The CNC Post Processor
1. Introduction
For each rental or purchase of a CNC Version of Cabinet Pro or Door Pro you are allowed one and only one post that is generally free of charge. If we do not already have a post for your router or an existing post is not easily modified to fit your router, then there may exist an additional charge for your post processor. This is especially true of rentals more so than of purchases. Once you have selected this post, you will not be authorized to change your post to another.
1. If you have two or more CNC routers where two or more posts are needed, then you may purchase more Post Processors from the Pricing Screen.
2. If you have a single CNC router but require a 2nd Post because you are now using a router other than the one you initially chose, then you will be required to purchase this second post at 1/4 the price of a 2nd Post as shown on the Pricing Screen.
3. If you have already changed a Post and now need to return to a previous post, then you will be required to purchase this post at 1/4 the price of a 2nd Post as shown on the Pricing Screen, even if the previous post was initially free of charge.
Cabinet Pro and Door Pro already contain virtually all post processors for every machine on the market. We process CNC code in several formats: G-code, Biesseworks, Woodwop, Hops, Xylog, Wincut, Albatross, and HPGL. In the unlikely case that we do not currently support your CNC router, an already existing post is generally modified to match the requirements of your router.
If the code for your router is such that we do not already have a post for it that can be easily modified, then there may be an additional charge to modify or create the post processor for your CNC router. This is especially true of rentals, which is why you should in almost all cases send sample code that works on your machine to Cabinet Pro LLC prior to renting. If an additional charge is necessary, you will be told once we are able to see a sample of the code required for your machine. It is suggested but not required that you provide this sample code prior to purchasing, and strongly suggested that you do so prior to renting. All Post Processors after one are supplied at an extra charge. (See the Add-On modules at the Pricing Screen.)
Also, horizontal boring is not a commonly requested function for a CNC router, so this feature is not part of a standard CNC post. Horizontal boring is supplied per machine (per post) at an extra charge (See the Add-On modules at the Pricing Screen.). If any custom changes are required on a post to accommodate a given router, then a charge may be applied. It is the responsibility of the Purchasing Company to provide, in writing, a detailed description of any custom changes required for its router, and it is the responsibility of Cabinet Pro LLC to provide the additional charges, if any, that will be necessary in order to address those custom changes.
In most cases, our Pre-Made Post Processors will operate your CNC router according to your expectations. If so, then you do not need to go any further in this section. However, if our Pre-Made Post Processor for your router is non-existent or requires modification, then please read the sections below and perform the tasks that are required of you.
2. The Responsibility of Cabinet Pro LLC vs. the Responsibility of the Purchasing Company
Each CNC router, even those from the same company of those we currently support, usually incorporate slightly different CNC code. This may require the existing Post Processor to be modified in order to accommodate your particular machine. It is the responsibility of Cabinet Pro LLC to ensure Cabinet Pro CNC or Door Pro CNC outputs code that meets the requirements of the purchasing company. And it is the responsibility of the Purchasing Company to provide Cabinet Pro LLC with correctly formatted CNC code that operates on the Purchasing Company's router (annotated if necessary, as is shown below)
If a third party is required by the Purchasing Company to provide correct code format, such as the machine's technical support division, then the owner of the Purchasing Company must take responsibility in requesting the code format provided by the third party.
If a third party is given authorization by the owner of the Purchasing Company to provide CNC code, then the third party should contact Cabinet Pro LLC to supply the necessary code as described below. Cabinet Pro LLC does not contact third parties, CNC manufacturers, or the Technical Support department of your CNC router company in order to obtain correct CNC Code formatting for your machine. We have found in too many cases that this results in dead ends and inefficient use of time. Providing a correct CNC code template by either your own knowledge of your router, by contacting third parties, CNC manufacturers, or the Technical Support department of your CNC router company is the responsibility of the Purchasing Company.
If the Purchasing Company cannot fulfill this task, then refer to Modifying or Creating a Post Processor below.
3. Required Code from the Purchasing Company
At the minimum, especially if time is of the essence, a single file showing the actual code that runs on your router should at the very least, show a dado cut and a drilling operation (Fig. 1). Supporting the other machining operations can be postponed until a later date. If you decide to provide the CNC code for your router that will machine the operations shown in Fig. 1, please be prepared to annotate the code, if requested, so that we know what each command represents (see below).
Sometimes a Purchasing Company will send us their CNC manual for us to figure out what their g-code commands mean. Although manuals are appreciated, we do not search manuals for annotation and clarification of code. Annotation is the responsibility of the Purchasing Company and must be done by the Purchasing Company or its designated technical support team. If the Purchasing Company cannot fulfill this task, then refer to Modifying or Creating a Post Processor below.
4. Your Task, if the CNC code generated by Cabinet Pro requires modification:
The goal behind this task is to compare code that Cabinet Pro is generating with the code it should be generating so that we may change your Post Processor to your specifications.
1. Make sure you send the name brand,the model of your CNC router, and the code described below to Cabinet Pro LLC at support@cabinetpro.com so that we may prepare your Post Processor.
2. Make sure you have loaded the correct Post Processor into your version of Cabinet Pro via the Machine & Post Processor Setup screen. If you need help in doing this, see the Video Tutorial titled, "Selecting your Post Processor," under Setting Up CNC Machining at the Video Help Center.
