COMPUTER ASSISTED

PART PROGRAMMING
(CAPP)
 Introduction
• Computer assisted programming methods are much faster
and more reliable than manual programming techniques.

• There are a variety of forms of computer assisted

programming.

• The common feature of these programs is that the part and

machining paths are not defined directly with G-code but
through English-like statements or through interactive
graphic instructions.
 Two Main Tasks in CAPP
• When utilizing one of the NC programming languages part
programming can be summarized as consisting basically of
two tasks:

– Defining the Geometry of the workpart

– Tool Path Construction

 Defining The Geometry of the workpart
• No matter how complicated the workpart may appear it is
composed of basic geometric elements e.g. lines, circles,
points, etc.
• It is the part programmer’s task to enumerate the
component elements out of which the workpart is formed.
• Each geometric element must be identified and the
dimensions and location of the element explicitly defined.
• An example of defining a point in APT language is as
follows:
P1=POINT/6.0,1.2,0
 Tool Path Construction
• After defining the workpart geometry, the programmer
must next construct the path that the cutter will follow to
machine the part.
• This toolpath specification involves a detailed step by step
sequence of cutter moves.
• The moves are made along the geometry elements which
have previously been defined.
• An example of toolpath statement in APT language is as
follows:
GOLFT/L3, PAST,L1
 NC Part Programming Languages
• Following are the important NC part programming
languages:

– APT ( Automatically Programmed Tools )

– AUTOSPOT ( Automatic System For Positioning Tools )
– SPLIT ( Sundstrand Processing Language Internally Translated )
– ADAPT ( Adaptation of APT )
– EXAPT ( Extended Subset of APT )
AUTOMATICALLY PROGRAMMED TOOLS
(APT)
 Introduction of APT
• The APT language was the product of MIT development
work on NC programming systems.
• Its development began in June 1956, and it was first used
in production around 1959.
• Today it is the most widely used language in NC part
programming.
• Although first intended as a contouring language , modern
versions of APT can be used for both positioning and
continuous path programming.
 Types of Statements in APT
The four types of statements in the APT language are:

1. Geometry Statements: which define primitive elements such as points,

lines, circles, planes, cones and spheres. They are also sometimes called
definition statements

2. Motion Statements: which describe the tool path in relation to the part
geometry

3. Postprocessor Statements: which give specific machine tool code

information as well as feeds and speeds

4. Auxiliary Statements: which give part and tool tolerances

 1. GEOMETRY STATEMENTS
• The general form of geometry statements is:
symbol = geometry type / descriptive data
• An example of such statement is:
P1 = POINT/100.0, 200.0, 300.0
• The statement is made up of three sections.
• The first is the symbol use to identify the geometric element. Normally the
alphabet “P” is used for defining a Point, “C” for Circle, “L” for Line and
“Pl” for Plane.
• The second section of the geometry statement is an APT vocabulary word
that identifies the type of geometry element. e.g. POINT, LINE, CIRCLE,
PLANE, etc.
• The third section of the geometry statement is the descriptive data that
define the element precisely, completely and uniquely.
 DEFINING A POINT IN APT
GENERAL RULES:
• Every point definition will have the same basic format:
Symbolic name = POINT / definition of a point

• When a point has been defined it will have coordinates in all three axes.

• If there is no allowance in a definition for quoting the z coordinate this will

automatically be made zero
 DEFINITION OF POINT-1:
( Coordinate Values )

Y P1 = POINT/2,2,2

P1
2

2
 DEFINITION OF POINT-2:
(Intersection of two previously defined lines)

P2 = POINT / INTOF,L1,L2

L1

P2

L2
 DEFINITION OF POINT-3:
(Intersection point of a previously defined line and circle)

P3 = POINT / XSMALL, INTOF, L1, C1

Or P3 = POINT / YSMALL, INTOF, L1, C1
P4 = POINT / XLARGE, INTOF, L1, C1
Or P4 = POINT / YLARGE, INTOF, L1, C1

C1

P4

L1

P3
 DEFINITION OF POINT-4:
(Intersection point of two previously defined circles)

