aptos-devel Mailing List for Aptos

Right, the postprocessor words (a/k/a 2000 class CLFILE records) are - for the 
most part - ignored by the APT processor itself, other than syntax errors and 
the MACHIN statement.

So any documentation for a keyword like INSERT will be documented in ones 
supplemental postprocessor documentation.

Attached is an example postprocessor documentation file someone provided me with 
a while back. Believe it's for a Fanuc controller.

But no guarantee this doc will match whatever post your using.

On 3/13/2016 3:57 PM, David wrote:
> Greetings Phil,
>
> Thanks for the response.
>
> The manual in the aptos is very helpful. However, look up the command "INSERT".
> It does not list the syntax to insert the commands I need.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Transform Data into Opportunity.
> Accelerate data analysis in your applications with
> Intel Data Analytics Acceleration Library.
> Click to learn more.
> http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=278785111&iu=/4140
>
>
>
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> Apt...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel

APT-AC is no longer provided by IBM.  I think they dropped it several years ago and no longer support it. 

A company I am contracting at had it as part of their production process up through 2014.  I run a couple jobs every few months and they still work. 





> On Mar 13, 2016, at 2:25 PM, JEFFREY AUDIA <jef...@ms...> wrote:
> 
> That's right, it's "CONTUR" I made a typo.
> 
> I remember at Boeing there was a supplemental manual that described the additional feature-set including CONTUR and CIRARC, and many others. They had recently installed that extended package when I was there in 92 and I got to try them out including the God-sent CIRARC. I think that's what it was called. It allowed you to define only the "segment" of a circle or cylnder that you wanted and not have to deal with the annoying problem of the other part of the circle. I applied this feature and other ones from that package to new 777 parts machined on Boeing's giant spar-mills. Good times.
> 
> I never new there were 3 IBM-370 versions. 
> 
> And what does BobT mean by "I ran an APT-AC check two days ago..." Where is it available ? what does he mean ? IBM still sells it ?
> 
> jeff
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Transform Data into Opportunity.
> Accelerate data analysis in your applications with
> Intel Data Analytics Acceleration Library.
> Click to learn more.
> http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=278785111&iu=/4140
> _______________________________________________
> Aptos-devel mailing list
> Apt...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel

That's right, it's "CONTUR" I made a typo.

I remember at Boeing there was a supplemental manual that described the additional feature-set including CONTUR and CIRARC, and many others. They had recently installed that extended package when I was there in 92 and I got to try them out including the God-sent CIRARC. I think that's what it was called. It allowed you to define only the "segment" of a circle or cylnder that you wanted and not have to deal with the annoying problem of the other part of the circle. I applied this feature and other ones from that package to new 777 parts machined on Boeing's giant spar-mills. Good times.

I never new there were 3 IBM-370 versions. 

And what does BobT mean by "I ran an APT-AC check two days ago..." Where is it available ? what does he mean ? IBM still sells it ?

jeff
 		 	   		  

Greetings Phil,

Thanks for the response.

The manual in the aptos is very helpful. However, look up the command 
"INSERT". It does not list the syntax to insert the commands I need.

Cheers,

Dave

Under the APT360 project, there should be a 'doc' subfolder.

In 'doc' should be a subfolder named 'manual'.

In the 'manual' subfolder you should find a bunch of files, one named 'index.html'.

If you can open this 'index.html' file with a browser, you should see 'APT360 
Programmers Manual', your wish granted ??? :-)

Phil(f) in WI

On 3/13/2016 11:53 AM, David wrote:
> Greetings All,
>
> After last using APT 20 years ago, I am surprised at how much I have remembered.
> However, the book I purchased, Numerical Control Programming in APT, does not
> list the syntax for all the APT commands.
>
> I do remember having a small grey APT language guide when I was at Boeing.
> Sadly, I cannot locate this booklet at present.
>
> So, to the heart of my message.
>
> Does anyone have a spare booklet they would part with? Or, is there an on-line
> reference guide to all the APT commands?
>
> With kind regards,
>
> David
>
> South Prairie, WA 98385
> Formerly a member of A-3620, Tooling NC Programming
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Transform Data into Opportunity.
> Accelerate data analysis in your applications with
> Intel Data Analytics Acceleration Library.
> Click to learn more.
> http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=278785111&iu=/4140
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Aptos-devel mailing list
> Apt...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel

Greetings All,

After last using APT 20 years ago, I am surprised at how much I have 
remembered. However, the book I purchased, Numerical Control Programming 
in APT, does not list the syntax for all the APT commands.

