Catia Post Processing

[trueprecisioncnc]

Just curious as to how other NC programmers are creating their code. At my shop, we use Catia to post aptsource files and then we run that through P-works to create the NC program in G-code format. This is very innefficient and there are numerous problems associated with it.

For instance, Catia sometimes posts a code "INTOF" in its aptsource files which causes bad NC code in arcs using circular interpolation over 180 degrees. Our programs are a mile long, partly due to Feedrate commands being repeated unnecesarily with each retract, approach, and machining moves and due to having to post entire programs point-to-point since I cannot trust p-works' circular interpolation. (Though I post all 5-axis programs point-to-point anyways, I would use g02,g03 in 3 axis machining)

My question is how are most Catia NC programmers creating their NC codes and does Catia's post work cleanly. I program 5-axis SNK's and various 3 axis machines all using Fanuc controls or aptsource files. Thanks for all opinions.

-Bryan

 

[ncprogrammer]

We use Intercim as our postprocessor with extremely good luck. We avoid feedrate problems by using a catalog for most of our retract/approach etc... macros. I can't recommend Intercim enough, they are very affordable and are ready to help out with any issue's you may come across.