Postprocessor for Edm wire cutting

[Starryvox]

Hello.
I was looking for a CAM to be used on my wire cutting Edm machine (Fanuc Robocut Alpha 1B)
I have tried the  trial version of camBam and it looks very promising to me, because I am already close to get the G-Code customised as I wanted to. I think I will buy the license if my open problem will be solved

So, could somebody help me about this pending issue on G-Code postprocessing?

1. Since it is a wire cutting CNC machine, I would like to exclude from the output nc file any Z-axis movements and any F (feedrate) S (speed) values?
Would it be possible to exclude them using some prostprocessor options?

[lloydsp]

My opinion is "yes".  I've written a number of post-processors and also 'post-build processors'.  It's amazing what you can do to the g-code with the combinations of the two.

We'd need much more information.  But the key issue (I think) is WHY are you requesting Z motion in the CB file, if no Z motion is desired?

Spindle speed is (of course) of no matter to EDM.  It can be easily eliminated.  Feedrate has to do both with Z movements and XY motion, so I'm not sure how an EDM machine could operate, unless it knew the rate-of-travel for a particular wire, particular material, and particular thickness of material.

Yours,
Lloyd

[Starryvox]

Thank you Lloydsp

I think my original text was not so clear, sorry.

What I want is precisely to exclude Z blocks and movement, and F and S commands.
Here is the nc output I get from my postoprocessor:

.....
G00 Z3.0
X0.0
Z1.4
G01 F300.0 Z0.0
F800.0 X4.0
Y-2.8
X4.2 Y-3.0
X5.5
.........

here is what I want as an output:

G00 Z3.0
X0.0
Z1.4
G01 F300.0 Z0.0
F800.0 X4.0
Y-2.8
X4.2 Y-3.0
X5.5
.....

How can I modify parameters of my postprocessor in order to avoid any Z retracement up and down, and any F commands?

[EddyCurrent]

I think Lloyd was right, see attached image.

I created a profile cut of the rectangle but set anything to do with a Z move to zero, I also set feed rates to zero.

It may of course still require some attention to the post processor.

[lloydsp]

Vox,
Unless I misunderstand your purpose here, it seems your 'desired output' shown above is also incorrect.

There is one XY movement to X=0 that you have eliminated.  It IS an "XY motion", and thus should be included.

I'm not sure I see a way with only the post-processor settings to get your desired output, but a post-build processor to edit the output could be a simple SED script in Linux, or a minor VB routine in Windows.

Also, is it true your machine uses NO "G" commands, and operates solely on XY positions? (I can see how it could, and only wish to clarify).

Lloyd

[Starryvox]

thanks everybody for helping me.
I am very close to the desired output thanks to your hints.
Just two mre question, if anybody can help me:

1. I've realized that putting the fields "Cut feedrate" and "Plung feedrate" the commands F do not appear in the NC file. That's what I was looking for!
But do I have to change them to zero every time? I could not find a way to make it permanent.

2. I have a profile to machine, but the machining (NC file) is made in the wrong direction (let's say from bottom to top). How can I reverse its direction, from top to bottom?

[Dragonfly]

Right click on the selected polyline and then use 'Polyline' -> 'reverse' from the drop down menu

[EddyCurrent]

But do I have to change them to zero every time? I could not find a way to make it permanent.

Have a read in the manual about creating a "Template" or "Camstyle"

Nuovo da modello, Stili CAM

http://www.cambam.info/doc/

[Starryvox]

Right click on the selected polyline and then use 'Polyline' -> 'reverse' from the drop down menu

Thank you. The italian translation is not correct ("indietro" instead of "invertire il verso"), and that's why I did not consider that command.

[Starryvox]

But do I have to change them to zero every time? I could not find a way to make it permanent.

Have a read in the manual about creating a "Template" or "Camstyle"

Nuovo da modello, Stili CAM

http://www.cambam.info/doc/

Thank you so much! I will take some more time time to look deeper and create my own template.

Thanks to everybody for assisting me. It was an amazing help I got from the forum.

[tlmkr38]

I posted one that I wrote for a Fanuc Robocut over in the post processors a couple of weeks ago. Might help you out

[dh42]

Hello

But do I have to change them to zero every time? I could not find a way to make it permanent.

set it to 0 in the "default style" (the first one with no name in the CAMstyle library you're using)

http://www.cambam.info/doc/dw/1.0.0/cam/cam-style.html

++
David

[tlmkr38]

 if you will look in the post processor forum I posted on for the Fanuc. It still has some work to do but it does work to an extent.  Haven't figured out how to take the Z moves out but you can edit and cut them out.  It will call the G92,m86, and m46 out also. You put your Epack? number where it says Plunge rate and it will call it up as well.  Trying to find someone who can help me with modifying so the Z is gone and I can re label some things.

 Any questions feel free to send me a message. I'm still trying to figure some stuff out on the Fanuc. 99% of whats in my area is Mitsubishi so not a lot of help