Import APT Source File

task target You can import an existing NC data file into a manufacturing program. This task shows how to import an APT source file. This creates an ordered sequence of operations in the program from information in the imported file.

For more information about importing NC data files, please refer to:
scenario 1. Right-click the Manufacturing Program entity in the specification tree and select Import APT, Clfile or NC Code File.

The NC File Import dialog box appears allowing you to select the type of NC data file to be imported:

  • APT
  • Clfile
  • NC code.

In the NC Data type list, select APT then click Input File.
scenario   If the selected NC data type is NC Code, a list appears in the dialog box for selecting the desired Post Processor file.
Note that the Post Processor type must be set in the Tools > Options > Machining > Output tab.
2. The File Selection dialog box appears.

Navigate to the desired APT file and click the Open button.
3. The NC File Import dialog box is updated with the selected input file. Click OK to import this file in the program.

The PPR tree is updated with the machining information of the imported file.

NC data objects appear in the Manufacturing Program for each tool change in the imported file. 
A Tool path object is associated to each computed APT Import entity.

All necessary PP instructions are added to the program. Typical content is shown below:

  • Post-Processor Instruction.1:

$$ -----------------------------------------------------------------
$$ Generated on Monday, December 13, 2004 05:39:06 PM
$$ CATIA APT VERSION 1.0
$$ -----------------------------------------------------------------
$$ Manufacturing Program.1
$$ Part Operation.1

  • Post-Processor Instruction.2:

PARTNO PART TO BE MACHINED
COOLNT/ON
CUTCOM/OFF

  • Post-Processor Instruction.3:

$$ Start generation of : Tool Change.1

  • Post-Processor Instruction.4:

TOOLNO/1, 10.000000
TPRINT/T1 End Mill D 10
LOADTL/1
$$ End of generation of : Tool Change.1

All tools referenced in the imported NC file appear in the Resources List.
Please note the following points:
  • You can import an NC file anywhere in the Manufacturing program:
    • If you select a machining operation, the file will be imported just after the operation.
    • If you select the Manufacturing Program, the file will be imported at the start of the program.
  • You can right-click the APT Import entity in the tree to access a contextual menu that allows you to:
    • replay the APT source
    • replace the associated tool
    • rename or assign a comment to the APT source file.
  • The machining time displayed after replaying an imported APT source may not be the exact value. This is because there is no distinction between machining and transition feedrates in the APT source. For an imported APT source, machining time is computed by taking the smallest feedrate value as machining feedrate and bigger feedrate values as transition feedrates. If this is the case for the APT source under consideration, the machining time will be correct.
  • Limitation for turning operations processed on a milling center machine.
    When you import an APT source file (or clfile) generated from a program containing turning operations processed on a milling center machine, data concerning axial and radial axes for the turning operations is missing from the imported file. The imported NC data will not be correctly replayed or simulated in Video mode because the turning tool cannot be correctly oriented.
    Note that a milling center machine is any machine different from a lathe machine or multi-turret machine.

end of task