break arcs

[Jaz]

We have a new high speed machine that apparently runs smoother and more accurately when programmed with lots of point-to-point data (lines) instead of arcs (has something to do with the way the look ahead handles arcs). Is there a way I can force MasterCam to always output arcs as point data? The deviation tolerance would need to be .0001". We are using a third party post so the point data needs to be in the .nci file.

[Ocean Lacky™]

not sure....turn Arc Filtering Off might work

[Jaz]

Arc Filtering off does not affect corners already programmed arcs.

[Storkman]

Maybe if you went to the control def and turned off the support arcs in XY plane, XZ plane, And YZ plane. Seems like it would linearize everything.

[MLS]

The support arcs uncheck doesn't work...I ran into that. It will work if you are using an .apt post(or otherwise), but just outputting NCI it still includes circle statements.

 

The only solution I found was to modify the (3rd party) post to do it instead.

 

If I may ask...what post processor you using Jaz?

[Jaz]

Turning off support for arcs does not do what I need. It leaves arcs in the nci file and tells the post to break them up but I am not using a MasterCam post.

[Jaz]

I am using a CimPRO post processor.

[MLS]

It will probably be easiest to disable arcs in CIMPRO. I am using Version 6.1 and it is just a switch in the option file generator.

 

Feel free to e-mail me if you need help.

[Jaz]

I have seen the switch, but where are the tolerances set? Whatever cimpro is doing now is too coarse of steps, that is why I was hoping to use mastercam.

[MLS]

Yuck. I see what you are saying.

 

Now I am curious.

 

I would think a DBLCOM would define it, but I don't see any that spell it out.

 

I am guessing it can be done in fil somehow but that would be a bit nasty. I will let you know if I find out anything.

[Jaz]

I guess we're going to talk to Austin NC and see what they can do for us. Maybe be able to turn it off and on and adjust tolerances on the run.

[Dan@home]

You could turn all your arcs into nurbs. Then you know you won't get arcs in your NC. Doesn't look very good also.

[edmBosto]

Would breaking all arcs into .0001 lengths give you your code?

[Brian B 74]

Just curious, but what control are you using?

[Mark H]

Turning off arc support in the control def worked for me. We had to do this for our Makino that has SGI.

 

control def

-Arc

-Mill

[]Support acrs n XY plane

[]Support acrs n XZ plane

[]Support acrs n YZ plane

 

edit

Not sure why it didnt work for you. Was the control def saved correctly and reloaded?

[Jaz]

The machine/control this is for is a Makino Mag3 w/ their Pro5 control.

 

Contour tool paths could be broken up by the geometry, I will probably begin doing that.

 

I think the reason turning off arc support in the control def doesn't work is because the arc breaking occures at the post level and we are using a third party post processor.