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The Original Shareware 1.1
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The Original Shareware (WeMake CDs)(Volume 1.1)(CDs, Inc)(1993).iso
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camcnc.zip
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README.1ST
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1988-01-03
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C A M S
-------
NC Parts Programming System
Copyright (C) 1987
by Computer Geometry Company
Welcome to the growing ranks of NC part programmers and shop
owners who want proven NC part programming capability at a
reasonable cost. CAMS is a part programming system that has been
in use at Computer Geometry Company and other selected sites for
over 10 years. It has been proven on hundreds of workpieces
machined on more than a dozen NC machines with various controls.
CAMS is a language and a computer program designed for use in
generating machine control data for numerically controlled
machine tools. It will accept a sequence of statements in the
language (called a "part program") which defines the absolute
quantities (dimensions) and shape of a workpiece. It will use
this information to calculate a cutter center location path. The
cutter center path is then processed by another computer program
(called a "postprocessor") into instructions for a specific
machine tool which will accurately machine the workpiece.
It can work for you.
CAMS has been developed to operate on any IBM/PC or PC compatible
computing equipment that supports the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating
system. A minimum computer configuration consists of a central
processing unit (CPU) containing at least 256K bytes of RAM
memory, a keyboard, a CRT display, an 80-column system printer,
and at least two floppy disks. While this configuration will
work, performance of the CAMS system will be optimized if a
minimum of 512K RAM-disk is available for the CAMS working file
device.
CAMS DISTRIBUTION NOTICE
------------------------
Computer Geometry Company is distributing CAMS via the
"SHAREWARE" concept. If, after a reasonable trial period, you
decide to use the product, we will TRUST you to send the
requested $95.00 payment.
You may obtain a copy of the latest CAMS evaluation system by
sending $10.00 to Computer Geometry Company to cover the cost of
diskettes, mailer, and postage. Computer Geometry Co. will send
you the latest version of CAMS immediately by first class mail.
You may also receive a copy of CAMS by sending $95.00. This will
make you a "registered" owner. All registered owners of CAMS
will receive a loose leaf copy of the Part Programmer's Manual
that contains all of the information in this disk version of the
manual, including the diagrams and illustrations that could not
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be included on the distribution diskette.
In addition, registered owners receive notification of new
program updates, releases, and additions, including the
availability of new postprocessors. They also receive priority
consideration when requesting postprocessors for machine tools
not already covered by Computer Geometry products.
If, after all this, you still decide not to send the payment, you
are still encouraged to copy and distribute CAMS to your
associates with the following restrictions:
1. CAMS is distributed as a complete set. Do not alter,
or delete any program files from the distribution
copies.
2. No charge is to be made for copying or distributing
CAMS, other than a reasonable copying fee not to exceed
$10.00.
3. Commercial sale of CAMS in any manner is prohibited
without Computer Geometry Company's written permission.
4. The printed manual may not be copied or reproduced in
any way.
CAMS is a SHAREWARE NC Part Programming software product. It
is NOT in the public domain, nor is it free. You are granted a
limited license to use CAMS for the purpose of testing its
suitability for your Numerical Control use. After a reasonable
trial period, to continue using the product, you must become
a registered user by paying a registration fee of $95.00 to
Computer Geometry Co. Registration entitles you to an up-to-date
version of CAMS on diskette, a current illustrated manual, and
program support for one year. Thank you for your support.
(California residents add 6.5% sales tax.)
THE CAMS DISTRIBUTION DISK
--------------------------
The distribution diskette contains the files necessary to execute
the CAMS NC parts programming system. The list of files on the
diskettes are...
XCAMS.BAT A recommended batch submit file for CAMS. May
not be altered for shareware distribution of
CAMS.
CAMS1.EXE The input translation phase of CAMS
CAMS2.EXE The path generation phase of CAMS
VIDEOPP.EXE A plotting postprocessor for the PC screen
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NUPAGE.LST A formfeed file used by XCAMS.BAT
????????.NC Sample CAMS part programs.
CAMS.SCR A shareware identification screen. May not be
removed for shareware distribution of CAMS.
CAMS.TBL The vocabulary table for CAMS. Must be
present on the default drive for CAMS to
function.
