Post Processor Training Guide - Autodesk

1 CAM Post Processor Guide 8/15/22 Copyright 2018-2022 Autodesk , Inc. All rights reserved. Post Processor Training Guide For use with Fusion 360 CAM, Inventor CAM, HSMW orks Table of Contents I CAM Post Processor Guide 8/15/22 1 Introduction to Post Processors .. 1-1 Scope .. 1-1 What is a Post Processor ? .. 1-1 Finding a Post Processor .. 1-2 Downloading and Installing a Post Processor .. 1-3 Automatically Updating Your Post Processors .. 1-6 Running the Post Processor .. 1-6 Post Process 1-7 NC Programs .. 1-11 Machine Configurations .. 1-13 Creating/Modifying a Post Processor .. 1-16 Testing your Post Processor Benchmark Parts .. 1-17 Locating the Benchmark Parts .. 1-18 Milling Benchmark Part .. 1-19 Mill/Turn Benchmark Part .. 1-20 Stock Transfer Benchmark Part.

2 1-21 Probing Benchmark Part .. 1-22 2 Autodesk Post Processor Editor .. 2-23 Installing the Autodesk Post Processor Editor .. 2-23 Autodesk Post Processor Settings .. 2-26 Left Side Flyout .. 2-29 Explorer Flyout .. 2-29 Search Flyout .. 2-31 Bookmarks Flyout .. 2-34 Extensions 2-34 Autodesk Post Processor Editor Features .. 2-35 Auto Completion .. 2-36 Syntax Checking .. 2-36 Hiding Sections of Code .. 2-37 Matching Brackets .. 2-37 Go to Line Number .. 2-38 Opening a File in a Separate Window .. 2-38 Shortcut Keys .. 2-38 Running 2-40 Running/Debugging the Post .. 2-40 Autodesk Post Processor 2-40 The Post Processor Properties .. 2-41 Running the Post Processor .. 2-42 Creating Your Own CNC Intermediate Files .. 2-44 3 JavaScript Overview .. 3-45 Overview.

3 3-45 JavaScript Syntax .. 3-45 Variables .. 3-47 Numbers .. 3-48 Table of Contents II CAM Post Processor Guide 8/15/22 Strings .. 3-49 Booleans .. 3-51 Arrays .. 3-51 Objects .. 3-53 The Vector Object .. 3-53 The Matrix Object .. 3-56 Deferred Variables .. 3-59 Expressions .. 3-61 Conditional Statements .. 3-63 The if Statement .. 3-63 The switch Statement .. 3-64 The Conditional Operator (?) .. 3-65 The typeof Operator .. 3-66 The conditional Function .. 3-66 try / 3-67 The validate Function .. 3-67 Comparing Real Values .. 3-68 Looping Statements .. 3-68 The for Loop .. 3-68 The for/in Loop .. 3-69 The while Loop .. 3-69 The do/while Loop .. 3-70 The break Statement .. 3-70 The continue 3-70 Functions .. 3-71 The function Statement.

4 3-71 Calling a function .. 3-72 The return Statement .. 3-72 4 Entry Functions .. 4-73 Global Section .. 4-74 Kernel Settings .. 4-75 Property Table .. 4-77 Property Scopes .. 4-81 Operation Properties .. 4-82 Property Groups .. 4-83 Accessing Properties .. 4-85 Format Definitions .. 4-86 Output Variable Definitions .. 4-88 Modal Groups .. 4-91 Fixed 4-93 Collected State .. 4-94 onOpen .. 4-94 Define Settings Based on Post Properties .. 4-95 Define the Multi-Axis 4-95 Output Program Name and Header .. 4-96 Table of Contents III CAM Post Processor Guide 8/15/22 Performing General Checks .. 4-100 Output Initial Startup Codes .. 4-101 4-102 Ending the Previous Operation .. 4-103 Operation Comments and Notes .. 4-103 Tool Change .. 4-105 Work Coordinate System Offsets.

5 4-108 Work Plane 3+2 Operations .. 4-110 Initial Position .. 4-120 The section Object .. 4-121 currentSection .. 4-121 getSection .. 4-121 getNumberOfSections .. 4-122 getId .. 4-122 isToolChangeNeeded .. 4-122 isNewWorkPlane .. 4-123 isNewWorkOffset .. 4-123 isSpindleSpeedDifferent .. 4-123 isDrillingCycle .. 4-123 isTappingCycle .. 4-124 isAxialCenterDrilling .. 4-124 4-125 4-125 isInspectionOperation .. 4-125 isDepositionOperation .. 4-126 probeWorkOffset .. 4-126 getNextTool .. 4-126 getFirstTool .. 4-127 toolZRange .. 4-127 strategy .. 4-127 checkGroup .. 4-127 onSectionEnd .. 4-128 onClose .. 4-129 onTerminate .. 4-130 onCommand .. 4-131 onComment .. 4-132 onDwell .. 4-133 onParameter .. 4-134 getParameter Function .. 4-135 getGlobalParameter Function.