P3 = POINT / XSMALL, INTOF,C1,C2

Or P3 = POINT / YLARGE, INTOF, C1,C2
P4 = POINT / XLARGE, INTOF, C1,C2
Or P4 = POINT / YSMALL, INTOF, C1,C2

P3 C1

P4
C2
 DEFINITION OF POINT-5:
(On the circumference of a previously defined circle )

P2 = POINT / C1,ATANGL,75

P2

75°
X

C1
 DEFINITION OF POINT-6:
(Center Point of a previously defined circle )

P2 = POINT / CENTER, C1

P2

C1
 DEFINITION OF POINT-7:
(On a previously defied Line and a known X or Y dimension
from datum )
P2 = POINT / L1, XCOORD, 2
or P2 = POINT / L1, YCOORD, 3

P2 L1
3

X
2
 DEFINING A LINE IN APT
GENERAL RULES:

• Every line definition will have the same basic format:

Symbolic name = LINE / definition of a line

• Lines are of infinite length.

• Lines do not have a direction

 DEFINITION OF LINE-1:
(Passing through two previously defined points)

L1 = LINE/P1,P2

P2 L1

P1
 DEFINITION OF LINE-2:
(Passing through a previously defined point and tangent to a
previously defined circle)
L3 = LINE / P1, RIGHT, TANTO, C2
L4 = LINE / P1, LEFT, TANTO, C2

The RIGHT or LEFT modifiers are applied by looking from the point to the
circle and deciding whether the line will pass to the right or left of the
circle.

L4

C1

P1 L3
 DEFINITION OF LINE-3:
(Tangent to two previously defined circles)

L1 = LINE / LEFT, TANTO, C1, LEFT, TANTO, C2

L1 = LINE / RIGHT, TANTO, C2, RIGHT, TANTO, C1

The RIGHT & LEFT modifiers are applied looking from the first circle
quoted to the second

L1

C2

C1
DEFINITION OF LINE-3: contd.
(Tangent to two previously defined circles)

L3 = LINE / LEFT, TANTO, C1, RIGHT, TANTO, C2

L4 = LINE / RIGHT, TANTO, C1, LEFT, TANTO, C2

L3
C2

C1

L4
 DEFINITION OF LINE-4:
(Passing Through a previously defined point at a specified
angle to the X-axis)

L2 = LINE / P1, ATANGL, 30

L2 = LINE / P1, ATANGL, -150

L2

P1 30°

150°
 DEFINITION OF LINE-5:
(Passing through a previously defined point,
parallel to a previously defined line)

L3 = LINE/P3,PARLEL,L2

P3

L3

L2
 DEFINITION OF LINE-6:
(Passing through a previously defined point,
perpendiculat to a previously defined line)

L3 = LINE/P1,PERPTO,L2

P1

L2
L3
 DEFINING A CIRCLE IN APT
GENERAL RULES:

• Every circle definition will have the same basic format:

Symbolic name = CIRCLE / definition of a circle

• Circles defined in APT are complete circles.

• Circles do not have directions

 DEFINITION OF CIRCLE-1:
(Coordinates of center of circle, with a given radius)

C1 = CIRCLE/X,Y,R

C1

(X,Y)
 DEFINITION OF CIRCLE-2:
(Previously defined center point with a given radius)

C2 = CIRCLE/CENTER,P1,RADIUS,5

C2

5R

P1
 DEFINITION OF CIRCLE-3:
(Previously defined center point and tangent to a previously
defined line)

C2 = CIRCLE/CENTER,P1,TANTO,L2

L2

P1
C2
 DEFINITION OF CIRCLE-4:
(Previously defined center point and passing through another
previously defined point)

C2 = CIRCLE/CENTER,P1,P2

P2

P1
C1
 DEFINITION OF CIRCLE-5:
(Passing through three previously defined points)

C3 = CIRCLE/P1,P2,P3

P2
P1

C3

P3
 DEFINITION OF CIRCLE-6:
(Previously defined center point and tangent to a previously
defined circle)

C3 = CIRCLE / CENTER, P1, SMALL, TANTO, C2

C4 = CIRCLE / CENTER, P1, LARGE, TANTO, C2
 DEFINITION OF CIRCLE-7:
(Tangent to two previously define lines, with a given radius
value)

