SuperCam can be configured to run many different types of XYZ mechanisms. There are extensive configuration commands.  Each time SuperCam is loaded, a configuration file is read that configures the program for the mechanism attached.  The "SETXYSIZ" and the "SETZSIZE" commands setup the linear step distance for each axis.  It has been used to control a Plasma Torch, DeWalt Wood Router, Enco Drill/Mill, Dremel MotoTool, Scott Engraving Spindle, Sherline Mills and the TAIG CNC Desktop Micro Mill.

Aspects of machine motion control are addressed in the pull down menus. Cut Speed, Cut Depth, Transverse Speed and Transverse Altitude are easily controlled.  Imported HPGL files can be edited for best tool path performance. The order of events to cut and the directionof the movement can be controlled. Broken poly lines can be joined.  Also items can becopied, moved, rotated, scaled or erased.

The main screen of SuperCam has a small crosshair cursor that represents thespindle location.  The mouse cursor is displayed as a full screen crosshair in the graphicsdisplay area.  Across the top is the Status showing whether the SNAP or ORTHO mode isturned on, coordinates of the mouse, filename, table status and the table XYZ location. Pull Down Menus are displayed when the mouse is positioned at the top of the screen. The right side of the screen is a menu of commands.  The bottom of the screen is the command line area, that displays the last two commands and the present condition.

SuperCam can be used for design of simple tool paths.  Tool paths are displayed as a vector lines, drawn either in 2D or 3D. The "F6" function key toggles the viewing mode.  The "Shift F6" enters the3D viewing aspect control setup screen.  CAD features includedrawing commands for creating arcs, circles, lines and points. Intricate parts can bedesigned and then cut to close tolerances on the connected mechanisms.

There are seventeen engraving fonts included with SuperCam.  The "TEXT"command allows you to specify a starting point and height of text to be engraved. The "TEXTFIT" command allows the user to fit the text into a desired area byselecting the bottom, top and end point.  The "TEXTCTR" command allows the user to create text above a center point, with the text height and width ratio as variables. The text lettering tool paths can be exported as CNC g-code files.

Designs and text created in SuperCam can be saved to the hard drive and reloaded when desired through the FILE pull-down menu commands.

Drawings created in other programs such as CorelDraw and AutoCad can be exported as HPGL plot files, and subsequently imported into SuperCam. SuperCam can be thought of as a plot file editor with direct control of a powerful plotter that hashad the pen replaced with a rotating cutting tool.  The pen width is determined by the diameter of the cutting tool.  The "TOOLWDTH" command sets the size of the corresponding red dot when animating tool movements.

SuperCam can repeat a tool path with increasing depths of cut on each pass. This feature allows the creation of raise letter carved wood signs.

Two dimensional patterns can be created by scanning a pencil tracing of an object.  The scan can then be outline traced using CorelDraw, and exported as a ".plt" plot file.  SuperCam can then import the HPGL file and use it directly as a tool path or export it to a CNC g-code ".txt" file.  In this way you can use many different Windows graphics arts programs for creating machine tool paths. Commonly available clipart can be used to create tool paths.

Three axis CNC g-code and DXF files can be import using the "INP_CNC" or "INP_DXF" commands, and used to directly control stepper motors. If the XYZ table is not selected, imported g-code or DXF files will be graphically drawn in 2D or 3D,dependent upon the present viewing mode.  If the XYZ table is selected, the spindle will follow the tool path describe by the imported file.

SuperCam can be used as a CNC code generator for CNC machine tool control.  Graphic items are converted into coordinate points and used to create the ASCII formatted .TXT file for transfer to CNC machines.  CNC tool path G & M code files can be exported using the "EXP_CNC" command.  The "SETUPCNC" command permits custom codes to be exported.  CNC tool path code files can be imported for viewing the text with the "READCNC" command.

SuperCam is now available on a CD and auto-installs using the WinSetup.exe.  There are two ways to manually install the releaseversion:  WinSetup.exe or DosSetup.exe, both create a sub-directory off of drive C:/. 
To execute the release version from a diskette media:  Create a sub-directory SuperCam off of the root directory of drive C:/.  Copy the contents of the release diskette to the "SuperCam" sub-directory.  In the "SuperCam"sub-directory, the program is compressed in the #.exe file.  The '#' is theserial number for that copy of the program.  Click or DBL-click (dependingupon how your system is set up) on this file to uncompress the file.  Whenit is finished, close the dos window.  
Get a quick look at how the program executes a file, from the graphics window only, before connection to your mechanism. Execute the SuperCam.exe file. When the main screen comes up, click on the "PLOTBUFF" command found on the side menu and click the right mouse button for yes, asked for on the command line. Watch the spindle cursor go through the machine moves. Corresponding motor control signalswill be sent out the printer port.