Common 3-axis customisations
- Program header with part, material, stock and tool list.
- Tool change sequence and safe positioning.
- Work offset output (G54–G59, G54.1 P extended offsets).
- Canned cycle formats and retract mode (G98/G99).
- High-speed mode on/off around finishing toolpaths.
- Coolant options including through-spindle and air.
Settings in the control definition
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Arc output (IJK or R, planes, max angle) | Avoids arc alarms and matches controller |
| Helix and spiral handling | Linearise if the controller does not support them |
| Tolerance and filtering | Balances file size and surface quality |
| Feed limits | Prevents output above machine capability |
Misc integers and reals
Mastercam passes per-operation options to the post through misc integers and misc reals. Posts commonly use them for work offset selection, absolute/incremental output, or reference return method, so programmers can set them in the operation parameters instead of editing code.
Example output
%
O0100 (COVER PLATE)
(MATERIAL - AL6061)
(T1 | 10MM FLAT ENDMILL | H1)
(T2 | 6.8MM DRILL | H2)
N100 G21
N102 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90
N104 T1 M6
N106 G0 G90 G54 X-5. Y-5. S12000 M3
N108 G43 H1 Z25. M8
...Most 3-axis Mastercam post work is about making output match your shop, not just the controller.
Mastercam 3-axis posts
See our CNC post processor development service and the Mastercam post overview.