NCPlot V2 - NC Editing and Backplotting

Consistent with our mission of providing practical, affordable software solutions to CNC machine shops, FocalPoint Engineering is proud to be able to offer you NCPlot.

NCPlot is an editor and backplotter for 4 axis mill and 2 axis lathe G-Code programs. This software combines editing, formatting and translation tools that are useful for CNC programmers with a backplotter for instant G-Code verification.

Download NCPlot

You may download and try NCPlot free for 15 days. After this trial period has expired, the software will stop functioning and you must purchase a license key to continue using it.  Click here to download NCPlot.

For a printable version of the NCPlot help file, you can download the NCPlot Manual in PDF format. Click here to download the NCPlot Manual in PDF format.

Purchasing NCPlot

NCPlot can be purchased for US$299.00 for the first license and US$149.00 for subsequent licenses. Discounts may be available for orders of 10 licenses or more.

To purchase NCPlot please call or send us an email.

NCPlot Features

Full featured text editor

  • Unlimited undo/redo
  • Cut, Copy and Paste
  • Find and replace
  • Font and color settings may be applied to any part of the program
  • Address coloring improves program readability

Program formatting tools

  • Remove block numbers, blank lines, comments or spaces
  • Program renumbering with automatic updating of:
    • Macro GOTO references
    • M98 H_ references (for controls that support this)
    • M97 P_ references (for HAAS style subprograms)
    • Lathe G70 - G73 "Q" and "P" addresses
  • Insert spaces between letter addresses and macro keywords
  • Fix invalid end of line characters
  • Convert programs to all caps
  • Add or remove comment or block skip characters

Program translation tools

  • Mirror
  • Rotate
  • Shift
  • Scale
  • Address Adjustment: Apply math operations to any program addresses
  • Address Replace: Good for changing axis names, A to B, etc.
  • Address Remove: Unnecessary addresses and their values can be removed
  • Address Swap: Exchange any two program addresses
  • Convert absolute I / J / K arc center coordinates to or from incremental I / J / K
  • Convert R specified arcs to or from I / J / K specified arcs

Customize NCPlot

  • Preferences
  • Subprograms
  • Multiple Machine Configurations

Flexible viewport control

  • A wide assortment of plot controls lets you quickly find any mistakes in your program
  • 7 view modes for Mill and 4 for Lathe
  • Dynamic zoom, rotate and pan
  • Supports the SpaceNavigator from 3DConnexion
  • Animate, step forward or step backward
  • Draw to the cursor, from the cursor or just the selected portion of the program
  • Clicking an entity on the viewport will display the entity properties and highlight the associated block in the program

View Controls

  • Many easy to use view controls to quickly zoom, pan or rotate the display

Calc Tools

  • Select entities on the viewport to quickly calculate offsets, blend arcs and find intersection points

DXF importing / exporting

  • Import DXF drawings to quickly create G-Code for both Mill and Lathe
  • Any backplot can be saved as a DXF drawing file for loading back into a CAD or CAM system

Advanced G-Code Backplotter includes support for Custom Macro B

  • Backplotting for Mill and Lathe programs
  • Backplot macro programs offline!
  • Can be customized for different control requirements
  • Built in macro expression calculator lets you test macro expressions and set and view variables
  • Step by step execution of macro programs allows you to watch program variables as the program is executed
  • Breakpoint expression allows the program to run until the expression becomes True
  • Subprogram display allows you to follow program execution even into subprograms that are not in the loaded file

Backplotter supports:

  • G65 macro subprogram calls
  • M98 subprogram call in multiple command formats
  • Plane selection G17, G18 and G19
  • Helical arcs
  • Automatic corner rounding, corner chamfering in G01 motions
  • Work offsets G54 - G59
  • Extended Work offsets G54.1 P1 - P300
  • G52 Local work shift
  • G92 Coordinate system setting
  • G16 Polar coordinates
  • G51 Coordinate scaling
  • G51.1 Mirror image
  • G68 Coordinate system rotation
  • G66 Modal macro call
  • Local, common and some system variables
  • Macro keywords IF, THEN, GOTO, WHILE, DO and END

Other Tools

Macro Translator

Execute variable macros offline! All variable commands are evaluated and the resulting values are used in their place. This creates a standard G-Code program that can be run on any machine. NCPlot comes standard with macros for bolt circles, grid pattern and others.

Support for VBScripting

Many of NCPlot's internal functions are available for scripting. This is a powerful tool that makes it possible to automate many common tasks such as converting files from one machine to run on another.

Text to G-Code converter

Instantly create G-Code from font outlines. Great for etching, creates lettering of any size, on an angle, or even on an arc.

Macro Expression Calculator

This built-in calculator accepts expressions written in Custom Macro B format. This tool can also be used to view or set variable values.

Network License Manager

NCPlot licenses can be managed over a network with this free license manager.