APT(Automatically Programmed Tool)

Computer assisted part programming
(APT, Automatically Programmed Tool)

Manual part programming is time-consuming, tedious, and
subject to human errors for complex jobs.

Machining instructions are written in English-like statements that
are translated by the computer into the low-level machine code
of the MCU.


It is used for more complex jobs.

, APT (Automatically Programmed Tool)

The various tasks in computer-assisted part
programming are divided between;
The human part programmer
The computer.




Sequence of activities in computer-assisted part programming

,Computer Tasks in Computer-Assisted Part Programming
Input translation – converts the coded instructions in the part
program into computer usable form

Arithmetic and cutter offset computations – performs
the mathematical computations to define the part
surface and generate the tool path, including cutter
offset compensation (CLFILE)

Editing – provides readable data on cutter locations
and machine tool operating commands (CLDATA)

Post processing – converts CLDATA into low-level code that
can be interpreted by the MCU

, Part Programmer's Job

Two main tasks of the programmer:




1 Define the part geometry
2 Specify the tool path and Operation Sequence