C3 = CIRCLE / YSMALL, L1, XLARGE, L2, RADIUS, 5

C4 = CIRCLE / YLARGE, L1, XSMALL, L2, RADIUS, 5
 DEFINING A PLANE IN APT
GENERAL RULES:

• Every plane definition will have the same basic format:

Symbolic name = PLANE / definition of a plane

• A plane is used to construct a surface of constant “Z” level to which the

cutter should be referenced when machining in the XY plane

• Planes can only be defined parallel to XY plane

• Planes are of infinite area

DEFINITION OF PLANE-1:
(By three previously defined points)

PL4 = PLANE/P1,P23
 2. MOTION STATEMENTS
• APT motion statements have a general format:
motion command / descriptive data
e.g. GOTO / P1
• At the beginning of the motion statements tool must be given a starting
point
FROM / P0
Or FROM / -2, -2, 0

• The FROM is an APT vocabulary word which indicates that this is the
initial point from which others will be referenced. The FROM statement
occurs only once at the start of the motion sequence.

• In APT there are two basic types of motion statements:

a) Point to Point motion
b) Contouring motion
 a) POINT TO POINT MOTION
• There are only two basic point to point motion commands

GOTO:
The GOTO statement instructs the tool to go to a particular point location
specified in the descriptive data.
e.g. GOTO / P2
GOTO / 2, 7, 0

GODLTA:
The GODLTA command specifies an incremental move for the tool.

e,g, GODLTA / 2, 7, 0 instructs the tool to move from its

present position to 2 units in x-direction, 7 units in y-direction and 0 units
in z-direction
EXAMPLE OF POINT TO POINT MOTION
• Drill three holes of 0.5” diameter at P1, P2, P3. The part is 0.5” thick.
EXAMPLE OF POINT TO POINT MOTION
P1=POINT/1,2,0.5
P2=POINT/1,1,0.5
P3=POINT/3.5,1.5,0.5
P0=POINT/-1,3,2
FROM/P0
GOTO/P1
GODLTA/0,0,-0.5
GODLTA/0,0,0.5
GOTO/P2
GODLTA/0,0,-0.5
GODLTA/0,0,0.5
GOTO/P3
GODLTA/0,0,-0.5
GODLTA/0,0,0.5
GOTO/P0
 b) CONTOURING MOTION
• In contouring motion commands the tool position must be continuously
controlled throughout the move. For contouring movements, the tool is
directed along intersecting surfaces. These surfaces have specific names in
APT.
 b) CONTOURING MOTION
• The Drive Surface (DS) guides the side of the cutter, the Part Surface
(PS) defines the position of the bottom of the cutter, and the Check
Surface (CS) defines the limit of current tool motion. The part surface may
or may not be an actual surface of the workpart.
 How to approach the check surface
• Modifier words, such as TO, ON, PAST or TANTO, are used to govern the
position of the tool in relation to the check surface.
 How to use the drive surface
• Motion statements, GOLFT (go to the left), GOFWD (go forward) and
GORGT(go to the right), are also used to control the cutter motion.
 Example APT Problem:
• An APT program for the profiling of the part in Figure
2 is to be generated. The processing parameters are:
(a) feed rate is 5.39 inches per minute; (b) spindle
speed is 573 revolutions per minute; (c) a coolant is
to be used to flush the chips; (d) the cutter diameter
is to be 0.5 inches, and (e) the tool home position is
(0, -1, 0).
EXAMPLE OF CONTOURING MOTION
STATEMENTS
 EXAMPLE OF CONTOURING MOTION
STATEMENTS

FROM/P0
GO/TO,L1,TO,PL1,TO,L5
GORGT/L1,PAST,L2
GOLFT/L2,TO,L3
GORGT/L3,TANTO,C1
GOFWD,C1,PAST,L4
GOFWD/L4,PAST,L5
GOLFT/L5,PAST,L1
GOTO/P0
 3. POST PROCESSOR STATEMENTS
• APT motion statements have a general format:
motion command / descriptive data
e.g. GOTO / P1
3. POST PROCESSOR STATEMENTS
3. POST PROCESSOR STATEMENTS
4. AUXILIARY STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE