Tormach PCNC 770 - Programming

Chapter 7
87
UM10350_PCNC770_Manual_0916A
Programming
7. Programming
This chapter denes the languages (G-codes, etc.) that are understood and interpreted by the
PathPilot
®
operang system, and is intended for reference purposes. If you want to learn about the
principles of the control language so you can write programs by hand from rst principles, consult
an introductory textbook on G-code programming.
7.1 Definitions
The following terms are dened as follows:
PathPilot
This is the Tormach moon controller.
PathPilot Operang System (OS)
This is the PathPilot controller operang system.
Coordinate System
A coordinate system idenes the posion of geometric features like points, lines, etc., in space. The
default coordinate system in PathPilot is a standard right-hand coordinate system. This coordinate
system is also known as a Cartesian coordinate system.
Linear Axes
The X-, Y- and Z-axes are the orthogonal lines that dene a Cartesian Coordinate System. Posion is
measured in the acve unit length specied by G20 (inches) or G21 (millimeters).
Origin
An origin is the locaon in a coordinate system where the posion of each axis is equal to zero (X0
Y0 Z0). Each coordinate system can have only one origin.
Acve Plane
There is always an acve plane, which must be the XY-plane, the YZ-plane or the XZ-plane of the
machining system. The Z-axis is perpendicular to the XY-plane, the X-axis to the YZ-plane and the
Y-axis to the XZ-plane. Changing the acve plane changes the interpretaon of certain G-codes.
Units
The length units used to describe a posion along the X-, Y- and Z-axes may be measured in either
inches (G20 mode) or millimeters (G21 mode). Units for all other quanes involved in mill control
cannot be changed. Dierent quanes use dierent specic units. Spindle speed is measured in
revoluons per minute; rotaonal axes posions are measured in degrees; feed rates are expressed
in current length units per minute, or in degrees per minute, as described above.