I do remember having a small grey APT language guide when I was at 
Boeing. Sadly, I cannot locate this booklet at present.

So, to the heart of my message.

Does anyone have a spare booklet they would part with? Or, is there an 
on-line reference guide to all the APT commands?

With kind regards,

David

South Prairie, WA 98385
Formerly a member of A-3620, Tooling NC Programming

Did IBM ever support / release APT-AC on AIX or any other operating systems 
besides the 370 mainframe ???

If it is / was available for AIX was it 100% the same functionality as the 370 
mainframe version ???

Phil(f) in WI

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Re: [Aptos-devel] APT-AC ???
Date: 	Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:23:43 -0800
From: 	GrtGmail <g.r...@gm...>
To: 	motokoji143 <mot...@ho...>



I checked the APT-AC manual and the word is CONTUR.

Btw,  there were three versions of IBM APT for the 370 mainframes.

APT-AC   Advanced contouring
APT-IC     Intermediate contouring
APT-BC    Basic contouring

I ran an APT-AC check two days ago and it is still available and working even though it was dropped from production status about two years ago and hasn't had any maintenance releases from our APT support group for over 10 years.


BobT


>  On Mar 10, 2016, at 11:38 AM, motokoji143<mot...@ho...>  wrote:
>
>  Kim,
>
>  If you do not already have a copy, you might try locating a copy of Irvin Kral's
>  book: "Numerical Control Programming in APT". The copy I have is copyright 1986,
>  ISBN 0-13-626599-5. Per the preface, all of the examples were run with IBM
>  System370/APT-AC, Version 1, Mod 2 and 3.
>
>  Checking the index, the COUTUR word (sp?) Jeff's post mentioned is not mentioned.
>
>  There are several copies - new and used - available via amazon.com.
>
>  fwiw, Phil(f) in WI
>
>>  On 3/5/2016 2:15 PM, Kim Kirwan wrote:
>>  OK, thanks, this is good info, an IBM APT product that was in common
>>  use at aerospace companies at the time. Does this relate in any way
>>  to the "other" APT lists in existence?
>>
>>  It was my understanding that the Apt4ssv3 list (on Assembla.com)
>>  was for rewriting the APT4 v3 Fortran source code, which was said to
>>  be available without copyright restrictions. And that the apt4ssx8
>>  list (on freelists.org) was for rewriting the APT4 v8 Fortran source
>>  code, which was said to be available, but was still covered by some
>>  copyright (maybe NASA?) but that someone was working on getting them
>>  to release it into the public domain.  However, there have been no
>>  substantive posts on either list for 1 year, and 3 years, respectively.
>>
>>  The delay (as I understood it) was to wait and see if the APT4 v8 code
>>  could be freed up, and if so, to start with that. But if v8 could not
>>  be freed up, then to start with APT4 v3.
>>
>>  What is the origin of APT360, would that be APT3? Any possibility of
>>  getting either of the two APT4 projects moving again? Or, the APT4
>>  improvements (if any?) merged with APT360? Or, something else?
>>
>>  Any information, ideas, suggestions, much appreciated.
>>
>>  Kim
>>
>>
>>>  On 03/05/2016 09:48 AM, motokoji143 wrote:
>>>  APT-AC was IBM's successor product to the APT360 product / code base.
>>>  The 'AC' stands for Advanced Contouring' (IBM product code: 5740-M53).
>>>
>>>  This was the common APT one used if one worked at an aerospace company such as
>>>  Boeing or General Dynamics (at least in 1980), though most of the aerospace
>>>  companies also had add-ins of their own.
>>>
