Category Archives: Beginners

Single Block CNC Beginners Guide

Category : Beginners

CNC beginners guide (using Single Block)

CNC beginners guide

This article CNC beginners guide, is about Single Block and how it is used.

When you write a CNC programme it will consist of blocks of programme.

What is meant by a block?

Well it’s everything until the control sees a semicolon ;

If your not sure what a semi colon is it’s when you have had an operation to remove half your large intestine.

The semicolon is called an end of block or EOB


CNC beginners guide

Try not to confuse this with a line of code.

Depending on how your screen is set out a block could be more than one line. The control reads everything until it sees the semicolon or EOB (End of block).

In most cases and on most controls it does not matter what order the code is in. The main reason to follow a set pattern for your code is to make it easy to read.

Try to always put things in the same order.

In one block of code you can have loads of stuff.

You could write:

G0 X50. Y50. S1500 M3;

But if you wanted you could put the S1500 M3 on a different line.

When doing this, think about why you might want to do it. For example you may want to get the tool ready to use before switching on the spindle or the coolant. This saves the excitement of the spindle whizzing round when proving the programme.

Oh yes and you could get fuckin soaked.

Most of this applies when you first test your programme. This is when we use single block.

The Switch

To run a programme in Single Block we have to throw a switch.

CNC beginners guide

This can be a normal Single Block switch or a button or a soft key. Read the article below to learn how to prove out your CNC programme in Single block.

 

Read this if you don’t know how to prove out a CNC programme.

Once single block is enable the machine will do exactly what it says on the tin.

It will run that block and wait for its next command like a good doggy.

The beauty of this is you only need to think about one block.

Now I don’t want to appear sexist at this point but I recon if my wife were a CNC Operator she wouldn’t need single block. Not only can she do two things at once, which I can’t, but my wife also has an uncanny knack of knowing what’s going to happen next too.

For those with no extrasensory powers just switch on the fuckin single block.

If you turn single block off the machine will still stop at the end of it’s current block and wait for another press of the CYCLE START button to carry on.

Also when you first turn single block on it will stop at the end of the block it is executing.

CNC beginners guide

Those of you who read my articles will know that I love these old Matsuura machines (they make me feel young again).

You know when you’re getting old when you keep asking complete strangers “how old do you think I am”

I did it in Barwell the other day. The woman in the Coop said “piss off you silly old bastard”

What No Telly Screen

Anyway these machines have a one line display so you have to step through to read each line. You can only see little bits of code.

I once input a whole programme into one of these controls not realising I had no end of blocks .

(From now on I ‘m not saying fuck in my articles, I will refer to it as the F word like these posh people on the telly)

On this occasion I said the F word after taking about an hour trying to realise why the programme wouldn’t work.

The whole program was in one block!!!

 

Don’t mix your G Codes

(here is a nice way to make a John Collins if your bored with this CNC Shit)

You can even make this with non alcoholic Gin. Yes it’s true (non alcoholic gin) my wife bought a bottle the other day. Now I happily went along with this scenario till I found out it was fourteen quid a fuckin bottle.

Absolutely no way, no hang over, no phone call from your mate saying you shit in his cat tray. No no none of that, honestly I give up.

Let’s continue with this CNC beginners guide to CNC programming.

In one block of CNC code you can only have G codes that belong to the same group. I’ll tell you about this in another article when I can be bothered to do it. Anyway it’s easy, they can’t argue with one another. You can’t put G1 and G0 on the same line for example because they are in the same group.

You can’t say feed and rapid in the same line. That would be stupid.

Obviously you can’t repeat things like having two speeds in the same block.

G0 S1200 X50. Y50. S2000;

I don’t think anyone who reads my articles is that stupid….. Except for that bloke in Bolton, but I think he took up plumbing in the end.

Heidenhain

If you have a Heidenhain control the single block works the same. You select Full Run or Single Block

CNC beginners guide

You don’t hear me criticise Heidenhain very often cos I love em. Brace yourselves cos I’m about to.

Those bloody icons.

They all look the same. Every time I come back to working on Heidenhain I can never remember which is which.

I sometimes suggest making little sticky labels to go underneath to identify them.

 

This one will do wonders for your relationship with the guy on nights.

Before You Go A Few Question about Single Block

  1. What about a tool change?
  2. What about a canned cycle?
  3. What is the meaning of life?

Ok the last one is easy. Question 3 ….. the meaning of life is 42 

Right, Now the Difficult Ones.

Your tool change M06 is probably aliased to a macro. This means that a programme is running in the background that you can’t see. Single block may well be inhibited. This means one press of the CYCLE START button will do the tool change. Sometimes however single block works. In this case it will take loads of presses to get through the tool change. Just be patient.

This is the sort of thing that’s running in the background.

