Mach3 History

[Mooselake]

In another forum a question came up on the plethora of gcode file extensions, which led to why Mach3 used dot tap for gcode files. That lead to a search that found a history of Mach3 but no answer.

Kind of off topic, but do you remember, Art?

Kirk

[tweakie]

Hi Kirk,

My money is on that the .tap file extension was from ‘tape’ the portable storage medium from way back in the day.
Interested to hear the history of it from Art though.

Tweakie.

[Mooselake]

I never thought of that, but I should have. Back in the early 70s when I worked as a Univac systems programmer, I did a project to punch "paper", really mylar, tapes from an 1106, via a tape reader/punch connected to a 9300, for NASA CNC machines. Putting 5x7 characters on the leader was my favorite part of the job, although they didn't let me do CNCing either.

How are you doing, Tweakie? I'm having robotic heart valve repair surgery in a couple weeks, wonder if they use paper tape :) . The surgeon says it's no big deal, but he's on the other side of the knife. Of course it's a remote manipulator, not a punch a button and go to lunch robot, so no gcode.

[ArtF]

Hi Kirk:

I have to admit, Im not sure, but I think it was the convention of the time for Linux, or one of their types.
It, as an extension, doesn't make much sense IMO, so I know I cribbed it from somewhere.

Regards,
Art

[tweakie]

Hi Kirk,

All good here.
Wishing you a speedy recovery after the opp.

Tweakie.

[Mooselake]

Thanks, Art!