Switches

Use the optional switch parameter when additional definition is required for the usage of a controller code.  The switches can control positional placement, numeric formatting information, and other options specific to a particular code.

The switches follow the ";" in the $PP entry and have the general format:

;SWITCH#PARAMETER#PARAMETER;SWITCH;SWITCH#PARAMETER

SWITCH can be any of the switches listed (separated by ";") and PARAMETER is an optional parameter that is used by the switch (separated by "#").

Example:

C;D#LINEAR;E#RAPID#MYSTUF

When a text statement from the drawing is processed, switches can determine placement of the NC code.  When a "A" or "B" is encountered, the NC code is set aside in internal storage areas known as buffers.  The NC code is placed sequentially in these buffers and held there until a motion block definition is processed.  Note that a switch must be specified since there is no default for text entries in the $PP file.

In the case of the "B" switch, the command is placed in the "before" buffer or the "PB" entry.  In the case of the "A" switch, the command is placed in the "after" buffer or the "PA" $PP entry.

If a "C" switch is encountered, the NC code associated with this entry is place in the "PC" entry the motion block definition for "$TEXT1.1" will be output to the NC file as a line of NC code. This block definition for text is normally as follows:

SEQNO#PB#PC#PA=$TEXT1.1

For example, assume the $PP file contains the three entries:

G90;B=ABS

F#3.2;A=FEDRAT

G04;C=DWELL

If a drawing with the text statements:

ABS

FEDRAT/19.234

DWELL

is processed, the postprocessor outputs:

N1 G90 G04 F19.23$

to the NC file.