The PLOT Command [MLEPC]

The PLOT command is used to control GENER’s output to a backplotting file. The following PLOT command functions are available:

PLOT Activation

\textbf{PLOT}\;\textbf{/}\;\begin{pmatrix}\!\begin{array}{l}\textbf{ON}\\\textbf{OFF}\end{array}\!\end{pmatrix}

PLOT/ON will start output to a backplot file. This file will contain the points and vectors to which the tool will move in the course of processing. Such files are normally used for such purposes as NC tool path verification.

The user may select the output method and the coordinate type of the backplot file. This is done by setting symbols in the ICAM.DEF file. The method of output — ISO 3592 binary or APT file — is selected using the plot_type symbol. Valid choices are apt and binary. The coordinate type — CL or Machine — is selected using the plot_data symbol. Valid choices are cl and machine.

For information about macro system variables pertaining to the manipulation of PLOT output, see “Backplot File Variables”.

PLOT Transformation

\textbf{PLOT}\;\textbf{/}\icamhsp{0.707mm}\textbf{TRFORM}\icamhsp{0.707mm}\bigl[,\textbf{LAST}\,\bigr]\icamhsp{0.707mm}\raise0.10ex\hbox{$\begin{bmatrix},\!\begin{array}{l}\mathtt{<\!matrix\!>}\\\textbf{ON}\\\textbf{OFF}\end{array}\!\end{bmatrix}$}

The PLOT/TRFORM command transforms machine coordinate data by the specified matrix before outputting it to the back-plot file. This command can be used to properly manage back-plotting when outputting machine coordinates that have been transformed in some fashion outside of GENER’s normal control.

Note

The PLOT/TRFORM command should not be used at the same time as the LCS local coordinate transformation command. LCS already manages plotting transformations.

Two separate transformations can be applied and removed individually. PLOT/TRFORM defines the primary transformation, PLOT/TRFORM,LAST defines a second transformation.

The <matrix> defines the location and orientation of the resultant after-transformation coordinates on the machine, with respect to the normal coordinates. The matrix can be specified using the standard post-processor transformation syntax (see “The ORIGIN Command [MLEPC]”).

The ON and OFF keywords enable or disable plotting transformations. OFF ignores the effect of the matrix. ON re-establishes the previously specified matrix.