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Thread: Z axis arcs

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    78

    Z axis arcs

    Hi guys,

    I've been using dolphin daily for two years and never had a problem figuring anything out - but right now I'm stumped.
    I'm trying to cut a Z & X axis curve, using the Z profile slot function.
    Which works fine, but is outputting the arc as vectors, not selecting the X / Z plane and cutting the arc using G02 / G03 I / K.
    I've trawled through each and every post processor file and have found a few references to the K variable used as a Z axis arc center, and I have seen a few references to G17 / G18 / G19 (plane selection), but it appears none of the post processors use this information in the arc cutting part of the post processor.

    Is Dolphin CAM capable of outputting plane selection & Z axis arc cutting with the correct post processor?
    Has anyone figured out how to get this done?
    Does anybody have a post processor with Z axis arcs that they would like to share?

    Much appreciated,
    David

  2. #2

    Plane Switching (G17, G18, G19)

    David
    At the moment Dolphin is not able to switch dynamically between planes.

    There are two methods of achieving the desired output :-

    1) A post processor which is configured to output G17 (xyz) as G18 (zxy),
    this post would only be used for G18 work.

    2) Modify your current post to make use of the PPFUN commands to switch between planes. (PPFUN - Post processor Functions ignored by dcam but which are acted on by the post processor.

    Send me a copy of your post and I will implement PPFUNs.
    ( [email protected] )

    Regards

    michael
    Dolphin CAD CAM Ltd

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