Feb. 25 APT What?
Today in history (1959) reveals a language I was unfamiliar with so had to do some research.
What Is APT?
APT is a programming language defining tool paths on CNC machines (computer automated numerical control machining of tools such as drills, lathes, mills and 3D printers). The machines followed the programming language which told it for example to take a solid piece of material and make a part of a different shape. It’s no mystery then that APT is the acronym for Automatically Programmed Tool.
APT was created before graphical user interfaces were available, and so it is based on text to specify the geometry and tool paths needed to machine a part. It uses English-like commands.
They make sense! Here are just a few of them.
GOLFT for Go Left
TANTO for Tangent to
RAPID move rapidly once cutting is done
POINT/1.0, 1.2, 1.3 specifies a point at XYZ coordinates 1.0, 1.2, and 1.3, respectively
LINE/P0, P1 specifies a line by two points, previously defined
PLANE/P0, P1, P2 specifies a plane through three, non-colinear, previously defined points
CIRCLE/CENTER, P0, RADIUS, 1.0 specifies a circle of radius 1 from a center point of P0
I must admit those statements do make sense. And anything English is easy to remember.
But APT Was Only the Beginning Of A Long Process To Get A Finished Product.
- First a program was written in APT
- Then software converted APT into a series of tool coordinates called Cutter Location Data (CLD)
- Then a second piece of software known as a translator called a Postprocessor
- The Postprocessor converted the CLD, Cutter Location Data, into an NC program.
- Then the NC program was fed into the machine and the part was cut.
APT was used widely through the 1970’s and is still an international standard.
So today in history is for those of you who worked on the computerized machining side of things.
But APT does share similarities with FORTAN which we have mentioned before.
How Is APT Similar to FORTRAN?
Both are general-purpose computer languages taking source text and converting statements to instructions that can be processed internally by a computer.
Now After All That There Is A Way We Can Tie This To WordPress
APT is a high level programming language. And guess what?
So are Python, Visual Basic, Delphi, Perl, ECMAScript, Ruby, C+, PHP, and Java.
Yes! WordPress Uses PHP and JavaScript
Yes WordPress is built on PHP, the scripting language which communicates with the server.
And Java script allows us to implement complex features on web pages such as interactive maps, animated 2D/3D graphics, scrolling videos and smooth interacting drop down menus, float to top and others.
So There Is An Association After All
Enjoy what PHP and Java Scripts do for your website today!
Recent Comments
15
Interesting to learn more about APT. There are so many programming languages out there it's great to have an idea of what they're used for.
I guess now I see where knowing how to do geometry would be needed...back in the day, that class had me going in circles, lol! :)
Anyways, this is very helpful to know. Eventually I intend to find out more about some of these...at least enough to know what they're used for and some of the basics if I find it something I'd like to delve into more.
Thanks for sharing! Keep up the good work!
Best wishes :) ~Sherry
Glad you enjoyed it. And that it gives you some new learning opportunities when time permits.
I felt a strong breeze as this went ov we my head. It’s interesting stuff about which I didn’t know. I find that happens a lot lately.
I understand what you mean. Unless a person actually does this stuff it is complicated and hard to relate too.
Hello,
Thank you so much for the information you given here.
I'm not really very familiar about the computer languages. I try to learn a little.
I even think to learn more about WordPress soon. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Joyce
Glad you enjoyed the information.
Fortunately, Learning a computer language is not required to do WordPress.
The early Numerical Control machines input was Punched Paper Tape and many were created by Friden Flexowriters in their own shops.
Oh my! Punched paper and tape. What a long process. But it was better than all manual. Friden Flexowriters are new to me.
Thanks for the information.
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This is an entire class for me right here ... lol. I had to read a few times but clearly that meant it had my interest.
Thanks for bringing me up to speed on things I had no idea of.
You are very welcome. This is a quick way to be introduced to new terms that have some association to WP.
Yes it is and it's breaking down the mental blocks I've had up regarding this type of information.
Good on you :-)