automatically programmed tool.

high level cam programming language

3 types of statements:
1) geometric statements
2) motion statements
3) auxiliary statements

1) GEOMETRIC STATEMENTS

syntax: variable = geometric entity / geometric data to define the entity

variable: it is a user-chosen name to identify geometric entity
geometric entity: APT reserved words should be used; it defines the geometric entity
geometric data to define the entity: numerical values that define the geometric entity

example:

P1 = POINT/3.0,2.0,1.0
P2 = POINT/2.0,4.0,6.0
L1 = LINE/ P1,P2
C1 = CIRCLE/ CENTER, P1,RADIUS,3.5

2) MOTION STATEMENTS:

syntax: motion statement/ motion data

example:

FROM/P3 -----tool moves from current position to P3
GOTO/ 6,7,9---tool moves to absolute(ie with respect to origin) coordinate(6,7,9) from current position
GODLTA/ 3,7,-2----incremental positioning, ie tool moves from current coordinates (x,y,z) to coordinates(x+3,y+7,z-2)

3) AUXILIARY STATEMENTS:

syntax: auxiliary statement/ description data

example:

MCHIN RAPID FINI
PARTNO RETRACT
COOLNT STOP

CONTINUOUS PATH MACHINING:

Requires 3 surfaces to guide the tool. they are
a) part surface
b) drive surface
c) check surface

part surface: defined as surface that controls the tool motion along the tool axis. it controls depth of machining operation.

drive surface: controls the tool motion perpendicular to the tool path, ie, the direction in which tool is moving. alternatively, the drive surface is always tangent to the toolpath or the direction of the tool motion.

check surface: terminates the tool motion.

note:
1) part surf will intersect drive surface and check surface
2) drive surface and check surface may or may not intersect

example:

GO/TO, drive surface
GO/TO, part surface
GO/TO, check surface

TO, ON, PAST etc are MODIFIERS. they control the relative position of the sutter with respect to surface following the modifier.

some other modifiers:

points: intersection modifier
lines: parallel, perpendicular, tangent etc

note:
a TOOL statement describes the tool to be used in machining
example: CUTTER/5.5 .......(here 5.5 is the tool dimension)