.52600, .00000
GOTO / .23600, 2.41000, .00000
CYCLE/ OFF
LOAD/ TOOL, 2.,LENGTH, .0000,ADJUST, 2.
SPINDL/ RPM, 1200.
RAPID
GOTO / 6.10400, 3.01200, .10000
COOLNT/ ON
RAPID
GOTO / 6.10400, 3.01200, .10000
GOTO / 6.10400, 3.01200, -.25000
FEDRAT/ IPM, 5.000
GOTO / 6.10400, 3.20900, -.25000
GOTO / 2.36300, 3.20900, -.25000
GOTO / 2.36300, 3.01200, -.25000
GOTO / 6.10400, 3.01200, -.25000

If you will send me your information including your e-mail address I will send
you a FREE program that will convert MasterCAM NCI files to APT SCL files.

I can also provide you with a FREE configurable 3-axis AZpost postprocessor if you quality. I also provide AZpost postprocessors most machine tools and CNC makes & models unlimited 3,4,5,6..... axis including multiaxis rotary.

See the NCData Services web site at NCData, NC Data, NCData Services, NC Data Services, NC postprocessor services, CNC Software or email me at ncdata@frontiernet.net

Best regards,
Larry

Larry J Jones - Consultant Mfg Engineer
NCData Services - Manufacturing Solutions
NCData@Frontiernet.net
NCData, NC Data, NCData Services, NC Data Services, NC postprocessor services, CNC Software
Office Phone: (928)532-8045
Mobile Phone: (928)242-8389