October 29, 2025
David
4

Polar Programming G16 Fanuc

Tags : Fanuc G16 Fanuc Polar Programming Fanuc Programming Fanuc Training G Code Milling G Code Video

Category : Fanuc Mill

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

Polar Programming G16

Polar programming is cool.

No one loves polar bears more than me.

Polar means you are working around a pole. So your programmed position is determined by a radius and an angle.

No use??? Think about it. Polar Programming G16.

Holes on a pitch circle. Mill a hexagon. Piece of piss. Honestly.

Read on….

Polar bears, polar programming here we go. Don’t go too close to polar bears as they have a propensity to rip you head off.

Oh No Polar Programming G16 is an Option

Sorry yes it’s n option. Anyway hopefully you have it. Don’t blame me blame the tight arse who bought the machine.

Imagine you had some holes like this to machine.

First thing you need to do is program a G16 to say you want to use polar programming.

G16 on its own means your datum is the centre of the pole (X0 Y0)

G16 X50. Y50. would put your pole centre at X50. Y50.

Anyway we want it at zero which is the centre of this pattern of holes. So it’s just G16.

Once G16 is active then X becomes your radius and Y becomes your angle.

What’s The Time Mr Wolf?

The angle is always measured from 3.15 as below. (If you’re reading this mum sorry about busting your clock but I needed the picture)

And the angle is measured counterclockwise. This applies to all CAD CAM.

So this angle would be Y60. (60 degrees) and the X would be X25. (Radius)

So you program looks like this

Now see it running.

Lets look at the milling in more detail

Note that the distance to the sharp corner is 46.188 The line N1 uses this.

Polar Programming G16 It’s So Easy

Then we just program each position as an angle (no need for the radius because it does not change)

Each point you are going to has a radius from centre and an angle.

Incremental What’s That All About?

Don’t forget this works in incremental as well so be careful (you’re not insured for this)

Incremental

It gets even better when you use the L command.

Polar Programming G16 Action

Now when it comes to the milling it’s so simple don’t you just love this.

Action

What do you think?

G16…..

Add it to your digital toolbox??

Thanks

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this post or need CNC Counselling then contact me.

If you want to learn to program CNC Milling Machines

Look no further Contact CNC Training Centre

David
0

Leading Trailing Zeros CNC Programming Basics

Tags : Decimal Point Fanuc Fanuc Programming Fanuc Training Fanuc10t Programming Basics

Category : Beginners Fanuc

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

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)

Contact David :07834 858 407

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Don’t forget we offer training on all types of Mazak Machines and all Fanuc Controls 6m to 31i Oi old to young.

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David
0

Webster & Bennett with Fanuc 10T

Tags : Fanuc Programming Fanuc Training Fanuc10t

Category : Fanuc Fanuc Turn New Stuff

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

I Just Love Old Machines

I recently got to train someone on one of these, a Webster & Bennett with Fanuc 10t Control.

Webster & Bennett

It’s what I crudely call a big bastard. But bastard it is not, it can definitely machine some big shit

Webster & Bennett

Like this monster.

Don’t ask me what it is or I would have to kill you. Joking aside I think it’s a water valve. Beware these jacuzzis use a lot of water,

The machine is a Webster & Bennett vertical borer and I think the Fanuc 10t control was possibly a retro fit.

When these start whizzing around even a few RPM it can scare the living shit out of even the most seasoned engineer. And me, well I,m more seasoned than a piece of Nando’s chicken.

G50 on a Webster & Bennett Your Best Friend

Anyway joking aside your best buddy now is definitely G50 get this wrong and it’s fuckin world war three.

Imagine the scenario, you program G96 S180 M3. Spin at 180m/min. Not too fast but…. what if the tool is sat in the middle of the part.

Machine says “come on lads happy days foot to the floor flat out joy riding” and it fucks off like two teenage boys in a stolen Lamborghini.

So without a G50, or the wrong speed, this beast will accelerate to it’s maximum rpm.