>>>  As Brent noted it had additional geometric constructs. Also, it migrated TRACUT,
>>>  INDEX and COPY in Section 3 so the postprocessor no longer needed to provide
>>>  functionality (though the 2000 records are still in the CLFILE.) If I recall
>>>  right, it also provided the ability to REFSYS a toolpath, not just geometry.
>>>
>>>  Googling: "APT-AC" site:ibm.com
>>>
>>>  Will generate links to documents about various version specific software
>>>  withdrawals on various platforms IBM provided APT on.
>>>
>>>  One of the documents mentions support moving to remarketers.
>>>
>>>  Hope this helps.
>>>
>>>  Phil(f) in WI
>>>
>>>
>>>>  On 3/5/2016 12:59 AM, Brent Muller wrote:
>>>>  Hi David- I think Apt-AC was a successor to apt360 (apt360 is my working name,
>>>>  not IBM's). The reason I think this is that the code in the book is based on
>>>>  Apt-AC, and it is very similar to apt360, except that it has extra definitions
>>>>  and features. For example, Apt-AC has a POLYCONIC definition. In the code for
>>>>  apt360, interestingly, there is some code for the POLYCONIC, but it is coded to
>>>>  give an error for that definition.
>>>>
>>>>  I tried googling "Apt-AC IBM". I found one document is rather interesting-It
>>>>  isn't necessarily related to Apt-AC, but I found it enlightening, since it
>>>>  clears up some of the history of the software:
>>>>
>>>>  https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/643/643.F2d.1339.76-2680.html
>>>>
>>>>  It's a lawsuit brought by a smaller company developing an Apt program competing
>>>>  with IBM's. If you can skip over the legalese, there is some interesting history
>>>>  there. I'm going to cc the mailing list, for the history buffs :)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 5:12 AM, David<bal...@co...
>>>>  <mailto:bal...@co...>>   wrote:
>>>>
>>>>      Greetings Brent,
>>>>
>>>>      Many thanks for the instruction sheet.
>>>>
>>>>      APT360 is probably what I used at Boeing.
>>>>
>>>>      What is APT-AC? I could not find any information via Google.
>>>>
>>>>      Cheers,
>>>>
>>>>      Dave
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  _______________________________________________
>>>>  Aptos-devel mailing list
>>>>  Apt...@li...
>>>>  https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
>>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>  _______________________________________________
>>>  Aptos-devel mailing list
>>>  Apt...@li...
>>>  https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
>>
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  Aptos-devel mailing list
>>  Apt...@li...
>>  https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
>
>
>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Transform Data into Opportunity.
>  Accelerate data analysis in your applications with
>  Intel Data Analytics Acceleration Library.
>  Click to learn more.
>  http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=278785111&iu=/4140
>  _______________________________________________
>  Aptos-devel mailing list
>  Apt...@li...
>  https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel

Kim,

If you do not already have a copy, you might try locating a copy of Irvin Kral's 
book: "Numerical Control Programming in APT". The copy I have is copyright 1986, 
ISBN 0-13-626599-5. Per the preface, all of the examples were run with IBM 
System370/APT-AC, Version 1, Mod 2 and 3.

Checking the index, the COUTUR word (sp?) Jeff's post mentioned is not mentioned.

There are several copies - new and used - available via amazon.com.