3. Create operations similar to those in Fig. 1 below and generate the CNC code for your router within Cabinet Pro. If you need help in doing this, see the Video Tutorial titled, "Testing the Link from Cabinet Pro to your CNC Router," under Setting Up CNC Machining at the Video Help Center.
4. The code you create within Cabinet Pro should be labeled, "Original Code" (see the sample below). Save the text file that contains this Original Code and re-name it, "Original Code". Use the extension your machine requires (such as .ANC, .NC, .TAP, .NCD, .MPR, etc.)
5. In whatever software you have been using up to now, or by asking your router's technical support department, or by contacting your CNC machine company, create the correct code required to machine that which is shown in Fig. 1 below.
6. Name your correct code, "Annotated Code". Use the extension your machine requires (such as .ANC, .NC, .TAP, .NCD, .MPR, etc.)
7. Using a text editor, such as Notepad or WordPad, edit this correct code and describe the meaning of each line of corrected code whose meaning is not obvious.
8. In a Single Email, attach the two files described above, e.g., Original Code.ANC and Annotated Code.ANC, and describe your CNC router by including its name, model, year built, and whether it is nested based or a point-to-point machine. Also include the name and contact information of the person we may contact if we have questions about the files that were sent.
9. Only Standard Code for a given machine must be supplied for a post. No user-defined parameters or commands are allowed. If user-defined parameters or commands are absolutely necessary, there may be an additional charge for the inclusion of these items in a post.
10. Once your re-written Post Processor is correctly machining dados and drilling shown in Fig. 1, repeat steps 1 - 8 above, with the only change being that you should perform these steps for the machining shown in Fig. 2, rather than Fig. 1.
11. If you have a Drill Head on your machine, and it too requires modificaton, then in addition to the steps above, please include a diagram showing the layout of your drill head as well as the individual bit designations. Also, include specific code showing how these bits are activated and deactivated.
If the Purchasing Company cannot fulfill this task, then refer to Modifying or Creating a Post Processor below.
Figure 1 Minimal Machining on a 20"x30" Part
Figure 2 All Machining on a 20"x30" Part
5. Required Code from the Purchasing Company
A Sample of what is meant by Annotated Code
On the left is shown original code, and on the right is shown that same code with comments describing the meaning of various commands.
6. Troubleshooting a CNC Router: Is it a software problem or a machine problem?
If the CNC code that is generated by Cabinet Pro is incorrect, then your CNC Router can be expected to perform poorly or not at all. This is probably a software problem. In this case, send annotated code that you expect Cabinet Pro to produce and we will change the code generated to your specifications.
If the CNC code that is generated by Cabinet Pro is accurate according to your specifications, but your CNC Router is not performing correctly, then it is probably a machine problem and you should contact the Technical Support department of your router.
7. Drill Head Support
To have Cabinet Pro fully support your drill head, please include the following in one email:
1. Attach a job made via Cabinet Pro so that we have your current setup.
2. Provide the name and model of your CNC Router.
3. Provide a labeled diagram (top view) of your drill head showing the layout of bits, and how each bit is identified.
4. Provide the offset(s) from your spindle to your drill head.
5. Provide working code that shows your drill bank being utilized, where bits are being lowered, utilized, and then brought up again. This code should be relatively short, but complete.
8. Modifying or Creating a Post Processor
There are some routers that have a high probability of requiring their post processors to be modified or created at additional cost. These routers may include but are not limited to Giotto, Komo, SNX, older CNC routers, Busellato, and ViTap machines.
Cost where Annotated Code provided by an Expert is Available: The cost of modifying or creating a post processor is generally somewhere between $2,000 and $6,000, depending upon the complexity of the code required, availability of sample code, whether the code is annotated or not, having access to someone who is fluent in the code required, etc. Generally, two to five days will be reserved at a charge of $1,200 per day. These days will be spent in writing and/or re-writing a post processor based upon the recommendations of an expert provided by the Purchasing Company who is knowledgeable with the code required for the Purchasing Company's CNC machine.
Please note that if the expert provided by the Purchasing Company is unable or unwilling to provide corrections and Annotated Code, then all money spent for the initial creation of a Post Processor as well as the reservation of two to five days for the purpose of writing and re-writing the Post Processor shall be non-refundable.
Cost for a 2nd Post or for changes to a post requested after 6 months following a Purchase: While the first post you receive after purchasing is free, if you require a post for a 2nd or 3rd machine, there exists a charge of between $1,225 and $2,450 per post. If you require modifications to a post anytime after 6 months following your initial purchase of a CNC version, then there exists a charge of between $600 and $2,450 depending upon the changes required.
Cost where Annotated Code provided by an Expert is not Available: If an expert cannot be provided by the Purchasing Company to test, correct, re-correct, and re-test the Post Processor written for a given CNC machine, then onsite training and testing will be required.
Please note that the successful writing of a Post Processor, under the conditions of not having direct access to an expert in the code required by your machine, is not guaranteed. It is possible, although highly unlikely, even after the expenditure of money for Onsite Training and the onsite writing and testing of a Post Processor, that the writing of a Post Processor for your machine has been unsuccessful. In this worst-case scenario, all money spent for onsite custom programming and onsite training shall be non-refundable. To date, we have never had this worst-case scenario materialize, but it is still a possibility.