NC File General Tab

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This tab includes settings which affect the NC program as a whole.

Where applicable, separate tabs have been used to define functional-specific settings (such as Block Numbering).

  When developing a Code Generator, select the Generate Code Constructor Trace to document the resultant NC program. Uncheck to deselect the function.

 

Reverse X Axis / Reverse Y Axis / Reverse Z Axis

 

Function

Reverses the sign of the X,Y or Z axes individually

Format Table Ref.

X X move / Y Y move / Z Z move

Token Dependant

Yes

Token Name

XMOVE / YMOVE / ZMOVE

 

Compensate Z for Tool Gauge Length

Function

Check this to program the Turret datum point by adding the gauge length (EdgeCAM Turret Zgauge) value to the tool’s Z co-ordinate.

Uncheck to program tool set point (default)

Format Table Ref.

Z Z move / Z Hole Cycles - Z Depth / R Hole Cycles - Retract plane / Z Hole Cycles – Z Clear

Token Dependant

Yes

Token Name

ZMOVE / ZCLEAR / RPLANE

 

 

Suppress Duplicate Tools

Function

Check this for a duplicated tool to only appear once in the tooling sheet.

Uncheck for the tool to appear each time it is used in the machining sequence.

 

Generate Macro Calls Trace

Function

Check this for the output NC code to contain diagnostic comments, indicating which macros (top level procedures) have been called. These are broadly equivalent to EdgeCAM sequence instructions.

This option (along with the next two trace options) is especially useful when customising with ;CODE:.

Generate Code Constructor Trace

Function

Check this for the output NC code to contain diagnostic comments, indicating which code constructor produced the code.

See an example...

 

Generate Procedures Trace

Function

Check this for the output NC code to contain diagnostic comments, indicating the path through the internal logic of the code generator. (This is usually of more help to software developers than to system users.)

 

Maximum Program Size

Maximum Program Size (Blocks) allows the size of the NC program produced to be limited by the number of blocks (lines) of code produced (including any Set-Up / Tooling sheet information). When this size is reached, a subsequent NC program is automatically produced.

Maximum Program Size (Chars) works in the same way but limits the program size to a specified number of characters.

 

Punch Tape Leader

Allows the length of the Leader (only applicable when using Punched Paper Tape) to be specified. The LEADER Token must be used in the Program Start Code Constructor to output the Leader.

 

Minimum Movement

Specifies the minimum move in X/Y/Z that the machine can perform, in inches or mm.

 

Set up/Tooling Sheet Append Name

Allows the name of the Set up/Tooling sheet to be controlled when output as a separate file. If the NC program name was Drw957 and the Set up/Tooling Sheet Append Name was Setup then the tooling file would be Drw957-Setup.

 

Coordinate Mode

Absolute

All co-ordinates are absolute with respect to the Initial CPL (default)

Incremental

All co-ordinates are incremental with respect to the Initial CPL

Format Table Ref.

G Preparatory "G" Codes

Token Dependant

Yes

Token Name

ABSINCRGCODE

Applies to both main NC program and all subprograms.

 

Output Set-up Sheet

Optional output of a Set-up sheet to be produced either with the NC program or as a separate file.

With NC Program

Generate set-up sheet in the same file as the NC Program and before the main NC code (default)

Separate File

Generate set-up sheet as a separate file - see below for naming convention

None

Do not produce a Set-up sheet

If output as a separate file, the NC filename will be appended with -Setup thus, if the NC file is called Prog100, the associated set-up file will be Prog100-Setup.nc No option exists to allow user specification of append name.

The layout is defined in Code Constructor: Set-Up / Tooling Sheet.