Re: what is POSTPROCESSOR? a fundamental question

A post processor is a program that converts all the CAM information
into G code that is readable by your machine.
Invariably nowdays this is built into the CAM program.
It contains the nessesary functions that your machine controller, in
your case EMC, understands.
Not all controllers are equal. Some share a vast number of common
points but others such as Heidenhain are totally removed from G code.
Some of the low end programs such as Bobcad and Vector use
configuration files that are set for each part of the code you are
writing. You define the start sequence for your machine, then the
tool change sequence etc.
Every time you change tools you then select this sequence, usually a
tool buton and it inserts the required code.
Others such as Visual Mill, Mastercam, Dolphin and the higher end
programs use a genuine post processor where the whole of the code is
written at the end of your tool path selections.
Where these score over the low end stuff is that any alterations or
editing results in the whole code being rewritten immediately.
Any alterations in Bobcad etc has to either be done by hand or by cut
and paste which is an accident looking to happen for the unwary or
unexperianced.

John S.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Asim Khan <asimtec@y...>"
<asimtec@y...> wrote:

> Hi everyone!
> What is postprocessor file? what kind of information does it

contains?

> and what is the format of the information?
> i've heard there are many machine specific postprocessor files,
> I have setup a 3 axis milling machine, with stg-2 and EMC, can
> anyone tell me which postprocessor file i'd need to generate the
> g-codes?
> Is customization of this file possible?
>
> Best regards
> @sim