Commonly used terms and conventions – Rockwell Automation 8520 9/PC CNC Tool Path Graphics Programming Manual User Manual
Page 3

9/PC CNC Tool Path Graphics Programming Manual 3
Publication 8520-PM097A-EN-P - September 2001
Commonly Used Terms and Conventions
Below is a brief description of terms and conventions that may appear in this manual:
9/ PC – A CNC PCI card that provides a full-featured open 9/ Series motion control solution.
Abscissa – Coordinate representing the distance of a point from the Y axis in a plane
Cartesian coordinate system, measured along a line parallel to the X axis.
Axis Origin – The beginning point of any particular axis.
BDS – Basic Display Set. This software provides the user interface between your PC and
CNC by emulating 9/ Series standard screens. The software allows you to control, program,
position, and monitor your 9/PC.
Cartesian Coordinate System – A Two- or three-dimensional coordinate system in which
the coordinates of a point are its distance from two intersecting, often perpendicular straight
lines, the distance from each being measured along a straight line parallel to the other.
CN C – Computer numerical control
Coordinate – One of a set of numbers that determines the position of a point, line, curve, or
plane.
E -Stop – Emergency stop
Ordinate – Coordinate representing the distance of a point from the X axis in a plane
Cartesian coordinate system, measured along a line parallel to the Y axis.
PCI – Peripheral component interconnect. This is a means of connecting peripheral devices
to your PC.
Project – A directory that stores configuration, interface, and motion control files for a
particular control or application.
Softkey – A row of keys located directly below the operator panel screen on the BDS.
X Axis – The horizontal axis.
Y Axis – The vertical axis.