The present market scenario necessitates programmable flexible automated systems to cope up with the global competition. CNCs play a vital part in such systems. But for manufacturing different parts using CNCs, it requires CNC programming expertise. Though systems that can automatically generate CNC programs from the 3D models are commercially available, they cost a fortune to medium and small-scale industries. Most of these industries use low end drafting softwares like AutoCAD. If a system that can interpret data from AutoCAD and that can generate CNC programs automatically is developed, then it will be much useful. Such a system is proposed in this paper. The system is developed using ‘C’. It takes the AutoCAD filename in the DXF format as the input and extracts the data of the entities to generate CNC programs (for FANUC Controller) automatically. This reduces the programming time, avoids the need for a skilled programmer and increases the production rate at lower costs. The system can generate CNC programs for different profiles and pockets. For pocketing, the system uses zigzag tool path. The developed system is able to generate CNC programs effectively for various profiles and pockets.

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