CNC beginners guide

I won’t go too much into this, after all it is a CNC beginners guide.

Canned cycles depend on parameter settings. It will normally be one press to rapid to the tool down. Then one press to drill the hole. It may or may not need another press to bring the drill out of the hole.

The exception is G84 Tapping Cycle. You definitely wouldn’t want single block to work on this. Imagine the tap gets to the bottom of the hole and sits there waiting for a push of the button.

Sometimes feedhold is inhibited too in a canned cycle.

Hope you enjoyed this CNC beginners guide

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CNC Help Beginners Operation Modes

Category : Beginners Fanuc Mill Fanuc Turn

CNC Help, this article is about the different modes of operation on a CNC Machine

CNC Help

Depending on what mode you are in

  • Zero Return
  • Jog
  • Handwheel
  • MDI
  • Memory/Auto/Full Run
  • Drip Feed/Tape
  • Edit

This determines what you can do on the machine.

CNC Help

Learn all this and more

Zero Return

So when we turn on the machine we would need to zero return the machine. What is Zero Return you ask?

Well when you switch on the machine it’s a bit like when you wake up the next day after drinking a whole bottle of whisky.

First thing you think is where am I? Then the memories flood back of how you were dancing naked on the bar.

A CNC machine is much the same (except they don’t piss in a complete strangers cupboard). So you need to let the machine know where it is.

We move the machine back to it’s zero position and on the way it triggers a dog which is like passing over a button. This tells the machine where it is.

You’ll notice it slows down as it passes over this dog. That gives it time to sort itself out.

No dogs were harmed to create this post

Not a real dog you turkey that would be cruel I mean a switch.

You only need do this when you first turn on the machine. After that the machine always knows where it is.

Jog

Jog what’s Jog? Well in this mode you will have an X Y and Z buttons.

CNC Help

You will also have a feed control potentiometer.

(A twisty knob to you)

It’s like when you turn the music up.

CNC Help

This determines how fast your axis will move when you press X Y or Z in the plus or minus direction.

This very often has a rapid button that you can hold in to make the moves really fast if you really want to shit yourself.

So you can use this to move your axis around. You could even use it to drill a hole or face mill a part.

CNC Help Hand wheel

 

CNC Help

When you use the hand wheel you would normally be required to select an axis and an increment as below.
CNC Help

If you selected the X axis and an increment of 0.1 then each click of the hand wheel will move the X axis 0.1mm.

The hand wheel always reminds me of the robbers cracking the safe in the old movies.

Again you can use the handwheel much like jog to get the machine in the position you want and maybe drill a hole or something.

Haas handwheels have a really course setting like 1mm a click so beware!! But it’s great for quickly getting around the machines.

Also beware of over-run, because some Haas Toolroom Machines will carry on after you finished turning the hand wheel!!! Holy shit batman.

Just remember that these articles are designed as general guidelines as machines will vary.

If you use the analogy of driving a car then it’s like borrowing your mates car. It will definitely have lights and indicators. You just got to find where the switches and buttons are.

Got this off ebay only 5000 quid

Incremental Jog

Just thought I’d add this in. Some machines have an incremental jog and I suppose it’s a bit of a combination between handwheel and jog.

You select an increment and each time you press the axis button (XYZ) the machine feeds that amount.

Very useful for clocking in bores and stuff like that. Personally I like the idea and if I worked on a machine with this I’d be using it.

Read the manual and get the most out of your machine.

Safety

It’s important to remember that handwheel and jog can usually be used with the door of the machine open. They may seem gentle and there’s not much noise going on.

Please note you are using the full power of the machine and if your hand is in the way the handwheel will not stop.

MDI

Remember that these modes may have slightly different names but all CNC machines will have them.

Like on some Siemens controls MDI is called MDA (don’t google that one!!!)

Manual Data Input (I suppose it’s kind of self explanatory).

It’s just a way of writing little short bits of CNC code and it’s normally automatically deleted after use.

You could use this for things like doing a tool change or starting the spindle.

Almost anything that you would put in a program can be done in MDI.

It is usually used once and thrown away, not really environmentally friendly single use program.

CNC Help

Most controls have a way of converting this MDI program into a permanent one to keep in memory. Fanuc uses program O0000 for MDI and it’s a bit like a clipboard. You can change this program O0000 to a real program number like O0001.

There is also a parameter you can change that makes the program stick around after you used it.

Some operators only use MDI for tool changes so you might want to keep the code  there for whenever you need it.

Moan Moan Moan

On a Fanuc control you have to put an EOB (end of block or semicolon) at the end of the line of code to make it work. Otherwise you get an alarm. Drives me bonkers.

Digital punishment

Memory/Auto/Full Run

This mode can have different names but it’s the mode where you get to run your programme.

