Leading Trailing Zeros CNC Programming Basics

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.

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

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 all your woes will cease.

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

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

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.

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.