Oh and did I Mention it’s harder to stop than a P & O Criuise Ship with 4000 obese pensioners on board?

“Read More”

David
6

Fanuc Subprogram (Local Subroutine)

Tags : Fanuc Programming Fanuc Sub Programs Fanuc Training Local Sub-Routine

Category : Fanuc

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

Fanuc Subprogram (Local Subroutine)

If you have ever used local subroutines on Heidenhain or Yasnac. Then you will know how convenient it is to save all your programs in one go. No need to remember to save all those shitty little external sub programs.

What’s He On About?

If you are now saying “what the fuck is he on about”. Here is an explanation.

A local subroutine or subprogram is where you stuff all your subprograms at the end of your main program.

So on a Fanuc control if you were making this part below.

Drill spot drill then tap.

Programme would look like this.

Thing is the code is just repeated three times. I have nice round numbers in here like X40. and Y20. so it’s easy to notice mistakes. But if it was X40.392 for example you wouldn’t spot a slight mistake.

So if you call a subprogram it looks like this.

And then your Subprogram is like this.

Fanuc Subprogram

The M98 P500 calls the external Fanuc Subprogram. Read this if you don’t know about sub programmes.

Saves you having to repeatedly write shit loads of code.

So that’s why we use a Fanuc Subprogram. But……

You have to look after these bloody things and they seem to be able to just get lost on their own.

You find them at the back of the fridge sometimes along with a piece of mouldy old cheese. At least you can make a meal of the cheese.

Fanuc Subprogram No More Lost Programs

So this is how it looks with a Local Subroutine.

All you need to do is replace P with Q. So mind your P’s and Q’s as they say.

The Q corresponds to any N number. So you could have loads of these stacked up at the end of your programme and you only need to save it once. All this shit will go with it and you don’t need to worry about it ever again.

Haas To The Rescue

Of course Mr Haas sorted this out years ago with M97, this calls a local sub. M98 calls an external program. It’s on all Haas machines and you definitely do need to fuck with any parameters.

Just A word Of Caution.

There are PARAMETERS involved. Arrrrrrrrrrrh……..the dreaded PARAMETERS

To call a subroutine on your Fanuc control. You first need to make sure that Bit 0 of parameter 06005 is set to 1

This should make it work. If it doesn’t then maybe you should call the Samaritans.

It’s only on the newer controls by the way.

Sub programs on a Siemens control.

Thanks For Reading My Articles We Love you all .

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this post or need CNC Counselling then contact me.

If you want to learn to program CNC Milling Machines

David
2

Background Edit Fanuc

Tags : Fanuc Background Edit Fanuc Programming Fanuc Training

Category : Beginners Fanuc

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

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.

CNC Training Centre

Polar Programming G16 Fanuc

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

Polar programming is cool.

Read on….

Oh No Polar Programming G16 is an Option

What’s The Time Mr Wolf?

So you program looks like this

Now see it running.

Polar Programming G16 It’s So Easy

Incremental What’s That All About?

Polar Programming G16 Action

Action

What do you think?

Thanks

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

Leading Trailing Zeros

Leading Trailing Zeros and Memory

CNC Programming

Services offered at CNC Training Centre

Mazak Training Fanuc Training

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

I Just Love Old Machines

G50 on a Webster & Bennett Your Best Friend

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

Fanuc Subprogram (Local Subroutine)

What’s He On About?

Drill spot drill then tap.

Programme would look like this.

So if you call a subprogram it looks like this.

And then your Subprogram is like this.

Fanuc Subprogram

Fanuc Subprogram No More Lost Programs

Haas To The Rescue

Just A word Of Caution.

Thanks For Reading My Articles We Love you all .

CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407

30 five star ratings on Google (Just saying)

Oh Dear

Background Edit is Amazing

Background edit Warning

Change Your Habits

Why I Hate Background Edit

Another Useful Feature

What’s Running in The Background?

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Call David: 07834 858 407