Publications:

Back Issues Of The Optional Stop Newsletter

We've been publishing The Optional Stop newsletter since 1989 - and almost all of the information we've published is timeless. If you have need of a technique, the information is as important today as it was at the date of publication. For this reason, we offer back issues of this informative newsletter at a price of $10.00 each (1-4 issues). Get five back issues for $40.00. Get ten back issues for $75.00. Or get all fifty of them for a price of $199.00. See ordering choices below.

Special note about ordering from our online store

When ordering back issues from our online store, you must specify the issue number/s you want in the "comments, suggestions, or special order instructions" box on the checkout page.

Contents of each back issue:

Note that articles in italics should be of special interest. They are either the focal point of the issue or they emphasize unique techniques you may not find anywhere else!

Issue 1: Fall 1989

M99 in a Main Program

10TF Clarifications

Using Canned Cycles with Right Angle Heads

Directory Grouping on 15 Series Controls

Code Help Screen on 15 Series Controls

Issue 2: Winter 1989

What is Custom Macro?

Spiral Milling a Circular Pocket

Mirror Image on a Machining Center

Programming C Axis Milling w/Live Tools on a Turning Center

Issue 3: Spring 1990

Taper Threading on Turning Centers

Exact Stop Check Application

Understanding the Mass Editing Functions

Issue 4: Summer 1990

Using Optional Block Skip for Multiple Parts

Trial Boring on a Machining Center

Minimizing Control Execution Time

Using Secondary Offsets on a Turning Center

Issue 5: Fall 1990

Incremental Canned Cycles on a Machining Ctr

Custom Macro Technique for G50s on Turning Centers

Mirror Image on a Turning Center?

G92 vs. G54-G59 on a Machining Center

Special G Code Group for Turning Centers

Issue 6: Winter 1990

Multiple Start Threading on a Turning Center

Converting Conversational Programs to NC

"No G50" Techniques on a Turning Center (switching to geometry offsets)

Offset Cancellation on Turning Centers

Issue 7: Spring 1991

Q Word in Threading

A Better Way to make Spring Passes

What is Thread Chamfering?

Threading with the "E" Word

Offsets with Threading

Do You Know Where Your Parameters Are?

Two Ways to Input Fixture Offsets

Issue 8: Summer 1991

Cutter Comp Problems

Jaw Boring

Pitch for Metric Threads

Calculating Feedrate for Rotary Axes

Issue 9: Fall 1991

Programming Index Chucks on Turning Centers

Dynamic Display Conversational Turning Center Controls

Saving and Retrieving Tool Offsets

Issue 10: Winter 1991

Shifting Z Axis Program Zero on Turning Centers

Using L0 in a Canned Cycles

Controlling Pipe Tap Depth

Optional Block Skip in Middle of a Command

How's Your Memory?

Issue 11: Spring 1992

Understanding Conversational Machining Center Programming

Understanding Dividing Directions on 3TF, 10TF, 15TF Controls

What Happened to My Tool File?

Auto Corner Rounding & Chamfering on 15TF

Figure Data on 10TF & 15TF

Issue 12: Summer 1992

More on L0 with Canned Cycles

Optional  Block Skip for Extra Threading Passes

Controlling Taper Reamer Depth

Improving Bar Feeder Efficiency

Cutting Figure 8 Oil Grooves

Tool Chart for 3TF/10TF/15TF

Issue 13: Fall 1992

Understanding Probing Devices

L0 to Change Hole Depth with Canned Cycles

Issue 14: Winter 1992

Shifting Program Zero-Multiple Workpieces

Thread Depth for ACME Threads on Conversational Turning Centers

Bar Feeder Comments

More on Thread Sizing

Issue 15: Spring 1993

DNC on 0M and 3M

Using Secondary Offsets for Grooving

Bolt Hole Circle Custom Macro

Setting Fixture Offsets with G10

Changing Parameters by Program Command 4

Issue 16: Summer 1993

Using 11T Format on 0T Controls

Read/Punch Consecutive Programs on 15M&15T

A Peck Drilling Custom Macro

Removing Imperfect Lead at Start of a Thread

Simulating Fixture Offsets

Issue 17: Fall 1993

No G0 Techniques on 6TB (simulating geometry offsets)

Tapping on Turning Centers

The Dreaded 101 Alarm

Trial Turning and Boring on Turning Centers

Issue 18: Winter 1993

How Close Do You Rapid?

Color Code Your Machining Center Pull Studs

Reducing Wasted Material When Bar feeding

Changing Drills on Turning Centers

Issue 19: Spring 1994

Secondary Offsets For Machining Centers

Auto Corner Rounding on Turning Centers

When Should You Tap?

A Simple Part Counting Custom Macro

Do You Use Left or Right Hand Tooling?

How Well Do You Document Your Programs?

Digital Axis Drives

Issue 20: Summer 1994

Tool Length Offsets & Setup Reduction

Using Custom Macro For an End of Bar Signal

A Safe Index Custom Macro

Uses For Unconditional Branching

Issue 21: Fall 1994

Manual Probing With Edge Finders

Keys to Minimizing Setup Time

Issue 22: Winter 1994

Need to Warm Up Your Turning Center?

Mold Shops - How Fast Can You Cut?

Three Gems for Program Storage & Retrieval

Limit the Amount of Turning Center Offsets

Issue 23: Spring 1995

Shifting Coordinates Systems with G52

Using Variables in Main Program

New Report For Entry Level CNC People

Turning on a Machining Center?

