It is recommended that you first complete the Programming Course for CNC Lathes. This course is compatible.
Course requirements are any I.B.M. or IBM-compatible personal computer, a 3.5 inch HD disk drive, and an EGA or VGA or SVGA monitor. The course runs in EGA.
Any screen in the course may be printed out at any time as a graphic print-out. The print-out driver is suitable for Epson 9 pin, 24 pin, IBM Proprinter, Canon Bubble-Jet and Hewlett-Packard (PCL3) laser printers.
A brief description of each section is followed by a more detailed description of a Filing System which is contained within this section. The filing system enables the student to manipulate all the CNC files, tool files and billet files. One may Add, Print, Rename, Delete and change the disk drive to store the files on.
Here we have the CNC Interpreter which accepts and handles the CNC coding. This interpreter is similar to that used in the Anima Programming courses but has a wider range of facilities, such as Looping and Subroutines.
Here we may display and edit any CNC program which is on file. One may if required type in a complete program, which is sometimes the best way to handle programs with subroutines in them.
You may prove any program which has been written and saved on disk. This is the best way to prove Subroutines or Loops as the program must be able to 'see' the complete Subroutine/Loop before it can execute it. This section simulates Loops and Subroutines fully.
The student may define the billet from which the program will choose the best scale size to work in. The billet may be metric or inch units and the position of the datum may be set.
The course can store up to sixteen tools which may be defined by the student. Here is an expandable picture from this section ...
- Click here to expand.
All the original Anima tools, billet and exercises may be restored in this section, in case things go wrong or the student simply wants to start again.
A complete list of G, M and additional codes is given here. It may be printed out by the student as a reminder.
The following features are available in most sections:-
The courses are made up of nine separate sections, any one of which is available from a Drop Down Menu. This is accessible at any time so you can interrupt any section to look at the menu and if necessary you may cancel the menu and carry on with the section.
The class lecturer may monitor progress by the student's production of Graphic Print-outs of CNC work completed, together with the part program which produced the work.
An A4 size graphic print-out is accessible at any stage of the course.
The courses are well-supported by Animated Graphics and are in EGA mode.
The Anima Interpreter is both comprehensive and user-friendly. As the student inputs a line of code that line is immediately interpreted and the graphic display simulates the action of the CNC lathe. The codes in force are always on display. If the student inputs a programming error the interpreter will give an error message. This allows the student to make immediate corrections saving a great deal of time. All the student's inputs and the resulting work may be produced as a print-out for the lecturer to examine even while the work is progressing. These print-outs may be retained for student records.