Mike Lynch3 minProgramming with the appropriate structure In past issues of The Optional Stop, we’ve stressed the importance of maintaining a good structure in your programs. The primary reason...
Mike Lynch2 minWhen not to use a dwell command! As you know, G04 is used to specify a dwell – or pause – in your CNC program’s execution. With Fanuc controls, the format for the dwell...
Mike Lynch2 minTwo Parameters related to measurement systems As you probably know, current model CNC machines can be used with two measurement systems – the Imperial (inch) measurement system and...
Mike Lynch3 minWhen are plane selection commands required? There are three basic plane selection commands: G17 – XY plane selection G18 – XZ plane selection G19 – YZ plane selection When you first...
Mike Lynch2 minControlling when the machine stops reading a program All CNC machines made today allow you to transfer program to and from a distributive numerical control (DNC) system. Indeed, you probably...
Mike Lynch3 minMultiple machining operations on holes It is not uncommon to perform several machining operations on a group of holes. You may, for example, have to spot drill, drill, and tap...
Mike Lynch2 minCreating modal user defined G codes With Fanuc controls, a special series of parameters is used to create user defined G codes. As with all parameters, specific parameter...
Mike Lynch4 minCreating a hole-machining canned cycle Every so often I get a question related to how standard canned cycles work – or rather – how they don’t work in a manner desired by the...
Mike Lynch5 minUnderstanding the “common” fixture offset As you know, Fanuc-controlled machining centers come with at least six fixture offsets, invoked in a program by G54 through G59...
Mike Lynch2 minThe Ten Commandments of CNC Suggested by Rick Lucchetti of TC Industries in Crystal Lake, Illinois People strive to obey the Ten Commandments – indeed, almost...
Mike Lynch2 minDo you know the meanings and uses of all of your M codes? As you know, M codes are miscellaneous functions – which can also be thought of as machine functions. They tend to command programmable...
Mike Lynch2 minThe importance of safety commands Safety commands – by our definition here – are a series of commands placed at the beginning of all programs that confirm that the machine...
Mike Lynch2 minFinding program-related parameters In this issue’s G Code Primer, we discuss how to program certain program-related parameter changes with G10. Doing so, of course,...
Mike Lynch2 minTesting if the correct fixture offset is instated In order for the cutting tool to move to the correct coordinates, the program zero point (program origin) must be properly instated....
Mike Lynch2 minProgramming parameter changes There are many parameters that affect the way a CNC machine executes a program. In many cases, one appropriate setting for the parameter...
Mike Lynch1 minMake all sizing adjustments with offsets One of my cardinal rules is that all sizing adjustments should be done with offsets. However, I do – from time to time – see operators...
Mike Lynch3 minRunning multiple parts from a bar with a sub-spindle machine Suggested by Troy Hubert of Cox Manufacturing In past issues of this newsletter, we have addressed this topic for chucker-type CNC...
Mike Lynch2 minHow does G66 work? G66 is one of the more misunderstood custom macro B commands. Fanuc calls it a modal custom macro call. It looks just like a G65 command....
Mike Lynch2 minTwo applications for L0 With most Fanuc controls, the L word is used to specify the number of repetitions for a subprogram call. The command M98 P1000 L4 for...
Mike Lynch2 minWatch out for block delete applications As you know, block delete can be used to give the operator a choice between two conditions. The operator is told to turn the block delete...