Prepare the Drawing

AUTO-CODE
CAD/CAM Software

Prepare the Drawing

The first step in running AUTO-CODE is to create or load an AutoCAD drawing containing the graphics you want to convert to machine tool code.

The drawing should be a model. A model in this case means a drawing created at a 1:1 scale factor with accurate graphics. Dimension text and border graphics are ignored, AUTO-CODE uses the real graphic data. The drawing should be in "Model Space" inside AutoCAD.

A second phase is to actually prepare the drawing. This phase will either be very simple or very tedious. A poorly created drawing will require much more time to prepare. AutoCAD offers many ways to create and edit graphic information, that is why it is one of the most popular computer graphics packages for engineering drawing available.

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Preparations can include the following activities depending on how well the original drawing was constructed. This is a partial list, your specific requirements will most likely only be a subset of the items below or something related. AutoCAD provides a very powerful platform for CAD/CAM and AUTO-CODE rounds it out nicely.

Convert Lines, Arcs to Polyline objects

PEDIT - AutoCAD edit command for polylines. Can be used to join line and arc objects into polyline objects.
JOINS - AUTO-CODE Geometry tools command that uses PEDIT Multiple to convert all objects in a drawing.
PLINE - AutoCAD drawing command for creation of a polyline by showing end points.
SFIXER - AUTO-CODE Geometry tools command that will convert splines into polyline objects.
EFIXER - AUTO-CODE Geometry tools command that will convert ellipses into polyline objects.

Correct end points of graphics to properly match and to fall on realistic numbers

MOVE - AutoCAD edit command for changing the location of graphic objects
Grips - AutoCAD edit tool for the manipulation of graphic properties
Object Snaps - AutoCAD utility for locating points based on other geometry
GRID - AutoCAD drawing utility for keeping points on a grid
SNAP - AutoCAD drawing utlity for forcing points on a grid

Remove or turn off layers of objects that will get in the way of selecting graphics

LAYER - AutoCAD command system for manipulation of object layering.
CHPROP - AutoCAD edit command to change properties of objects.

Break up polylines into operations

BREAK - AutoCAD command to break up geometry into pieces.
BREAKIT - AUTO-CODE Geometry tools command to break at a point with one pick.
LEADERBOX - AUTO-CODE Geometry tools command for adding leaders to geometry
Tab Breaks - AUTO-CODE Geometry tools menu selection to introduce tab breaks into polylines
Pocket - AUTO-CODE Geometry tools menu selection to define geometry representing pocket cut out areas.

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Prepare the Drawing

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