5.2 CAD/CAM Station
5.2.1 Purpose
CAD/CAM station has two purposes. One is a FADL editor which creates and edits the FADL on GUI environment. Another is a monitoring station which monitors the process of other NC stations, which are connected to it via networks. CAD/CAM station aims an open system, thus it is independent from appropriate CAD system, and based on PC platform.
To be exact, CAD/CAM station is not a part of Open NC. It is an utilities of Open NC which make it easier for designers to write FADL. However it has an important role, because it is a only human interface in the designing process.
figure 5.2.1 Overview of CAD/CAM station
5.2.2 FADL editor
Basic requirements are set as shown below.
- Ability of representation for machine processing under various conditions; e.g., shape,
precision, feature, sequence of process, method of process.
- Ability of arrangement and configuration for processes which are represented as
software libraries.
- FADL can be created automatically following the operation of GUI editor.
- Parameters can be changed easily using GUI dialogs.
- Processes are allowed to be nested in multiple levels.
- To have an open interface for any CAD system.
FADL editor has two interfaces. One is a process editor, which shows the names of processes (library) in a window. In this window we can define the sequence of process, and rearrange the order. Another is a graphical viewer, which shows the shape of work as a CAD drawings. In this case, AutoCAD was selected for the viewer, because it has a flexible interpreter
named "AutoLISP", so that it was easy for implementation.
Table 5.2.2. Construction of CAD/CAM Station
| Personal computer | SML PC, Intel DX4 100MHz |
| Monitor | Totoku 17 inch, 1024x768, 24bit colors |
| Attachments | Microsoft mouse |
| Network | SMC Elite 16 Ultra, ISA , 10BASE-T |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows NT3.5 Server |
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