After selecting the programme you want to use select this mode.

When you press cycle start the programme will run.

CNC Help

You can run your programme in single block

And that red button at the side there is feed hold, it will halt the programme movement but it won’t usually stop the spindle from rotating.

Drip Feed/Tape

This mode is usually for running direct from a Memory Card or PC and it varies from machine to machine. Some will run direct from a floppy disc.

It is for those massive programs too big for the machine memory. Some really old machines will even run a paper tape.

Drip feed is a bit like lying under a beer tap and slowly getting pissed.

Anyway you don’t need to worry your pretty little head about that one at the moment.

Picture of a floppy disc for our younger viewers.

Let’s get on to the interesting shit.

CNC Help Edit

Edit well it’s kinda when you edit….

Yes it’s when you alter the program. In the edit mode you can look at any of your programs stored in your machine and Edit them.

There are massive differences in what you can do depending on your CNC control.  Don’t get me started on this one cos I think CNC Machines have been in the stone age on this one for years. Now I’m not going to mention names but even simple things like copying programs can be an absolute piece of shit.

So if your used to the power of editing on a PC get ready to go back in time. Most new machines are pretty good on this now but it’s taken a long time and I still find it really convoluted and counter intuitive. (I don’t know what either of those words mean).

CNC Help

Here is a short video on how to copy and paste on a Fanuc 18i it’s very similar on most oldish Fanuc controls. (Excuse the long intro on the video but I am trying to flog records as well here).

Oh and if you want to copy a program on an 18i Fanuc view this one.

Editing in its simplest form is INSERT ALTER and DELETE.

CNC Help

These are self explanatory but I have put a nice little gif above just to hold your attention.

Most modern controls will have FIND and REPLACE. It is well worth learning to use this because it guarantees that you don’t miss any figures in your programme.

Like if you had X57.65 in your program six times if you use FIND/REPLACE to change em all to X57.66.

You are sure to catch them all and you can be sure they are all accurate. Even if you altered em to the wrong figure at least they will all be the same.

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CNC Programming Safely Using Decimal Point

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Category : Beginners

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CNC Programming Safely (Decimal Points)

CNC Programming Safely is very important. This post explains about the role of the decimal point.

Decimal points who needs em eh?

On Fanuc controls and Haas controls depending on the setting of a parameter if you input something like X20 it can be taken in two ways.

(1) X20 is taken as a movement in X of 20mm this is like a calculator and some controls will convert this to 20.000 for you.

(2) X20 is taken as 20 microns which would be .020

The difference between 20mm and .02mm is massive would you agree?

CNC Programming Safely

This also works on feed rates so you could be waiting a long time. Or the other way around you end up with a pile of broken tools.

The most dangerous one is with offsets this will definitely cause a collision.

I remember those things in comic books where you have to find the difference between two pictures. The difference with a CNC Machine is it can cost you your job if you don’t spot the missing decimal point.

Even at five years old I couldn’t really be arsed. I remember swearing for the first time and thinking “fuck this, pass the water pistol”

Sorry this is not true, obviously I was swearing long before my fifth birthday.

Please contact me with the answers to the quiz above (that way I’ll know never to offer you a job)

Decimal Points

Now you could go diving for your manuals and check your parameters and settings. I don’t actually recommend that right now.

Think of people like me and all those applications engineers who work here there and everywhere.

It maybe that in your company you have machines set in different ways and that’s gonna be real confusing.

It is obviously a good idea to have all your machines working in a similar manner if possible.

CNC Programming Safely

So in order to do your CNC Programming Safely I recommend that you make a rule when you are inputting code.

Always include a decimal point regardless of the control settings.

That way whatever your machine setup you will still get the right movements and offset adjustments.

Never Use a Decimal Point (CNC Programming Safely)

M codes
S Codes
G codes although there are exceptions such as G54.1
H numbers
T codes
L
N numbers
O (Programme numbers)
P  address

And if you do you will get an alarm. There are exceptions to these rules but you would need to check your programming manual.

Use a Decimal Point (CNC Programming Safely)

B   address
C   address
D  address
E   address
F   code
I   address
J   address
K  address
Q  address
R  address
U  address
V  address
W address
X  address
Y  address
Z  address

I have trained people who insist on programming X0.0 and that is ok if it helps you to remember the decimal point. Even though on X0 it would make no difference but rules are rules.
Just remember that if you change companies it will be very hard to break the habit if you are not inputting decimal points.

It’s a bit like keep putting your hands down your trousers. When your at home it’s a minor bollocking from the wife.

Try it in public and you’ll end up on the sex offenders register.

Those using CAD/CAM systems it is quite easy to change your post processor to always output decimal points too.

Here is the Fanuc parameter that you can alter.

