PP Word Syntaxes

task target This section shows you how to customize the following types of syntaxes in your PP word table:  

The Machining product will resolve the parameters of these syntaxes and syntax sequences and generate the corresponding statements in the APT output.

A sample PP word table is delivered with the product in \Startup\Manufacturing\PPTables\PPTableSample.pptable

It can be used as a basis for creating user-defined tables.

Please refer to PP Tables and Word Syntaxes for more information.
Some NC commands and NC instructions have default values. See NC Commands and NC Instructions for syntaxes and default values.

Please note that this default value is output even when the NC command or NC instruction is not present in the PP table.

The example below shows an NC command with explicit definition:

*START_NC_COMMAND     NC_CHANGE_REF_PT
SWITCH/%MFG_QUADRANT
*END

If this output is not required, you must define an empty NC command or NC instruction.

For example:

*START_NC_COMMAND     NC_CHANGE_REF_PT
*END
scenario 1. NC Commands 

You can define for a given machine tool (i.e. post-processor) PP word syntaxes associated to particular NC commands.

An NC command is a machine function such as feedrate declaration (NC_FEEDRATE) or spindle activation (NC_SPINDLE_START).

A syntax comprises a major word and one or more syntax elements such as minor words, numerical values, list values and parameters. 

A syntax that includes lists or parameters is a parameterized syntax (see example below):

*START_NC_COMMAND         NC_FEEDRATE
FEDRAT/%MFG_FEED_VALUE,&MFG_FEED_UNIT
*END
Note that the `&' character indicates a list and the `%' character indicates a parameter.

You can define only one syntax for each NC command.
The following example shows how the NC command NC_DELAY could be used in a Drilling Dwell Delay operation. 
2. Make sure that the PP word table is referenced by the machine used in the Part Operation and the syntax associated with the NC_DELAY command is already created as follows:

*START_NC_COMMAND             NC_DELAY
DELAY/&MFG_DELAY_UNIT,%MFG_DELAY_VALUE
*END

3. Create a Drilling Dwell Delay operation. 
4. In the dialog box showing the available options, set the Dwell mode to Revolutions and enter a numerical dwell value of `5'.

In this case the statement generated in the resulting APT source will be:
DELAY/REV,5.000

If the operation was created with the Dwell mode set to Time Units and a dwell value of `5', the statement generated in the resulting APT source would be:

DELAY/5.000
scenario 1. NC Instructions 

You can define for a given machine tool (i.e. post-processor) sequences of PP word syntaxes associated to particular NC instructions.

NC instructions are either axial machining operations or auxiliary commands. 

A syntax comprises a major word and one or more syntax elements such as minor words, numerical values and standard parameters. A set of standard parameters is associated to each NC instruction. Parameters may be combined in arithmetical expressions. 

A syntax that includes parameters is a parameterized syntax (see example below):

*START_NC_INSTRUCTION      NC_TOOL_CHANGE
*START_SEQUENCE
TOOLNO/%MFG_TOOL_NUMBER,%MFG_NOMINAL_DIAM
TPRINT/%MFG_TOOL_NAME
LOADTL/%MFG_TOOL_NUMBER
*END
*END
Note that the `%' character indicates a parameter.

You can define one or more syntax sequences for each NC instruction.
The following example shows how the NC instruction NC_DRILLING_DWELL_DELAY could be used to generate a specific NC data output. 
2. Make sure that the PP word table is referenced by the machine used in the Part Operation and the syntax associated with NC_DRILLING_DWELL_DELAY instruction is already created as follows:

*START_NC_INSTRUCTION                  NC_TOOL_CHANGE
*START_SEQUENCE
CYCLE / DRILL, %MFG_TOTAL_DEPTH, %MFG_FEED_MACH_VALUE, &MFG_FEED_UNIT, %MFG_CLEAR_TIP, DWELL, %MFG_DWELL_REVOL
*END
*END

3. Create a Drilling Dwell Delay operation.
4. In the dialog box showing the available options, set:
  • hole depth to 25.0
  • feedrate to 500.0
  • approach clearance to 5.0
  • Dwell mode to Revolutions and enter a numerical dwell value of `3'.

In this case the NC data output is as follows:

CYCLE/DRILL, 25.000000, 500.000000, MMPM, 5.000000, DWELL, 3

The PP word table is updated with your syntaxes when you save the file.

end of task