Description of the option file


General

The Option File Generator creates an option file, which is read by the postprocessor at execution time in order to obtain its 'personality' (or behavior). The file naming convention for this file is:

where nn is the number assigned to the option file during the creation process (the number identifies the option file to the postprocessor, and must be between 01 and 99).

This latest release allows up to 9999 option files in certain cases (see note below) by allowing for four digits as follows:

** Note ** the user can set the maximum number of machines to 99 or 9999 via the "config.tbl" file. This is used by the Option file generator to store the postprocessor as uncx01.pnn / uncl01.pnn or uncx01.pnnnn / uncl01.pnnnn respectively. The default for nn is a 2-digit machine number as P01 through P99. In certain cases, the maximum machine number can be set up to 9999 for saving the option files as uncx01.p9999. This is only recommended for APT users and not for AutoPRO or OEM versions of GPost.

To set this value:

The Parts of an Option File

The following are the main part or sections of a typical option file:

The Header Section:

This section consists of the first two lines in the option file. The first contains information about the file's name, the date and time it was created and the version of the Option File Generator that created it. The second line contains the title the user assigns to the option file in the List File Format panel. This is shown below:

The Integer Common section:

This section contains a section marker followed by two columns of numbers. The columns represent an index into the array of integer variables and a value that is to be assigned to the integer at the index location. When the postprocessor reads the option file at execution time it will read these columns and load the value into the memory location indicated. Internally the postprocessor has variable names associated with these memory locations. When references are made to these variable names the value loaded into memory will be substituted for the variable. Following is an example:

INTCOM:(LOCATION,VALUE)

1

7

2

8

4

15

6

12

7

2

When the postprocessor is executed using this option file, the internal assignment of the integer array locations shown would be:

Loc

Val

Var Name

Function

1

7

JA

MCD order of letter address A

2

8

JB

MCD order of letter address B

4

15

JD

MCD order of letter address D

6

12

JF

MCD order of letter address F

7

2

JG

MCD order of letter address G

The Real Common section:

This section also contains a section marker followed by two columns of numbers. This section however represents an array of real variables. The columns serve the same function for real variables as those for integer variables as described above. An example is as follows:

RELCOM:(LOCATION,VALUE)

11

500.00000

17

7200.00000

When the postprocessor is executed using this option file, the internal assignment of the real array locations shown would be:

Loc

Val

Var Name

Function

11

500.00000

SPTABL(1,1)

Spindle speed min. for range 1

17

7200.00000

SPTABL(6,1)

Spindle speed max. for range 1

The Double Common section (Mill/EDM only):

This section also contains a section marker followed by two columns of numbers. This section however represents an array of double precision variables. The columns serve the same function for double precision variables as those for integer variables as described above. An example is as follows:

DBLCOM:(LOCATION,VALUE)

107

400.000000

108

400.000000

109

400.000000

110

400.000000

When the postprocessor is executed using this option file, the internal assignment of the double array locations shown would be:

Loc

Val

Var Name

Function

107

400.000000

FRAPDI(1)

Maximum feedrate for X axis

108

400.000000

FRAPDI(1)

Maximum feedrate for Y axis

109

400.000000

FRAPDI(1)

Maximum feedrate for Z axis

110

400.000000

FRAPDI(1)

Maximum feedrate for A axis

 

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