How do I avoid scientific notation when using fprintf to print numbers into a text document?

I am producing an algorithm to automatically produce code for a CNC machine to machine repaired components.

The coordinates are predetermined and I'm using fprintf to print these coordinates in the format of code for a CNC machine in a text file.

An example of some of the script I have already:

% Opening the file to be editted
fid = fopen('G Code.txt', 'w');

% Programming the CNC mill
fprintf(fid, sprintf('N%d G00 G17 G21 G40 G80 G90 G94\r\n', Nc));
Nc = Nc + 5;

% Starting position of cutter
fprintf(fid, sprintf('N%d X%d Y%d Z%d S%d\r\n', Nc, Xc, Yc, (Zc+TC), rpmR));
Nc = Nc + 5;

% Turning the cutter on
fprintf(fid, sprintf('N%d G01 M03\r\n', Nc));
Nc = Nc + 5;

This gives the following in the text file:

N5 G00 G17 G21 G40 G80 G90 G94
N10 X1.815013e+01 Y3.078016e+01 Z210 S9.549297e+03
N15 G01 M03

The problem I have is that the CNC machines at my university do not read the numbers in the scientific notation. Is there a way to print these numbers as their full numbers as oppose to in the scientific notation?

For example:

N5 G00 G17 G21 G40 G80 G90 G94
N10 X18.15013 Y30.78016 Z210 S9549.297
N15 G01 M03

Thanks in advance!

[Geoff Hayes]

Chris - for your code

fprintf(fid, sprintf('N%d X%d Y%d Z%d S%d\r\n', Nc, Xc, Yc, (Zc+TC), rpmR)

you are using %d for all of your parameters but not all of them are integers. Or am I misnunderstanding something? Shouldn't you be using %f instead as

fprintf(fid, sprintf('N%d X%f Y%f Z%d S%f\r\n', Nc, Xc, Yc, (Zc+TC), rpmR)

You could then specify the number of digits to include after the decimal (if needed).

[Chris Caudery]

Perfect!

That fixed my problem right away.

Thank you!

Answer 1

[dpb]

If you want/need a specific format, say so... :)

When you use '%d' for a floating point value, since it expects an integer value you ended up with the default '%e'.

Use

fmt='N%d X%0.5f Y%0.5f Z%0.5f S%0.5f\n';
fprintf(fid, fmt, Nc, Xc, Yc, (Zc+TC), rpmR);

Salt to suit the particular precision needed; I used five decimal digits for all fields; if there's a limit to the number of decimals in a given field the CNC machine can parse, set the corresponding format accordingly.