Exercise 5: Post Processing

In this chapter you post process your part file.

Post processing, or posting, refers to the process by which Mastercam converts the toolpaths in your part file to a format that can be understood by your machine tool's control (for example, G-codes). A program called a post processor, or post, reads your part file and writes the appropriate NC code.

  1. Click Select all operations.

    The "Select all operations" function highlighted in the "Toolpaths Manager."

  2. Click Post selected operations to post the toolpaths for the selected operations. The post processor creates a machine-readable NC program from the Mastercam file.

    The "Post selected operations" button highlighted in the "Toolpaths Manager."

    The Post processing dialog box displays. The name of the post processor for the machine you have chosen displays as the Active post field in read-only mode.

    The "Active post" name field highlighted in the "Post processing" dialog box.

  3. Click OK. The Save As dialog box opens.

  4. Name your NC file and click Save.

    The "File name" and "Save as type" fields highlighted in the "Save as" dialog box.

    The file opens in Mastercam Code Expert.

    The post processing file open in Mastercam Code Expert.

    The NC code specifies information such as stops, cutting coordinates, and tool changes. Block numbers appear in front of each command. Code Expert allows you to sync operations, manually edit code, and switch NC Configurations.

  5. Exit Code Expert.
  6. Save your part.