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Leading Trailing Zeros CNC Programming Basics

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Category : Beginners Fanuc

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Leading Trailing Zeros

You do not need leading or trailing zeros in a CNC program (see below):

O0001(G81 DEMO)
G21 G90 G40
T01 M06 (20.0 MM DIA X 90 POINT SPOT DRILL)
G90 G00 G54 X12.64 Y88.00 S2546 M03
G43 H01 Z15.00 M08
G0 Z100.00
Z1.00
G01 Z-0.1
Without leading Zero is exactly the same. (Trust me it won’t self destruct or start world war 3)
O1(G81 DEMO)
G21 G90 G40
T1 M6 (20.0 MM DIA X 90 POINT SPOT DRILL)
G90 G0 G54 X12.64 Y88. S2546 M3
G43 H1 Z15. M8
G0 Z100.
Z1.
G1 Z-.1

Try to keep your code consistent. As I mentioned before try to make all programs look the same.

Create an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) which will cover all programming layout options. Haas controls will insert their own leading and trailing zeros so you won’t have a choice there.

Leading Trailing Zeros and Memory

Leading Trailing Zeros, if you are short of memory (not as in forgetful) this can save loads of space, and you might be surprised how small the memory is on some CNC machines, some have the memory of a fish.

Leading Trailing Zeros

CNC Programming

The main thing is that you are happy with the layout of your program.

If you are not consistent with your approach it can cause a lot of problems.

Please remember that when you are typing code into the machine it will take you considerably longer to type G01 X0.200 Y0.200 F100.00 than G1 X.2 Y.2. It could wear out your fingers or give you multi RSI.

A Haas control will automatically add leading zeros but just try to ignore it. Maybe Mr Haas likes to see them.

Main thing is you don’t need to type them in.

Take a look at this article.

Another way to save space on a Mazak control is to delete all the spaces (ISO G code programs only)

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Background Edit Fanuc

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Category : Beginners Fanuc

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Background edit, I only really get to hear about background edit when people get stuck in it. It’s a bit like being accidentally locked in a toilet you feel a bit of a twat and very embarrassed in equal measures.

This button is your closest friend

Now I made it real big because one day it will save your life.

You know when you play Monopoly and you get one of those cards that says “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE”

If you get sent to jail you just present this card and your sentence is immediately quashed it’s a bit like having Donald Trump as a mate.

It doesn’t work for shop lifting by the way I tried it as a child when I nicked a tin of Spam from the Coop. Fortunately in those days the police were never involved as they knew your parents would beat you to within an inch of your life at the slightest hint of petty larceny.

Anyway press this button background edit all your woes will cease.

And if that doesn’t work this one is the nuclear option.

background edit

The first one is for the program you’re actually background editing. Don’t forget you can have more than one program that you are background editing, more on this later.

Anyway this button stops them all, a clean sheet as it were.

Oh Dear

The reason people get into such a mess with this is because you can actually get into background editing by accident it’s easy.

If you are in a folder and you press INPUT then whatever program your cursor is on immediately comes up for background editing.

If you do this a few times then you can have several programs on the screen to edit.

 

You can switch between these programs and edit any one. You can copy and paste between them which makes writing programs from templates really easy.

Use the FORWARD and BACKWARD softkeys to switch between programs

To escape this lot you need the help of this key

background edit

This will end it all.

Background Edit is Amazing

Yes background edit is really useful, maybe amazing is stretching it a bit, but it does have many uses. Editing a few programs together is the bit I like.

If you want to edit whilst you are running a program then that’s also useful.

Background edit Warning

Don’t hit the fuckin reset button!!!!

Obviously this will stop everything so why would you do it?

Well maybe you are one of those very naughty boys who uses it to get to the head of the program when editing.

When in background edit it’s easy to press reset except this time you just stopped everything because your program is running.

Change Your Habits

Use rewind, some controls have a rewind button

use this to get to the head of the program.

On other controls it’s LINE SEARCH then press TOP or BOTTOM

This will take you directly to the head of your program or the end of your program.

Nothing is stopped and no one is harmed.

background edit

 

Why I Hate Background Edit

It’s an absolute pain in the bollocks mainly because it is so easy to accidentally get into background edit and not even realise.

You keep pressing the MDI button and the screen just wont change. If you have Guide i then you will get a warning when you switch over and you can’t do anything until you end it.

To be honest I don’t hate it at all. You just need to be aware that you need to come out of it to do various other things.

Another Useful Feature

If you want to use a program for reference. In other words you want to look at what’s in it but you need to be careful not to alter it.

Press BG EDIT then type in your program number

Press REF EXEC

Your program will appear in green meaning it is “read only” so you can’t accidentally alter it.

What’s Running in The Background?

You can also call your running program in background edit. This will also appear in green and be read only.

 

 

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