Programming Cuts in Geopath

Getting Started

There are five simple steps to creating the first cut on any program.

1. Select the machine you will be programming the part for.

2. Select a material to cut.

3. Select a tool to use and define the tool information.

4. Select the type of cut and define the cut information.

5. Select the geometry to cut.

This is a very simple process; just keep in mind that the selections are done one step at a time.

Step One, Selecting a Machine

Create a new program called “Part2”. Now lets look at the first step: go to the pull down menu bar at the top and click on Tool/Cut. A pull down menu will come down; here you will find any option related to cuts or tools. The first option is Make New Tool and/or Cut, click on it and a window will come up. This is the “Program Info” window; this window will come up only once, when you select this option for the first time. On the left of the window you will see a field with a description “Machine Name”. The machine name field is the area where the description of the post processors is listed. So, if you had two machines with different controls each control would be listed here as a machine. Each post processor has the ability to create the G-Code needed for each machine. So you can have two machines with two different types of code, one post processor would handle one type of g-code and the other post processor would handle a different type of code.

Definition for Post Processor:

post- a prefix meaning after or following.

Process to treat or prepare by some particular process, as in manufacturing.

-or – a suffix meaning a person or thing that does something.

What is a Post Processor:

There are two files to look at; the first is the post processor data file. This data file can be customized to give different types of output for different machines such as Fanuc, Haas, Fadal, etc. The second is the universal post processor; this file is a program in its self. This file is not user-configurable; this file is a part of the GeoPath program.

So, the universal post processor is a computer program (executable program) that takes data entered into a GeoPath graphics programs and translates it into g-code using a post processor data file. The data file is the configurable source that allows the post processor to create different g-code for the CNC Machines.

Step Two, Selecting a Material

At this point you have the option of selecting a material and all relative feed rates. If you do not select a material from the tool library, there would not be any tools available to select from and feed rates would also not be automatically set for you.

In the middle of the “Program Info” window you will see a long gray button called “Select Tool Library/Technology Table”. Click on it and a window will come up with a materials list. This list allows you to select different materials; when you select a type of material the feeds and speeds get automatically added to your tool and cut information. Click on Aluminum and then click “Select”. The material list may be modified so that you can add more materials, modify or subtract any unused materials.

Program Identification

At this point you will be back in the “Program Info” window. You can choose to put in a Program Identification name. This is usually the long file name given at the bottom right hand of most prints. This is not needed at this time, when done click O.K.

Step Three, Selecting a Tool

A window with the tools available for this material will be displayed for you. You can scroll down to find tools of different diameter or description. Because the tool library may be large there is a “Find:” field. This field will help you find tools easily and right away.

Follow these simple steps in order to select a tool using the Find field.

1. Click inside this “Find” field until you see your cursor blinking.

2. Now type a short description of the tool you are looking for: type “EM.25”, this will automatically display all tools that start with this description.

3. Once you have found the tool you are looking for, you may click in the tool you want. Select “EM.25X5/8C”, by clicking on it with your mouse once until highlighted.

4. Click “Select”, this will open the Tool Info window.

http://www.cadfamily.com/html/Article/Programming%20Cuts%20in%20Geopath_1012_1.htm