mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ whoami

HENRA Mathieu

Managing director of L'autre Instant, which I founded with my business partner Lucille BAC.

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ ls sites/

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ ls projects/

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ ls social/

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat projects/postpro-dmg-cmx50u.txt

DMG Mori CMX50U / CMX1U — post-processor for SolidWorks
Jan 2026 – Jun 2026

Development of a SolidWorks post-processor for a DMG Mori CMX50U,
for 3+2 positional 5-axis machining.

No TRAORI: tool orientation is handled by positioning, with CYCLE800.

The post-processor also works with DMG Mori CMX1U machines.

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat projects/postpro-fusion-robotmaster.txt

USER MANUAL AND TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION
Fusion 360 to APT post-processor (Robotmaster)

Date: 09/12/2025    Version: 17    Author: L'autre Instant

----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. INTRODUCTION

This post-processor bridges Autodesk Fusion 360 (CAM) and Robotmaster
(or any other CAM software that accepts the APT ISO 4343 format).

It translates Fusion toolpaths into neutral code (APT) that describes the
geometry of the motion (GOTO, MOVARC) and the technological intent
(SPINDL, FEDRAT) without being tied to a specific machine kinematics.
Robotmaster then takes care of the 6-axis robot kinematics.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

2. INSTALLATION IN FUSION 360

  1. Get the file: apt 2-12.2025 v17.cps (or _vente.cps).
  2. Open the post-processor library:
     - in Fusion, go to the MANUFACTURE workspace;
     - MANAGE tab > Post Library.
  3. Import:
     - select "Local" (or "Cloud" to share it);
     - right-click > Import, then choose the .cps file.
  4. Use:
     - when creating an NC program, select this post-processor in the
       list.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

3. CONFIGURATION (PROPERTIES)

These options appear in Fusion's "Post Process" window. They let you
customise the behaviour without touching the code.

Group: Formats & Information

  Separate files per operation (separateFiles)            default: YES
    Generates a separate .apt file for each operation (e.g. Prog_1.apt,
    Prog_2.apt). Useful for Robotmaster, which needs a new file each
    time the tool orientation (work plane) changes. If your operations
    keep the same orientation, you can untick this box to get everything
    in a single file.

  Show notes (showNotes)                                  default: YES
    Injects comments and metadata in the header (PPRINT): estimated
    time, strategy, tolerance, etc. Essential for traceability.

  Use G0 for rapids (forceRapid)                          default: YES
    Fusion often outputs rapid moves (moves outside the material) as
    high-speed G1 (F10000). When ticked, the post-processor forces a
    real RAPID command (G0), which lets Robotmaster optimise these moves
    freely.

  Decimal precision                                       default: High
    High (6 decimals), Medium (4) or Low (3). For aerospace and
    precision work, keep "High".

  Write audit metadata                                    default: YES
    Adds the user, the date and the path of the source file to the
    header.

Group: Precision & Geometry

  Allow arcs (allowArc)                                   default: NO
    ON:  generates MOVARC commands (G2/G3). Lighter file, smoother
         curves.
    OFF: "linearises" everything into small GOTO segments. Heavier, but
         guaranteed compatibility if the converter struggles with some
         complex 3D arcs.

  Explode small arcs                                      default: YES
    When arcs are enabled, still converts very small radii (< 1 mm by
    default) into segments to avoid numerical instabilities.

Group: Safety

  Enable Z safety (zSafeEnabled)                          default: NO
    "All or nothing" anti-collision system. The post-processor scans
    the whole program before generating it. If a single point goes below
    the defined Z limit, processing stops and nothing is generated,
    forcing you to fix the toolpath.

  Minimum Z limit                                         default: 0.0
    Lowest allowed Z height (e.g. 0 for the table surface), expressed in
    the global coordinate system (WCS).

  Wear monitoring (toolWearMonitoring)                    default: NO
    Enables real-time tool wear monitoring.

  Wear limit in m (toolWearLimit)                         default: 500
    Maximum cutting distance. If it is exceeded during machining, a
    pause (OPSTOP) is inserted so the tool can be checked.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

4. DETAILED FEATURES

A. Multi-file output

  This feature splits the code.
  - Why? Robotmaster handles several operations in one file very well,
    EXCEPT when the tool orientation (the work plane) changes between
    two operations. In that case the files must be separated.
  - How it works: the post-processor closes the current file (FINI) and
    opens a new, numbered one (_1, _2…) for each new operation.

