Abstract:

In this paper, a DXF based CAD/CAM system developed for CNC wire EDM is presented. The CAD/CAM system includes both the automatic CNC code generating module and the simulation module which animates the tool path for 2D drawings designed in the CAD environment. Visual BASIC and Visual LISP programming languages are used to develop the software in a computer. With the developed program, 2D drawings generated in a CAD environment are automatically converted into the DXF format and information belonging to the drawing is extracted by evaluating of the geometric entities represented in this format. This information is the types of curves (line, circle, arc, etc.), the coordinates of curves (start and end points, center points, etc.) and the special attributes of edge curves (radius, start and end angle of arc, etc.). Tool path for any 2D drawing designed by the user in a CAD environment can be generated using this information and the CNC codes corresponding to FANUC format can be obtained. Tool motion corresponding to the tool path can also be animated in the CAD environment