fwiw, Phil(f) in WI

On 3/5/2016 2:15 PM, Kim Kirwan wrote:
> OK, thanks, this is good info, an IBM APT product that was in common
> use at aerospace companies at the time. Does this relate in any way
> to the "other" APT lists in existence?
>
> It was my understanding that the Apt4ssv3 list (on Assembla.com)
> was for rewriting the APT4 v3 Fortran source code, which was said to
> be available without copyright restrictions. And that the apt4ssx8
> list (on freelists.org) was for rewriting the APT4 v8 Fortran source
> code, which was said to be available, but was still covered by some
> copyright (maybe NASA?) but that someone was working on getting them
> to release it into the public domain.  However, there have been no
> substantive posts on either list for 1 year, and 3 years, respectively.
>
> The delay (as I understood it) was to wait and see if the APT4 v8 code
> could be freed up, and if so, to start with that. But if v8 could not
> be freed up, then to start with APT4 v3.
>
> What is the origin of APT360, would that be APT3? Any possibility of
> getting either of the two APT4 projects moving again? Or, the APT4
> improvements (if any?) merged with APT360? Or, something else?
>
> Any information, ideas, suggestions, much appreciated.
>
> Kim
>
>
> On 03/05/2016 09:48 AM, motokoji143 wrote:
>> APT-AC was IBM's successor product to the APT360 product / code base.
>> The 'AC' stands for Advanced Contouring' (IBM product code: 5740-M53).
>>
>> This was the common APT one used if one worked at an aerospace company such as
>> Boeing or General Dynamics (at least in 1980), though most of the aerospace
>> companies also had add-ins of their own.
>>
>> As Brent noted it had additional geometric constructs. Also, it migrated TRACUT,
>> INDEX and COPY in Section 3 so the postprocessor no longer needed to provide
>> functionality (though the 2000 records are still in the CLFILE.) If I recall
>> right, it also provided the ability to REFSYS a toolpath, not just geometry.
>>
>> Googling: "APT-AC" site:ibm.com
>>
>> Will generate links to documents about various version specific software
>> withdrawals on various platforms IBM provided APT on.
>>
>> One of the documents mentions support moving to remarketers.
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Phil(f) in WI
>>
>>
>> On 3/5/2016 12:59 AM, Brent Muller wrote:
>>> Hi David- I think Apt-AC was a successor to apt360 (apt360 is my working name,
>>> not IBM's). The reason I think this is that the code in the book is based on
>>> Apt-AC, and it is very similar to apt360, except that it has extra definitions
>>> and features. For example, Apt-AC has a POLYCONIC definition. In the code for
>>> apt360, interestingly, there is some code for the POLYCONIC, but it is coded to
>>> give an error for that definition.
>>>
>>> I tried googling "Apt-AC IBM". I found one document is rather interesting-It
>>> isn't necessarily related to Apt-AC, but I found it enlightening, since it
>>> clears up some of the history of the software:
>>>
>>> https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/643/643.F2d.1339.76-2680.html
>>>
>>> It's a lawsuit brought by a smaller company developing an Apt program competing
>>> with IBM's. If you can skip over the legalese, there is some interesting history
>>> there. I'm going to cc the mailing list, for the history buffs :)
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 5:12 AM, David<bal...@co...
>>> <mailto:bal...@co...>>  wrote:
>>>
>>>      Greetings Brent,
>>>
>>>      Many thanks for the instruction sheet.
>>>
>>>      APT360 is probably what I used at Boeing.
>>>
>>>      What is APT-AC? I could not find any information via Google.
>>>
>>>      Cheers,
>>>
>>>      Dave
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Aptos-devel mailing list
>>> Apt...@li...
>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> _______________________________________________
>> Aptos-devel mailing list
>> Apt...@li...
>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
>>
>>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> Aptos-devel mailing list
> Apt...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
>
>

On 03/05/2016 01:15 PM, Kim Kirwan wrote:
> OK, thanks, this is good info, an IBM APT product that was in common
> use at aerospace companies at the time. Does this relate in any way
> to the "other" APT lists in existence?
>
I guess the answer would be "no", if you mean the other projects that 
are old APT code bases that we hobbyists have access to. It looks, from 
what Jeff Audia mentioned, that IBM took the APT-AC code into the price 
stratosphere, and it is probably heavily copyrighted.

