CAM Wizard N/C Programming Software
SOURCE Editor
The CAM-Wizard SOURCE editor is used to edit the instructions that will be used by the
POST processor to create the tape code for an N/C machine. The SOURCE editor is
normally run by typing SOURCE while running CAM or by selecting
"Program" from the standard CAM menu. This program can also be run directly
from the operating system by using the SOURCE command.
This illustration shows the screen layout for the SOURCE editor. Although the
SOURCE code can be typed in from the keyboard, The smart menu system can make it much
easier to create this code, as well as prevent typing errors. The menus are accessed by
pressing the right button on the mouse, or by pressing [F10]. The menu bar is then moved
by moving the mouse or using the cursor keys. When the wanted selection is highlighted, the
center or right button is pressed. The left mouse button is used to exit to the next highest
menu level.
What commands are entered into the SOURCE program will depend on the part being
programmed, and the machine used; but, the general format of the SOURCE code is:
( jobname OP operation machine )
( Tool1 = tool description )
( Tooln = tool description )
MAT:materialname
Tool1
operation(s)
Tooln
operation(s)
End
The jobname and operation are used by the CAM-Wizard system to store this job with the SAVE
command. If they are left out, SAVE will ask for them when saving the job. jobname may be up to
8 alpha-numeric characters, and operation may be up to 3 characters.
Menu Selections
The functions on the menu differ depending on the actual cursor location in the
SOURCE, and the machine selected. Normally, the machine name is first selected from a
list of machine names supported by the POST processor. These names are listed in the file
MACH.CAM along with the type of machine ( MILL, LATHE, PUNCH,
2D CUTTER), and tell SOURCE the functions available on that machine.
The MATERIAL selection will bring up a sub-menu of the material names stored in
MATL.CAM, and if one is selected, it will create a material specification line at the
current cursor position. This material spec. sets the Surface Feet/Min, Feed/Rev, and Feed/Tooth
for that part.
The TOOL CHANGE selection will bring up a sub-menu of different types of tools that
can be used with the named machine. When you choose one of these tool types, the TOOL
n.LST file for that machine will be read, and all tools of that type will be displayed
in another sub-menu. The tool can then be selected from this menu, and a Tool description and
tool change line will automatically be inserted into the SOURCE code,along with a TOOL
CHANGE line selecting that tool.
If the cursor is on or after a Tool command, the menu will show all normal functions to
perform with that tool. SOURCE knows what you have for geometry, and tool functions will
include Drilling, Milling Holes and named layers if they are appropriate. When selected, these
functions will show all existing sizes/names of geometry which can be easily picked from the
menu.
These intelligent menu options help eliminate entry of the wrong size/name geometry, and
make the menus easier to read, but could limit the flexibility of the system when you want to
perform an unusual operation with the selected tool. (drilling with an end mill for instance).
In this case, the MORE is option is available to add menu items not normally used with
this tool.
The PARAMETERS selection allows the user to enter parameters including Clearance,
Rough Clearance, Pass Width, Tolerance, Circular Tolerance, Surface Feet/Min, Feed/Rev, and
Feed/Tooth.Each of these can also be selected individually from the PARAMETERS menu.
These parameters will be used by the POST, along with the tool geometry, to automatically
calculate speeds and feeds for machining the part.
The OTHER selection is used for selecting other options including Stay Left/Right,
Trim On/Off, Comp On/Off, Coolant On/Off, Offset size, Zlevel, Rotary On/Off, Rotary Diameter,
and Rotary Comp On/Off.
Editing functions are available under the EDITING FUNCTIONS selection. This
will bring up a sub-menu of all editing functions including Insert/Delete Line, Find, Replace,
Start New, Read, Write, and Block Editing.
Selections also exist to run GEOMETRY, POST, and TAPE EDIT functions
of the system, with the POST selection automatically appending a End line to the
SOURCE. POST is normally the last function executed from SOURCE, to create
the tape file based on the instructions created in SOURCE.
Editing Keys
The SOURCE editor uses many special keys. On the right side of the keyboard there are
eight special keys, Up Arrow, Down Arrow, Left Arrow, Right Arrow,
Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn, that are used for moving the blinking
cursor. The Arrow keys are used for moving the cursor around on the screen. The [Home]
key is used to move to the beginning of the line. The [End] key can is used to move to
the end of the line. The user can scroll up and down a page at a time with the [PgUp]
and [PgDn] keys.
Also on the keypad are the [Ins] and [Del] keys. Pressing the [Ins] key
will toggle the insert mode. When in insert mode typing any character will move the part of the
line to the right of the cursor to the right and insert the character, otherwise the character
will "type over" the existing characters on that line. Pressing [Del] will move
the part of the line to the right of the cursor, to the left, deleting the character over the
cursor.
Function Keys
Because the editor has been designed to accept anything that is typed into it as pure input
to be included in the text file it creates, all functions other than the input of that data must
be executed by pressing special function keys. These keys are located on the top row of the
keyboard.
The [F1] key is used to insert a line into the text. pressing this key causes
the line that the cursor is on to move down one line, creating a blank line to type on. The
[F2] key causes the line that the cursor is on to be deleted.
The [F3] key is used for the search function. Pressing [F3] will cause
the program to stop and input a character string from the user. The editor will then search from
its current position in the program for that string. Entering nothing at the "Find String
?" will cause the last string to be searched for again from the current cursor position.
The [F4] key is used for the replace function. When this key is pressed, the
user is asked what string to search for. After typing in this string and pressing [Enter], the
user is asked what string to change it to. All occurrences of the first string will then be
highlighted, and the user will be asked "Replace ? (Y/N/G/Esc) ?". Pressing [Y] will
replace that occurrence of the search string. Pressing [N] will skip that occurrence. Pressing
[G] will replace all remaining occurrences. Pressing [Esc] will abort the replace function.
The [F5] key must be used with care. When [F5] is pressed, the program will ask
"Are You Sure ? (Y/N) ?". Pressing [Y] will then ERASE the entire source Text;
if it has not been saved it will be lost.
The [F6] key is used to exit the editor, save the current text, and run the
programs that appear when the key is pressed. The programs available from the editor will be
listed on the screen with a single character to the left of each. Pressing the key corresponding
to any of those characters will cause the related program to be run. Pressing an invalid key
will return operation to the editor as if nothing had happened.
The [F7] key is used to read in a previously stored file from the disk. After
pressing this key, the user is asked for a file name. Entering the file name and pressing
[Enter] will cause that file to be appended to the text already loaded into the editor. Pressing
[Enter] without entering a file name will cause no file to be read in.
The [F8] key is used to write a file to a disk or to the printer. Entering a
valid MS-DOS file name causes the text to be saved on a disk file and typing the name PRINTER
will cause the text to be sent to the printer.
The [F9] key is used for block editing functions. Blocks of text can be
copied and deleted using the block edit command. When pressed, the system will prompt you for
the function, either mark block start, mark block end, copy block, or delete block. Blocks must
be defined before they can be copied or deleted.
The [F10] key is the MENU key. Pressing this key will bring up the intelligent
menu system's main menu. All menu items described earlier can then be selected from the menu
using the cursor keys to highlight the desired menu item, and pressing [Enter]. Pressing the
[Esc] key will exit from the menu.
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Last modified: June 10, 2002