Tool path plotting in NCPlot

The Plotting Viewport window is at the heart of NCPlot. Solid lines represent cutting motions - dotted lines represent rapid motions. Color coding - selectable by tool or by entity type - clarifies plotted motions.

With NCPlot, you can visually check every motion command in your program. And you don't even need a completed program to begin plotting. You can type a few commands and then immediately see what the commands will do! (This is a great learning aid.) When you spot a problem, simply click the problem entity in the viewport. The CNC command that caused the motion will be highlighted in the program - and you'll be shown an information box that contains all data about the entity.

Viewport planes

To clarify your program's motions further, look at the tool path in a variety of planes, as well as in isometric view (3d).

Zoom control

NCPlot makes it quick and easy to find and zoom-in on the viewport area you want to see. Click the Zoom All button and you'll immediately see the entire range of your program's motions. Click the Zoom Window button and you'll be able to specify exactly what you want the viewport to show - down to the smallest detail!

Tool path plot control

You can execute a tool path plot in several ways. Click one button - Refresh Plot - and the entire program is plotted immediately.

Too fast for you? Then click the Animate button to see the program executed more slowly.

Not enough control for you? Then click the Rewind button to start from the program's beginning and repeatedly click the Step Forward button to see your program executed command by command - just like you do in single block mode on the actual CNC machine. As you step through your program, the cursor in the CNC program will automatically advance, a new entity will appear in the viewport, and you'll see the motion's end point coordinates displayed near the new entity.

Go too far? Click the Step Backward button to back up and see commands executed again.

Want to see just one tool? Click the command in your CNC program from which you want to see the plot done - the first command of a tool, for example. Then click the Plot to Cursor button. You'll immediately see everything that happens to this point in the program. Then repeatedly click the Step Forward button to go through the rest of the motions step-by-step. (This can be a valuable teaching tool, ensuring that students know how to find the restart block for each tool in the program.)

Other tool path plotting features

Entity information: Whenever you click an entity in the viewport (we've clicked the top horizontal line), you'll see information about the entity. While it is not shown here, the corresponding command in the CNC program will be highlighted.

Measure function: Click two entities (while holding the shift key) to highlight them both (we've clicked the two vertical lines) and then select Measure from the Calc menu. You'll be shown the distances between the entities. This is helpful if you question whether the workpiece will be machined to the correct size.

Supported machines and controls

If you have a CNC machining center or turning center, rest assured that you'll be able to configure NCPlot to show your programs! NCPlot uses Fanuc and Fanuc-compatible controls for default settings. So there won't be much customizing to do if you have Fanuc controls. But if you have a control that is not compatible with Fanuc, don't worry. Use the Machine Configuration menu to fine tune NCPlot for your machine and control - and you can easily save your settings for future use. Click this link to see machine settings that can be configured in NCPlot.

Supported CNC commands

NCPlot includes a comprehensive set of supported CNC functions. Just about every motion-related feature is supported. Click this link to see the list of commands that NCPlot can show.

NCPlot would be an excellent value if it only included the text editor and simple tool path plotting capability. But wait! There's so much more!

Click to see main menus of NCPlot