AUTO-CODE
CAD/CAM Software

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Cutter Characteristics

Cutter characteristics will vary depending on the type of machine tool in use. You may only need to set up the cutter once or use the values from the starting process (defaults set at start up). Or you may use multiple tools in which case this step (and the next one) will be repeated for each of the tools you will be using.

Mill / Drill / Lathe
Cutter characteristics typically include machine set up information such as offsets to apply (cutter compensation), tool lengths, tool identifications, register settings, speed, feed rate, and relevant elevation information (rapid height, cutting height).

Mill / Drill / Punch / Lathe
Tool selections are simplified by picking them from a library of available tools. Tool libraries are text files you can define so that you can create a complete set of standard tools for any cutting situation.  A tool library editor is provided inside AUTO-CODE to allow you to quickly define new tools.  The first time you program a particular tool, the characteristics can be defined and saved using the tool editor utility so that it may be quickly used again in the future.

Mill / Drill / Lathe / Laser / Flame / Plasma
Feed rates and spindle speeds can be calculated using the included material data based utility. Feeds and speeds can be added or modified based on your standard methods.

Mill / Drill
Elevation data can be entered at this point, taken from the geometry, or entered when selecting the geometry. Source models can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional (not mixed though).

All
Graphic data (tool and origin figures) can also be manipulated in the characteristics or machine setup dialog box. The tool figure and origin figure help you locate where you are in the programming process when working with AUTO-CODE.

All
The open architecture of AUTO-CODE makes many options available for the definition of cutter characteristics. If may be something as simple as selecting one of the machine controls or it could be more complicated with tool selection and data editing.