6 4-136 onPassThrough .. 4-137 4-137 onOrientateSpindle .. 4-138 onRadiusCompensation .. 4-138 onMovement .. 4-139 onRapid .. 4-140 Table of Contents IV CAM Post Processor Guide 8/15/22 invokeOnRapid .. 4-142 onLinear .. 4-142 invokeOnLinear .. 4-143 onRapid5D .. 4-144 invokeOnRapid5D .. 4-145 onLinear5D .. 4-145 invokeOnLinear5D .. 4-147 onCircular .. 4-148 Circular Interpolation Settings .. 4-149 Circular Interpolation Common Functions .. 4-151 Helical Interpolation .. 4-152 Spiral Interpolation .. 4-152 3-D Circular 4-153 invokeOnCircular .. 4-154 onCycle .. 4-154 onCyclePoint .. 4-154 Drilling Cycle Types .. 4-156 Cycle parameters .. 4-158 The Cycle Planes/Heights .. 4-159 Common Cycle 4-160 Pitch Output with Tapping Cycles .. 4-162 onCycleEnd.

7 4-163 onRewindMachine .. 4-163 Common Functions .. 4-164 writeln .. 4-164 writeBlock .. 4-164 toPreciseUnit .. 4-165 force--- .. 4-166 writeRetract .. 4-167 5 Manual NC 5-169 onManualNC and expandManualNC .. 5-170 Sample onManualNC 5-172 Delay Processing of Manual NC Commands .. 5-172 onCommand .. 5-174 onParameter .. 5-175 onPassThrough .. 5-178 6 Debugging .. 6-179 Overview .. 6-179 The Post Processor .. 6-179 Debugging using Post Processor Settings .. 6-180 debugMode .. 6-180 setWriteInvocations .. 6-180 setWriteStack .. 6-181 Functions used with 6-181 Table of Contents V CAM Post Processor Guide 8/15/22 debug .. 6-182 log .. 6-182 writeln .. 6-182 6-183 writeDebug .. 6-183 7 Multi-Axis Post Processors .. 7-183 Adding Basic Multi-Axis Capabilities.

8 7-183 Create the Rotary Axes Formats .. 7-184 The Machine Configuration Settings and Functions .. 7-184 Creating a Hardcoded Multi-Axis Machine Configuration .. 7-185 Calculating the Rotary Angles .. 7-189 Output Initial Rotary Position .. 7-190 Create the onRapid5D and onLinear5D Functions .. 7-191 Multi-Axis Common Functions .. 7-192 Output of Continuous Rotary Axis on a Rotary Scale .. 7-194 Adjusting the Points for Offset Rotary Axes .. 7-195 Calculation of the Multi-Axis Tool Position .. 7-198 Handling the Singularity Issue in the Post Processor .. 7-199 Rewinding of the Rotary Axes when Limits are Reached .. 7-201 Multi-Axis Feedrates .. 7-205 Polar Interpolation .. 7-209 Polar Interpolation Functions .. 7-210 Manual NC Command to Enable Polar Interpolation.

9 7-212 Calculating the Polar Interpolation Initial Angle .. 7-213 Initializing Polar Interpolation .. 7-214 Disabling Polar Interpolation .. 7-215 Enabling Polar Interpolation in Drilling Cycles .. 7-215 8 Adding Support for 8-216 WCS Probing .. 8-217 Probing Operations .. 8-218 Adding the Core Probing Logic .. 8-221 Adding the Supporting Probing Logic .. 8-223 Adding Support for Printing Probe Results .. 8-226 Geometry Probing .. 8-227 Inspect Surface .. 8-230 Inspect Surface Operations .. 8-231 Inspection Parameters .. 8-232 Adding the Core Inspect Surface Logic .. 8-232 Adding the Supporting Inspect Surface Logic .. 8-234 9 Additive Capabilities and Post Processors .. 9-235 Getting Started .. 9-235 Finding a Machine .. 9-236 Creating an Additive Setup .. 9-239 Table of Contents VI CAM Post Processor Guide 8/15/22 Creating and Simulating an Additive Operation.

10 9-242 Creating a New Machine Configuration .. 9-244 Additive Common Properties .. 9-245 Additive Variables .. 9-246 The machineConfiguration Object .. 9-246 The Extruder Object .. 9-247 The commands Object .. 9-247 The settings Object .. 9-248 Additive Entry Functions .. 9-249 Global Section .. 9-250 onOpen .. 9-251 9-251 onClose .. 9-252 onBedTemp .. 9-252 onExtruderTemp .. 9-253 onExtruderChange .. 9-254 onExtrusionReset .. 9-254 onFanSpeed .. 9-255 onAcceleration .. 9-255 onMaxAcceleration .. 9-256 onJerk .. 9-256 onLayer .. 9-257 onParameter .. 9-257 onRapid .. 9-258 onLinearExtrude .. 9-258 onCircularExtrude .. 9-259 Common Additive Functions .. 9-260 getExtruder .. 9-260 isAdditive .. 9-260 executeTempTowerFeatures .. 9-260 10 Deposition Capabilities and Post Processors.