anyone used apt360?

Hey
I started as a machinist but became a NC Programmer in the 1980's using IBM APT 360. Or apt (not debian apt). Apt is a programming language used to define and drive geometry. There is now a free version of apt360 available at
sourceforge.net/projects/aptos/files/
There is also a manual online at
www.archivist.info/apt/aptos/apt360/doc/manual/
I haven't had an occasion to write anything very complex but it has done well on the times I have used it. One thing I like is the ability to subscript points so a simple loop can be used to read in the points and preform center drilling, drilling, reaming, tapping, and spot facing by using drive statements in a separate loop for each operation.
For a lot of people doing 2D work it can be a easy way to generate g-code. While a person familiar with g-code may be faster just writing the code out. On more complex parts or familys of parts apt360 can be a good choice. Once you learn the language it can do a lot more complex work than can be done by writing the g-code.
I believe the apt360 processor has a post processor that works with linuxcnc.

Jim

this is very old, from the wiki:
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?AptProgrammingForEMC

But i have never used it.

Chris <m

If you are interested in programming with more support for
programming functionality available in higher level languages
you might consider gcmc by Bertho Stultiens:

www.vagrearg.org/content/gcmc

You can download it and use it to create gcode for LinuxCNC

It is also supported by ngcgui/pyngcgui to add some flexibility
with input boxes:

linuxcnc.org/docs/2.7/html/gui/ngcgui.ht...mc_file_requirements

Sim example configurations (from the config picker) are at:

Sample Configurations/sim/axis/ngcgui/ngcgui_gcmc.ini
Sample Configurations/sim/axis/ngcgui/pyngcgui_gcmc.ini

Demos:

Just happened to run across this in my email archives. Shows what apt can do.

Apt Part

This was a link to the APT manual but is now dead.  But a copy of it comes with Apt360

Thanks
Jim

Greetings,

What a welcome surprise. I, too, moved from the shop to programming in my early days. Sadly, APT was being phased out in favor of graphical programming. We used CATIA, which was adapted to use use APT MACROS.

During my apprenticeship, we were actually taught APT programming. We used a offshoot called "NAYLOR APT", which had five-axis capability

I have a PC version of "Personal APT" somewhere in the house. Just have not been able to find it. This version only does simple three-axis work.

When time allows, I plan a trip down memory lane.

Many thanks, once again, for the links.

Cheers,

Dave

Years ago I was able to use it to create some geometry (5 axis), then run a tool around the geometry, postprocess it with the post processor and run a LinuxCNC with the resulting code. I didn't make any chips but watching the machine told me the motion Wes correct to the geometry I created. Looked good to me and I looked forward to testing new revisions of the software but alas the developers lost interest. I still have their code.

I don't believe apt360 can handle 5 axis cuts. A multax card will cause an error. Earlier messages mentioned pcapt maybe that has 5 axis capabilities. Aptos Version: Apt360 1.0.3, N/C 360 APT VERSION 4, MODIFICATION 4

Or possibly your thinking of IBM APT 360 that was used by many companies for all their NC Programming before the graphics systems.

Jim

PS: Welcome to Linuxcnc

Greetings stustev,

I have tinkered with Aptos APT360. Been a bit lazy and not much progress.

However, I am interested in the software you are using.

APT is quite powerful.

Thinking back, most of the big name CAM software has APT buried inside the processor. I recall looking at a NX6 file, prior to posting, and it was filled with a lot of GOTO/ statements.

Looking forward to your reply.

Cheers,

David

Hi

 I wrote the APT file gage-plate.apt in the attached zip file (gage-plate.tar) and compiled it using the APT 360 aptos software from SourceForge.  Included is a DXF file road map of the geometry used.
There are three different drive paths contained in the three MACRO sections. They can be turned on and off by using double dollar signes ($$) in front of the CALL/MACRO lines at the bottom of .apt file. MAC1 drives on the geometry using lines only. MAC2 drives on the geometry including the circles defined in the corners. MAC3 drives around the outside profile offset for the dia./2 of the cutter.

If I can answer any questions about these files and the aptos system I'll do my best.

to see the cutter paths load the .ngc file into:
ncviewer.com/

for the aptos compiler:
sourceforge.net/projects/aptos/files/
you'll want the apt360 and postp files.

Thanks
Jim