Re: Re: Postprocessor

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Jerry Kimberlin <kimberln@h...> wrote:

Jerry I think you are just a little confused here, no problem we all
were one, some still are <g>

Taking a typical setup that's PC based.

[1] Firstly you need to draw the part in a CAD program. This gets you
all the accurate co-ordinate points.
[2] Next that file goes to the CAM program which takes this detail
and adds speeds, feeds and depths to the part.
[3] Next this information is passed onto the post processor which is
part of the CAM program. This takes the latest information and
generates what's usually called the G code.

--- All this can be done on a remote computer ----

[4] The G code is then fed to the PC that's actually running the
machine. Depending on what program you are using depends on whether
you need a plug in card inside the PC. Some like Ahha, EMC with
servo's and Flashcut all require additional cards. Others like Desk
NC, CNC Pro, Master5 etc use the parallel port.
[5] From the parallel port or plug in card a cable goes from this to
a driver box that contains the stepper or servo drives for each axis.
[6] From each axis card inside the driver box you will get a cable
that connects to each axis motor.

This basically sums up the average home shop CNC setup. I've purposly
left out power supplies and limit switches in an effort to keep it
simple.
So putting products to numbers and this is just general here no
preferances at all:-
[ 1,2 and 3] can be handled by Vector, Bobcad or Dolphin
[4] can be handled by Ahha, CNC Pro or EMC
[5] By Gecko or Dan's driver board
[6] is down to your own machine

CNC Basics 101 - hope this helps.

John Stevenson.



> > From: Jerry Kimberlin <kimberln@h...>
> > <s>
> > >I assume from what Fred said that the CAM
> > >functions of Vector do this without any add-on computer board.
> >
> > Good question, good area for discussion, but bad assumption.;)
> >
> > What the cam functions in Vector do is allow you to select the
path taken
> > by the tool around the drawing in the cad portion of Vector and
add speed,
> > feed, and aux IO info and put out a G-code program that can be
read by
> > dedicated g-code driven motion boards or other motion software.
Vector
> > does not directly run motors.
>
> Oh, certainly Vector doesn't directly run motors, Geckodrives
> do. What I meant was that I assume (bad choice again) that
> Vector can direct the proper pulses to the Geckos for each motor
> without an intermediated output board by using the parallel port
> of the box.
>
> JerryK