Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: what is POSTPROCESSOR? a fundamental question

Jerry Kimberlin wrote:

> I've been trying for at least 2 years to figure out what a post
> processor does and have had no joy.

Thanks to everyone who responded with their thoughtful and
informative replies. I have found out that the machine doesn't
matter. There are certain aspects of machines that do matter,
such as tool changers, specifics about spindles, and, of course,
size of the XYZ movement. I am certainly a lot closer to
understanding this than I have been in the past couple of years.

So the concensus is that the root of my question lies in the
Controller because, depending on its construction, a post
processor for any particular controller will normally be
different from all the others. And most machines have different
controllers. Also, virtually none of them conform to a standard
such as EIA-274-D. (Should anyone want my copy of this standard,
I'll sell it for half price, since it is useless.)

Then, the next question is where can I find a suitable circuit
diagram for a controller? Are there any commercial ones
available? And why would I choose one over another? I am
assuming that controllers differ mostly in the EEPROM that
contains the G-code interpreter for the DXF code delivered to it.

JerryK