Numerical Control Series Post Processors

Before we can employ a computer, to generate tapes for numerically controlled machine tools we need to be assured that we have a complete programming system available for the machine tools, control systems and computer, we intend to use. In almost every case, one of the elements of the programming system will be a postprocessor. The postprocessor is needed whether we are intending to use 2CL, EXPAT,, ADAPT, APT or any of the other general purpose computer programmes now available.for NC. More than likely, we need different ones for different machine tool and control sys- tem combinations. Why this is so, and exactly what functions the post-processor performs in a complete computer programming system is explained in this article.