> It was my understanding that the Apt4ssv3 list (on Assembla.com)
> was for rewriting the APT4 v3 Fortran source code, which was said to
> be available without copyright restrictions. And that the apt4ssx8
> list (on freelists.org) was for rewriting the APT4 v8 Fortran source
> code, which was said to be available, but was still covered by some
> copyright (maybe NASA?) but that someone was working on getting them
> to release it into the public domain.  However, there have been no
> substantive posts on either list for 1 year, and 3 years, respectively.
>

Those projects were worked on, but I think the implicit consensus was 
that no one felt like dedicating their hobby time to working on it (I'm 
guessing). The Apt4ssv3 code that I was given was started on a couple of 
times- The first time, we hit a snag with the syntax code generating 
file that was undocumented. It was restarted with Andy Pruitt from 
scratch, and I got it running about 20% of the test files included in 
the code base to completion. The reason I stopped was that the way 
forward from there didn't look real promising. The files ran though 
syntax-wise, but I couldn't figure why or where it was failing without 
understanding the code way more than a simple perusal. For example,if 
the code fails with a segfault or something, you can spot the problem 
and work backwards. That wasn't happening-the program ran to completion 
and basically it just gave an error message due to some problem 
somewhere. Additionally, the clfile was binary, and would have to be 
documented to write posts for.

If someone would like to look at it, I can give them a copy of the code 
to look over. I don't think Andy has been working on it either.

> The delay (as I understood it) was to wait and see if the APT4 v8 code
> could be freed up, and if so, to start with that. But if v8 could not
> be freed up, then to start with APT4 v3.
>
> What is the origin of APT360, would that be APT3? Any possibility of
> getting either of the two APT4 projects moving again? Or, the APT4
> improvements (if any?) merged with APT360? Or, something else?
>
> Any information, ideas, suggestions, much appreciated.
>
> Kim
>
>
<old stuff snipped>
Here is the relevant parts of the legal brief giving a short history of 
the software:

> 3
>
> * Both IBM and Symbolic produce a type of computer software known as an
> automatically programmed tools (APT) processor. This software permits
> the use of a computer in the production of metal parts in aviation,
> automobile manufacturing, and similar manufacturing enterprises. When an
> engineering diagram of a part to be produced is completed manually, the
> diagram is given to a computer programmer who translates the diagram
> into computer language, producing the "part program." At this point the
> APT processor comes into play: the APT processor, itself a computer
> program, is used by a computer to calculate the location, speed, and
> movement the machine tool must use to cut the metal part required.
>
> 4
>
> The first APT processor was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of
> Technology under contract to the United States Air Force. A later
> version of this program, called APT III, was placed in the public
> domain. APT III was the basis of later refined versions of the APT
> processor developed by IBM, General Electric Corporation, Sperry Rand
> Corporation, and Control Data Corporation, for use with the various
> computers produced by each of these firms.
>
> 5
>
> Between 1967 and 1970 IBM developed and distributed four versions of its
> APT processor, all designed for use with its System/360 computer. These
> software programs were identified as NC 360, followed by a version
> number and a modification level. IBM furnished all versions of the NC
> 360 program free of charge, and provided free maintenance and
> modification levels. Maintenance consists of correcting errors in the
> program, and a modification level is a compilation and incorporation of
> error corrections made after the release of the prior modification level.
>



Brent.

Some more info about Apt-AC from Jeff- thanks, Jeff!


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: JEFFREY AUDIA <jef...@ms...>
Date: Sat, Mar 5, 2016 at 9:36 AM
Subject: APT-AC comments
To: "bre...@gm..." <bre...@gm...>


How silly of my to have used Linkedin, it took me a second to realize your
email. It's been a while, how are you doing, Brent ?

I have been quiet for some time regarding Aptos for various reasons. below
are some comments I had about APT-AC since the topic came up.