Testing Tool Lengths For Rigidity

Issue 24: Summer 1995

A Test For CNC Operator Proficiency

Free Program Verification Software for Instructors

Streamline On-Line Tool Length Measurement

Issue 25: Fall 1995

Program Length Exceeding Controller Memory?

Extend Your Manual Probing Routines

Speed the Tapping of Large Holes

Issue 26: Winter 1995

Generate Large Arcs with Minus R Word

How Do You Catalog Your CNC Program?

Custom Macro For Boring Jaws

Issue 27: Spring 1996

U Drive Programming For Horizontal Machining Centers

Simple MDI Commands w/User Defined G&M Codes

User Defined M Code For Pallet Changing

A Custom Macro For Two-Level Drilling

Issue 28: Summer 1996

Reset Turning Center Wear Offsets During Tool Maintenance

A Custom Macro For Machining Center Program Format

Understanding Touch Sensor

Safe Index Position For Horizontal Machining Centers

Issue 29: Fall 1996

Speed up Conventional Controls for 3D Work

Prompting With Parametric Programming

Determine Idle Time With Your CNC Cycles

Messages on 3M and 0MA 3

Do You Make Qualified Machining Center Setups?

Effect of Running Multiple Workpieces On Cycle Time

Issue 30: Winter 1996

Tracking Location of Program Zero After Index on Horizontal Machining Centers

Are You Documenting Well Enough?

Issue 31: Spring 1997

Simplify Your Bar Reloading Process

Thread Chamfering Defined

Do You Need Tool Nose Radius Compensation?

R Word Vs Directional Vectors for Circular Motion Commands

Eliminate Pallet Changing Problems on Machining Centers

Manual Tool Length Measuring Custom Macro

Issue 32: Summer 1997

Maximum Feedrate When Threading

Punch Out a Series of Programs

Test Offset Values For Correctness

Eliminate Operator Calculations Prior To Offset Entry

Issue 33: Fall 1997

Eliminate spindle Dead-time On Turning Centers

Suggestion For Improving Cut-off Quality

Fooling Yourself When Saving Parameters?

Streamline Program With Custom G&M Codes

A Message Generating Custom Macro 4

#500 Variables To Deal w/Machine Difference

Issue 34: Winter 1997

Incorporate a Flexible Turret Index Position

What is Adequate Setup Documentation?

About That G10 Command

Issue 35: Spring 1998

Seamless Trial Boring w/Optional Block Skip

Relative vs. Absolute Position Display Page

Which is Faster G00 or G01?

Issue 36: Summer 1998

A Letter Engraving Custom Macro

A Trick with Program Zero Pick-ups

Skipping a Hole Having a Broken Tap

Issue 37: Fall 1998

Thread Milling

Combining G90 and G91 in a Command

Issue 38: Winter 1998

Simulate Multiple Block Delete Switches With Custom Macro

Machining Center Soft Jaws

Troublesome Parameters

Issue 39: Spring 1999

Eliminate Program Zero Assignment Tasks

Issue 40: Summer 1999

Incremental & Absolute in the Same Command

Do You Know Your M Codes?

Getting Specific With Offset Testing

What is Cylindrical Interpolation?

Issue 41: Fall 1999

When is a Job Proven?

Organize Setup Programs

Difference Between G66 and G66.1

Issue 42: Winter 1999

Which Way is Plus?

Tool Nose Radius Compensation

Importance of Safety Blocks

Getting Specific With Offset Testing

Testing For Option G Codes

Fast Feed Approach

Issue 43: Spring 2000

Inch/Metric Conversion Custom Macros

Set Parameters Within CNC Programs w/G10 2

A Trial Turning Custom Macro

How Good Are Your Headers

Issue 44: Summer 2000

More On Downloading Parameters

Universal Rectangular Pocket Custom Macro

Tapping On A Turning Center

What is 3 Dimensional Coordinate Conversion

The 48 Fixture Offset Option

Set Inch/Metric Parameters With G10

Single Direction Positioning

Issue 45: Fall 2000

A Custom Macro to Handle Rough Stock Variations in Z

A Custom Macro to Handle Rough Stock Variations in XY

Handling Material Variations

Issue 46: Winter 2000

Making Programs For Machining Center With Different Tool Changers Compatible

Subprograms Which Include All Positions

Issue 47: Spring 2001

Keeping Movements Above the Workpiece During the Dry Run

You Say You Broke A Tap?

Stop a Threading Tool in the Middle of a Pass?

Pitch Isn't Coming Out Right?

How Repeatable Are Inserts?

Semi-Finishing With G71

Using G70 To Repeat Commands On Turning Centers

Program Mean Values of all Dimensions

Issue 48: Summer 2001

When NOT to Use the Dwell Command

Never Let That Bar Hang Out!

What Does That Switch Do?

Freeware CNC Text Editor

Issue 49: Fall 2001

Start Your Scrap Reduction Program Now!

Issue 50: Winter 2001

The Optional Stop Newsletter is Now Free on Our Web Site!

A Simple Way of Accounting For Time

A Helical Interpolation Rough Mill Custom Macro

Five Axis Alternatives

Are You Breaking Taps?

A Quick Test For Tool Length

When ordering back issues of The Optional Stop newsletter from our online store, be sure to specify the issue number/s you want in the "comments, suggestions, or special order instructions" box on the checkout page. And if you're ordering more than one (and less than five) back issues, be sure to update the quantity on the checkout page.