CAMSMAN.EXE Executing this program will generate the two
CAMS reference manuals included in this
distribution, CAMSMAN.TXT and VIDEOPP.TXT.
README.1ST Contains installation recommendations, last
minute details, and a description of the
terms and conditions under which this
shareware distribution is made.
It is strongly recommended that working copies of the
distribution diskette be made. The original should be placed in
archival storage, to be used to replace aging and defective
working copies in the future.
THE CAMS MANUALS
----------------
Two reference manuals accompany this distribution, the CAMS Part
Programmer's Reference Manual and the PC Video Postprocessor
Reference Manual. They are in compressed form contained in the
file CAMSMAN.EXE on the distribution diskette. Please unpack and
review them before you commit too much effort to "running in the
dark".
To unpack them, simply execute CAMSMAN.EXE by entering...
C>CAMSMAN
Be sure you have approximately 200K of free disk space before you
execute CAMSMAN.EXE
Unfortunately, when you print them, these manuals will have blank
areas on some of the pages which are there for sketches and
illustrations of the CAMS concepts. It is impractical to include
these drawings on the distribution diskette. When you become a
registered user of CAMS, you will receive a hard-copy version of
the manual containing all such drawings.
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CAMS INSTALLATION
-----------------
Installation of CAMS on a hard disk is very simple. Because the
XCAMS.BAT procedure described below is set up for a hard disk
using a subdirectory "\CAMS\", it is recommended that you install
as follows...
1. Put the CAMS distribution diskette into drive A:
2. Be sure you are logged onto your hard disk (C:)
3. Create a CAMS subdirectory by entering the commands...
C>MD CAMS
C>CD CAMS
4. Copy all files from the distribution diskette...
C:\CAMS\|COPY A:*.*
5. Unpack and print the reference manuals...
C:\CAMS\|CAMSMAN
C:\CAMS\|PRINT CAMSMAN.TXT
C:\CAMS\|PRINT VIDEOPP.TXT
6. Run a CAMS test case...
C:\CAMS\|XCAMS THINGMJ P VIDEO
7. Fill out the order form, sign the check and send it to
Computer Geometry Company. Then delete the files not
needed for your NC activities...
C:\CAMS\|ERASE *.TXT
C:\CAMS\|ERASE CAMSMAN.EXE
C:\CAMS\|ERASE README.1ST
C:\CAMS\|ERASE ORDERF.ORM
Installation of CAMS on a dual floppy disk only system is
similar (Note: a single floppy disk system is not recommended)...
1. Format a blank system diskette by placing a blank
diskette into the A: drive and entering...
A:FORMAT A:/S
2. Place the distribution diskette into drive B:. Unpack
and print the reference manuals, then erase them...
A:B:CAMSMAN
A:PRINT CAMSMAN.TXT
A:PRINT VIDEOPP.TXT
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A:ERASE *.TXT
3. Copy the working files to the A: drive...
A:COPY B:CAMS?.EXE
A:COPY B:CAMS.*
A:COPY B:XCAMS.BAT
A:COPY B:VIDEOPP.EXE
A:COPY B:NUPAGE.LST
A:COPY B:*.NC
4. Load XCAMS.BAT into your text editor or word processor.
Find and change all instances of "C:\CAMS\" to "A:".
Then save the result.
5. Run a CAMS test case...
A:XCAMS THINGMJ P VIDEO
6. Fill out the order form, sign the check and send it to
Computer Geometry Company.
HAPPY PART PROGRAMMING.....
THE XCAMS.BAT PROCEDURE
-----------------------
To provide a more automatic way to submit CAMS NC part programs
for complete processing, a batch procedure, XCAMS.BAT (for
eXecute CAMS) has been included in the distribution package.
XCAMS provides for full CAMS processing, with optional output
listing to screen or file, and for optional plotting and
postprocessing.
XCAMS also provides fairly sophisticated error checking for
improper submittals. Error checking includes 1) verification
that the source input file exists in the specified data access
path; 2) verification that the plotting and/or machining
postprocessors exist in the specified program access path; and 3)
verification that the specified processing options are correct.
The correct command for the execution of the CAMS system is...