I originally sent them via Linked in:
jeff
Hi Brent, I don't know how to post comments on Aptos nor do I have your
email address any more.
Regarding Apt-AC. This was actually IBM 370 APT-AC. It ran on the IBM 370.My
understanding was that It was a proprietary version of APT and not public
domain and thus IBM developed it way beyond what 360 was. An implementation
cost $100K or more.
AC means "Advanced Contouring" and the system contained many powerful
features including the concept of a "COUTUR" a contour which is a
continuous and possibly closed sequence of 2D geometric entities and
allowed for tool paths over it with a single command much like what people
are accustomed to in graphics. It had many other entities such as open
cylinders and circles that got rid of the pesky "other part" of the circle
that was not part of your geometry. AC also had many advanced multi-axis
tool control features far beyond what 360 could do. It is truly very
powerful and the apex of APT development. Too many features to list here.
I used IBM 370 APT-AC in many places during my career including Boeing
where I programmed the giants.
BOEING has an even more specialized version of AC with features peculiar to
their work. And they still use it.
I was involved in implementing AC-like features in a graphical APT CAM
product called ELCAM (migrating eventually to ADRA) which claimed 370 AC
compatibility. In the late 80's I served as an expert on the language and
APT in general and helped test and sell the product to customers.I should
still have the IBM 370 APT-AC manual as well as the APT encyclopedia
written by Charles Drayton who originally taught me APT and who died only
recently. Drayton did pioneering work in the early days on the APT
development committee and also taught APT language at Northern IL
University in Dekalb, IL where he was famous for having a rubber ear tacked
to the wall in his office; when you had an APT problem you were required to
address the ear first; and inevitably students would solve it before they
finished stating the question and not bother professor Drayton.
So IBM 370 APT-AC does exist although I doubt IBM has anything to do with
it any more. I suspect Boeing bought the rights to it long ago when sales
plummeted shortly after the Reagan-era War Machine ground to a halt and no
one needed that kind of multi-axis horsepower any more. (and I switched
careers !). Boeing still uses the system and they also use it in an
incredibly clever way to process the output of their Catia system into
machine code. Feel free to post these comments jeff

OK, thanks, this is good info, an IBM APT product that was in common 
use at aerospace companies at the time. Does this relate in any way 
to the "other" APT lists in existence? 

It was my understanding that the Apt4ssv3 list (on Assembla.com)  
was for rewriting the APT4 v3 Fortran source code, which was said to 
be available without copyright restrictions. And that the apt4ssx8 
list (on freelists.org) was for rewriting the APT4 v8 Fortran source 
code, which was said to be available, but was still covered by some 
copyright (maybe NASA?) but that someone was working on getting them 
to release it into the public domain.  However, there have been no 
substantive posts on either list for 1 year, and 3 years, respectively.

The delay (as I understood it) was to wait and see if the APT4 v8 code 
could be freed up, and if so, to start with that. But if v8 could not 
be freed up, then to start with APT4 v3. 

What is the origin of APT360, would that be APT3? Any possibility of 
getting either of the two APT4 projects moving again? Or, the APT4 
improvements (if any?) merged with APT360? Or, something else? 

Any information, ideas, suggestions, much appreciated. 

Kim


On 03/05/2016 09:48 AM, motokoji143 wrote:
> APT-AC was IBM's successor product to the APT360 product / code base.
> The 'AC' stands for Advanced Contouring' (IBM product code: 5740-M53).
> 
> This was the common APT one used if one worked at an aerospace company such as 
> Boeing or General Dynamics (at least in 1980), though most of the aerospace 
> companies also had add-ins of their own.
> 
> As Brent noted it had additional geometric constructs. Also, it migrated TRACUT, 
> INDEX and COPY in Section 3 so the postprocessor no longer needed to provide 
> functionality (though the 2000 records are still in the CLFILE.) If I recall 
> right, it also provided the ability to REFSYS a toolpath, not just geometry.
> 
> Googling: "APT-AC" site:ibm.com
> 
> Will generate links to documents about various version specific software 
> withdrawals on various platforms IBM provided APT on.
> 
> One of the documents mentions support moving to remarketers.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> Phil(f) in WI
> 
> 
> On 3/5/2016 12:59 AM, Brent Muller wrote:
>> Hi David- I think Apt-AC was a successor to apt360 (apt360 is my working name,
>> not IBM's). The reason I think this is that the code in the book is based on
>> Apt-AC, and it is very similar to apt360, except that it has extra definitions
>> and features. For example, Apt-AC has a POLYCONIC definition. In the code for
>> apt360, interestingly, there is some code for the POLYCONIC, but it is coded to
>> give an error for that definition.
>>
>> I tried googling "Apt-AC IBM". I found one document is rather interesting-It
>> isn't necessarily related to Apt-AC, but I found it enlightening, since it
>> clears up some of the history of the software:
>>
>> https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/643/643.F2d.1339.76-2680.html
>>
>> It's a lawsuit brought by a smaller company developing an Apt program competing
>> with IBM's. If you can skip over the legalese, there is some interesting history
>> there. I'm going to cc the mailing list, for the history buffs :)
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 5:12 AM, David <bal...@co...
>> <mailto:bal...@co...>> wrote:
>>
>>     Greetings Brent,
>>
>>     Many thanks for the instruction sheet.
>>
>>     APT360 is probably what I used at Boeing.
>>
>>     What is APT-AC? I could not find any information via Google.
>>
>>     Cheers,
>>
>>     Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Aptos-devel mailing list
>> Apt...@li...
>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> Aptos-devel mailing list
> Apt...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel
> 
> 

