This section allows you to set the default extension of the output file.

•Output File Extension  
This allows you to set the posted file extension here in the PPG.  Once set, go to the Post Preferences dialog (CAM Preferences > Post) and check the box "File Extension from Post Processor".  The file extension will also be shown in that dialog.

•File Start Reading Char  
The user can also set up an optional File Start character.  This file start character will be the first character written to the output file.

•File Stop Reading Char  
Similarly the file end character will be the last character written to the output file. Most standard controllers look for a percent sign (%) as this last character.

Coordinate values can be set to be either Absolute or Incremental. In the Absolute mode, coordinate values (X, Y, Z, I, J, K) are output as absolute values. In the Incremental mode, coordinate values are output as incremental values.

This section defines the general format of commentary blocks.

•Output Comment:   Set parameter to output comments

•Comment Start Char:   Comment start character

•Comment End Char:   Comment end character

•Output Sequence Number:   Toggle sequence number for comments

If you want the comments to be output just as it is without the Start Character and the End Character, then in VisualCAM, when you are inserting a comment, type in a $ sign in front of it, like:

$ Comment

This section allows you to control the format of sequence numbers to the output file. This option is available for all G-code lines except Tool change Macro and Start and End Code.

•Use Sequence #s  
Sequence number output can be turned on or off.

•Prefix Letter  
When on, a prefix letter can optionally be added at the beginning of every sequence number.

•Increment  
Sequence numbers can also be output in increments rather than sequentially. This increment value can be specified here.

•Start Value  
This specifies the starting value for the sequence numbers.

•Show Leading Zeros  
In addition the number of digits output as well as presence/absence of leading zeros in the sequence numbers can be controlled.

This tells the post-processor the units of the output file by outputting a units code that can be defined here. Output units can either be in the English system (inches) or in the Metric system (mm).

•Inch  
Sets the units to Inches and post the code G20 by default.  This code can be changed if desired.

•Metric  
Sets the units to Millimeters and post the code G21 by default.  This code can be changed if desired.

This section defines the general format of all output blocks. Each of the options is described below.

•Delimiter:  
This is the delimiter used between G-codes.
Example where delimiter is set to [D]: G01[D]X1.0[D]Y2.0[D]Z3.0[D]S3000M03[D]F20  
 
None:  No delimiter is posted in the output.
Space:  A space character is output as the delimiter
Tab:  A tab character is output as the delimiter
User Defined:  Select this option and then enter the delimiter character to use.

•End of Block Character:  End of block character to output

•Always output +sign:  Outputs a ‘+’ (no quote marks included) for positive values.  

•Show Leading Zeros:  Check this box to include leading zeros in the posted code. Example (G01 X+1.0 Y+1.0 Z+1.0)

The Post processor generator allows the following parameters to be set as modal or non-modal.  The modal output setting will output the value of a variable only if it is different from the value that was last output.

•Gcode:  G-Code modal option sample

•Coordinate:  Coordinates modal option sample

•Feedrate:  Feed Rate modal option sample

•Spindle speed:  Spindle Speed modal option sample

An example of non-modal data is shown below. The repeated values are shown in colored text.

S1000M03
G00 X1.0 Y2.0 Z0.0 F10
S2000M03
G01 X1.0 Y2.0 Z3.0 F20
G01 X1.0 Y3.0 Z3.0 F20
S2000M03

Other PPG Editor Sections:

Start/End

Tool Change

Setup

Spindle

Feed Rate

Motion

Circle

Helical/Spiral Cycles

Multi Axis Motion

Cutter Compensation

Cut Motion Start/End

Cycles

Miscellaneous

Variables