SmartCAM Production Milling Trial ‐ Creating CNC Code
About the machine configuration. The software tools used in SmartCAM to configure and control CNC output code are referred to as Code Generators by the SmartCAM community. Those things that are referred to as Post Processors in other systems.
Code Generator technical information is a learning topic all of its own, we don’t intend to cover the detail here. Suffice to say that the SmartCAM CNC Code creation system is probably the most open in the CAM industry. SmartCAM users are able to modify a code generator to output CNC code exactly as they require it to be.
If you are not that way inclined or don’t have the time to tune your code generators – we know that you are in the business of making parts – then your SmartCAM provider can offer you a code generator-writing service.
That’s enough about Code Generators for now, but do talk to us if you need to understand technical detail.
Create CNC Code. The primary reason that you are considering investing in SmartCAM is for the generation of CNC Code.
Left-click on the Create NC Code icon on the top toolbar.
The Code panel is displayed.
Filename Suffix SmartCAM has defaulted to a name for the CNC code file of the same name as the current program, but clearly you are able to
type any filename you like into the Code File: field.
The suffix / file type you will add to CNC code files that you generate is entirely your preference and can be set as an option. We have used a .txt file extension.
If a suffix is not present then left-click after the filename in the Code File: field and append .txt to the filename.
Enable Open Code File by left-clicking on the checkbox and the CNC code file will be opened in an editor when you generate it.
Left-click the Create Code button and your CNC code file will be created.
The code file is opened by the NC or text editor of your choice. We invoke the Windows ‘Open With’ functionality, where files of your suffix / file type
are associated with your preferred editor.
You may, for example, want to use a .cod suffix for your CNC code files and have them opened in the preferred editor of your choice.
Setting up that mechanism on your PC is done outside of SmartCAM. If it isn’t set then you’ll have seen a Windows message something
like that over on the right and you’ll need to apply the Windows ‘open with’ mechanism.
We don’t want to waste too much of your time in providing further technical detail about this minor point, but if you do need assistance then just ask us to help out.
Close the code panel by left-clicking on the Close button.
Close this web page and return to the Getting Started document.
