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To date the program recognizes only absolute coordinates for lines, and relative coordinates for the
center of arcs and circles. Straight lines and circular arcs are fully accelerated and decelerated to the maximum speed obtainable as specified in setup table. Arc moves are true arcs (i.e. not broken into straight line segments). Supported G code moves include the following:
G00 (interpolated straight lines at rapid speed)
G01 (interpolated straight lines at cutting speed)
G02 (circular interpolation clockwise direction at cutting speed)
G03 (circular interpolation counterclockwise direction at cutting speed)
G04 (this will initiate a pause in program execution that requires a continue command to restart, or just
pause for 0 to 60 seconds as you specify then resume motion)
G17 (arcs, circles and helical moves on XY plane)
G18 and G19 (arcs and circles on XZ and YZ plane)
G28 (move to a hardware switch confirmed "Home" position for X, Y or Z axis)
G43 & G49 (tool length offset compensation on Z axis)
G51 & G50 (rescale G code to change size on all axis)
G54 & G53 (fixture offsets for X, Y and Z axis)
G81 and G83 (for drilling and "peck" drilling deep holes)
M03 & M05 (start and stop spindle motor)
M07 & M09 (start and stop coolant)
M010 & M011 (start and stop a device of your choice)
M47 (automatic repeat cycle from first line of G code)
F (feedrate control for all subsequent moves)
Backlash is compensated for every time an axis moves in a changing direction. This occurs at every
quadrant when a full circle is completed.
In addition to making the moves from pre-written G code the program has a very useful "Teach Mode"
feature that lets you make all your moves manually for a first piece and then it writes your moves into G code as you go. Users without any experience writing G code or even CAD programs have been using this exclusively to generate G code. They are totally thrilled with this feature.
Since most CAD programs can export into DXF type files no other translator is included in this program.
Other file types such as HPGL or WMF can be used if they are imported into your CAD program and then saved as DXF type files. |
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Regardless of which version you are running all versions of of Quickstep look and operate with the same
controls and features described below.
Some of the basic features include the ability to move on any axis manually at three user defined speeds
or go to specified coordinates for common positions. As with all stepper motor controls the motors start with a user definable start/stop speed (steps/sec) and then accelerate at a desired rate in steps/sec*sec. Each axis of motion can be calibrated to the appropriate number of steps per unit of length. The length units can be anything --- in, mm, cm or whatever you want. So the program has only a few basic units it functions with, units of length, seconds and steps. Other units that need to be specified on the "Setup" table are start/stop speed for each axis, acceleration rate, steps per unit of length for each axis and backlash for each axis. Default rapid traverse speed and cutting speed are defined by the user as well in the "Setup" table. An optional F parameter can be used to change the cutting feed at any line of G code. |