File management for one-pass posting

You can manage NC output files in any post type, but it is required for one-pass posting.

Use these steps to manage files in XBUILD:

1. Within the post formats, use reserved words to direct each line of output to intermediate files.
2. Use the Files dialog to combine the intermediate files to create output files; these output files are displayed in FeatureCAM in the NC Code window, and are saved using the Save NC dialog.

Two sets of reserved words are used within the post formats to direct the output to the intermediate files:

• <SET-F#> specifies the intermediate file to be used up to the next <SET-F#>.
• <F#> is temporary and only affects the line between the previous and next <EOB>.

# can range from 1-20, or can be replaced by the name of the file specified in the Manage Files dialog, similar to post variables.

You should use <SET-F#> in a conventional Custom Format called SetChannel. You should call this format before anything else in Program Start, Tool Change, Segment Start, and Program End. A typical SetChannel format for a two-channel post looks similar to this:

// This format contains logic for determining which channel we are //writing to, and sets the output stream and the channel variable //accordingly.

<IF>[<TURRET-NUM> == 1]<THEN>

<SET-F1>

[:channel = 1]

<ELSE>

<SET-F2>

[:channel = 2]

<ENDIF>

Note that a variable is used to keep track of what channel is currently active.