B. Z-Safe (global safety)

  This feature prevents collisions with the table, whatever the
  orientation of the part.
  - Principle: in 5-axis or 3+2 positional machining, the tool's "Z" is
    not the machine's "Z". This safety converts every point into the
    machine's GLOBAL coordinate system (WCS). Even with the tool tilted
    at 90°, the system knows where the table is (Z=0).
  - Safety: it is a proactive check. If an error is detected, no code
    is produced, to avoid any risk of human error.

C. Tool Wear Monitor

  This feature helps anticipate and manage tool life.
  - Information (header): as soon as the file is opened, the system
    computes and displays the total planned cutting distance for each
    tool (PPRINT ESTIMATED CUT DISTANCE...). This information is always
    present, for reference.
  - Safety (during machining): when the option is enabled, the
    post-processor tracks the cumulative distance. If the defined limit
    is reached:
      - it inserts an optional stop (OPSTOP);
      - it adds a clear warning
        (WARNING: TOOL WEAR LIMIT REACHED).

----------------------------------------------------------------------

5. OUTPUT FILE STRUCTURE (APT)

Here is what a typical file generated for Robotmaster looks like:

  PARTNO/'Program_1'                <- program / operation name
  PPRINT ESTIMATED TIME: 2 MIN...   <- time computed by Fusion
  PPRINT TOOL NAME: Fraise D10...   <- tool info
  PPRINT ESTIMATED CUT DISTANCE...  <- estimated cutting distance
  UNITS/MM                          <- units
  CUTTER/10.0, 0.0...               <- tool definition (diameter, corner radius...)
  LOADTL/1                          <- tool call no. 1
  SPINDL/15000, RPM, CLW            <- spindle
  MULTAX/ON                         <- 5-axis mode (if needed)

  RAPID                             <- rapid move (G0)
  GOTO/100.0, 50.0, 50.0, ...       <- position (X, Y, Z, I, J, K)

  FEDRAT/2000.0, MMPM               <- feed rate (G1)
  GOTO/100.0, 50.0, 10.0...

  MOVARC/......                     <- circular arc (if enabled)
  GOTO/...

  OPSTOP                            <- if wear limit reached and
                                       monitoring enabled

  END                               <- end of toolpath
  FINI                              <- end of file

----------------------------------------------------------------------

6. SUPPORT

  If something goes wrong:
  - if the post-processor shows "Failed to post data", always check the
    log file;
  - the most common error is the Z-Safe safety being triggered (clearly
    reported in the output file or the log).

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ ls education/

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat education/2013-2015_cap-fashion-tailoring.txt

CAP in Fashion Trades — Tailoring option
French national vocational diploma — Ministry of Education
2013 – 2015

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat education/2016_vetigraph-expert.txt

City of Paris adult education classes (Cours Municipaux d'Adultes)
VETIGRAPH Expert certification
2016

Proficiency in the pattern-making and grading features of
VETIGRAPH Expert, and in VETIMARK marker making.

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat education/2016-2017_draping-high-end.txt

City of Paris adult education classes (Cours Municipaux d'Adultes)
Draping and assembly of high-end garments
2016 – 2017
Modules: introduction and advanced

- Placing style tape on the dress form.
- Pattern-making by draping on a standard-size dress form, from
  fashion sketches of simple womenswear (straight skirt, basic
  bodice…).
- Cutting and assembling full toiles of high-end womenswear, with
  particular attention to finishing.

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat education/2018-2019_cap-leatherwork.txt

CAP in Leatherwork
French national vocational diploma — Ministry of Education
2018 – 2019

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat education/2022_kuka-college-level-1.txt

KUKA College
Robot programming — level 1
Nov 2022

KUKA Integrator training, level 1.

Certificate: verify on college.kuka.com

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$ cat education/2025-2026_bts-cprp.txt

Lycée Robert Schuman
Machining — Automation — Part design — CNC operation
Sep 2025 – Jun 2026
Level: BTS CPRP (French two-year technical degree in production engineering)

Workshop classes with first- and second-year BTS CPRP students. The goal
of the year was to understand the processes, design and optimisation of
a CNC manufacturing workshop.

The school has a rather impressive machine park, with DMG Mori CMX50U
3+2 positional 5-axis machining centres, as well as CLX lathes.

With the help of Arnaud LESTRELIN, the teacher who taught me, I built,
tested and fine-tuned a complete post-processor for the CMX50U, for
SolidWorks. Everything works perfectly, and it let me both get hands-on
with the machine for the tests and work with SolidWorks to understand
the subject.

-> projects/postpro-dmg-cmx50u.txt

mathieu@lautre-instant:~$