C>XCAMS {name} [MLP/ML/MP/LP/M/L/P] [plotter] [machine]
where...
{name} The source file name (without extension) - required
M Machine output --- [machine] name is required
L Listing output --- produces {name}.LST
P Plotter output --- [plotter] name is required
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Options omitting the "L" will print to the screen. If an "M" is
included in the option specifior, then the machine name is
required. Similarly, if a "P" is included in the option
specifior, then the plotter name ([plotter]) is required. Note
also that the specification of options and parameters is order
dependent, which is to say that they must appear on the command
line in precisely the order shown above.
An example of a correct command line is as follows...
C>XCAMS THINGMJ MLP VIDEO BANDIT
This example executes the CAMS system, both CAMS1 and CAMS2,
using as source the file THINGMJ.NC residing on the currently
logged disk (C:) and producing a listing file THINGMJ.LST on C:.
It further executes the VIDEOPP plotting postprocessor, and the
BANDITPP machine postprocessor. VIDEOPP will produce a plot of
the cutter path on the PC console. BANDITPP produces an output
file called THINGMJ.PCH on drive C:, which is suitable for
transmission to a BANDIT controlled NC machine tool.
POSTPROCESSORS
--------------
Postprocessing is the final computer operation in the CAMS
system. The postprocessor is yet another computer program that
converts the machine-independent tool path and auxilliary
function records in the CL data file (as calculated by CAMS2)
into the machine-specific control instructions necessary to cut
out the workpiece.
The diversity of machines/controller combinations makes the
preparation of a library of postprocessors an order of magnitude
larger task than the development of an NC programming system. In
other words, THIS IS WHERE ALL THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT WORK IS.
It is expected that the average user of CAMS only has a small
handfull of NC machines in its shop inventory. For this
situation, one or more "custom" postprocessors is most likely to
be the most effective and least costly solution to the dilemma.
COMPUTER GEOMETY'S POSTPROCESSOR POLICY:
Computer Geometry regards postprocessor development as a major
segment of our business. It is our policy to apply our best
efforts to providing high quality, low cost postprocessing
capability to all of the registered CAMS users that request it.
If a postprocessor is not currently available for a registered
user's need, we will bend every effort to prepare one in a timely
and cost-effective manner.
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As a registered user with a need, however, you must recognize
that you have a responsibility to provide the machine and/or
controller manuals, test data, and acceptance testing required to
produce a good postprocessor. This team approach is necessary to
preparing the best possible NC programming system for your
machine shop.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE VERSION 3 POSTPROCESSORS:
BANDT1PP Hasbach BANDIT Level 1 Controller
BANDT2PP Hasbach BANDIT Level 2 Controller
BANDT3PP Hasbach BANDIT Level 3 Controller
KURAKIPP Kuraki KV Series Vertical Machining Centers with
Fanuc 10M/11M Controller
TOYODAPP Toyoda FH40/FH45/FH55 Horizontal Machining Centers
with Fanuc 11M Controller
FADALPP Fadal VMC Machining Center
PIXYPP Mannesmann Tally PIXY 1 and PIXY 3 Desktop
Plotters
VERSION 3 POSTPROCESSORS IN WORK:
BOSS4PP Bridgeport Series 1 CNC with BOSS 4.0 Controller
BOSS6PP Bridgeport Series 2 CNC with BOSS 6.0 Controller
ACRO7PP Acroloc VII Machining Center with Fanuc 3000C
Controller
ROKU0PP Roku-Roku Model Vertimac-0 Vertical Machining
Center with Fanuc System 5M Controller
EPSONPP Epson HI-80 8-1/2 x 11 Plotter/Printer
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DISCLAIMER
----------
CAMS comes with no warranties, expressed or implied, of any kind;
it is available as-is. Computer Geometry Company would like to
be informed of any problems that users of the program encounter,
but makes no promise or guarantee that such problems will be
fixed. In no event will Computer Geometry Company be liable for
any damages, including any lost profits, lost savings, failure to
perform, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out
of the use, or inability to use, the program, even if Computer
Geometry has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or
for any claim by any other party.
Computer Geometry Co.
- 26624 Whispering Leaves -
Newhall, CA 91321
(805) 252-4938
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