APT-AC was IBM's successor product to the APT360 product / code base.
The 'AC' stands for Advanced Contouring' (IBM product code: 5740-M53).

This was the common APT one used if one worked at an aerospace company such as 
Boeing or General Dynamics (at least in 1980), though most of the aerospace 
companies also had add-ins of their own.

As Brent noted it had additional geometric constructs. Also, it migrated TRACUT, 
INDEX and COPY in Section 3 so the postprocessor no longer needed to provide 
functionality (though the 2000 records are still in the CLFILE.) If I recall 
right, it also provided the ability to REFSYS a toolpath, not just geometry.

Googling: "APT-AC" site:ibm.com

Will generate links to documents about various version specific software 
withdrawals on various platforms IBM provided APT on.

One of the documents mentions support moving to remarketers.

Hope this helps.

Phil(f) in WI


On 3/5/2016 12:59 AM, Brent Muller wrote:
> Hi David- I think Apt-AC was a successor to apt360 (apt360 is my working name,
> not IBM's). The reason I think this is that the code in the book is based on
> Apt-AC, and it is very similar to apt360, except that it has extra definitions
> and features. For example, Apt-AC has a POLYCONIC definition. In the code for
> apt360, interestingly, there is some code for the POLYCONIC, but it is coded to
> give an error for that definition.
>
> I tried googling "Apt-AC IBM". I found one document is rather interesting-It
> isn't necessarily related to Apt-AC, but I found it enlightening, since it
> clears up some of the history of the software:
>
> https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/643/643.F2d.1339.76-2680.html
>
> It's a lawsuit brought by a smaller company developing an Apt program competing
> with IBM's. If you can skip over the legalese, there is some interesting history
> there. I'm going to cc the mailing list, for the history buffs :)
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 5:12 AM, David <bal...@co...
> <mailto:bal...@co...>> wrote:
>
>     Greetings Brent,
>
>     Many thanks for the instruction sheet.
>
>     APT360 is probably what I used at Boeing.
>
>     What is APT-AC? I could not find any information via Google.
>
>     Cheers,
>
>     Dave
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Aptos-devel mailing list
> Apt...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/aptos-devel

Hi David- I think Apt-AC was a successor to apt360 (apt360 is my working
name, not IBM's). The reason I think this is that the code in the book is
based on Apt-AC, and it is very similar to apt360, except that it has extra
definitions and features. For example, Apt-AC has a POLYCONIC definition.
In the code for apt360, interestingly, there is some code for the
POLYCONIC, but it is coded to give an error for that definition.

I tried googling "Apt-AC IBM". I found one document is rather
interesting-It isn't necessarily related to Apt-AC, but I found it
enlightening, since it clears up some of the history of the software:

https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/643/643.F2d.1339.76-2680.html

It's a lawsuit brought by a smaller company developing an Apt program
competing with IBM's. If you can skip over the legalese, there is some
interesting history there. I'm going to cc the mailing list, for the
history buffs :)


On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 5:12 AM, David <bal...@co...> wrote:

> Greetings Brent,
>
> Many thanks for the instruction sheet.
>
> APT360 is probably what I used at Boeing.
>
> What is APT-AC? I could not find any information via Google.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dave
>