Using Fanuc Background Editing

Category : Fanuc

This article is about Fanuc Background Editing. Now I suggest you move straight to the end if that’s all you are interested in.

If your happy to listen to me ranting for a while then read on.

I love gadgets, I don’t think people call them that now but in the absence of a better word then I’ll use it.

Whenever I get lose on a CNC Machine I’m always looking for something extra that it will do, like some hidden extra that it’s got.

It’s always nice to find something new. When you know everything a machine can do. That is when you are in a position to make an informed choice as to how you want to use it.

I use a toolbox metaphor. All the different functions and options are tools that the user can chose from.

One day a problem arises and the person I once trained thinks “mm I remember that miserable old bastard showed me something here”.

Something I taught them that they didn’t see a use for suddenly becomes relevant. They don’t remember the minutia but just find it in a manual, refresh their memory and use it.

Like using a G10 to write your work offset from the programme. You might never need this but if you know it exists. It’s easy to look up how it works and subsequently use it.

Gadgets Like Cruise Control

I adore cruise control on a car. Even my old V70 Volvo has it. I use it all the while especially on a motorway. What really pisses me off is that all these much newer cars most of them have a monthly rental cost that’s more than I paid for my car.

I mean surely these cars must have cruise control for that money I’d want fuckin cruise missiles.

So why in the name of holy shit do people not use it. I’m like cruising along at exactly 70 mph when somebody starts passing me on the inside. I let them go only to find they slow down and I have to pass them. Sometimes this goes on for quite a while. Now I’m not an aggressive driver but fuckin hell this is annoying.

If they are not using cruise control how many options on this car are they not using. I mean do they have a handle fitted on the windows to avoid pressing the electric windows button.

Some poor bastard at BMW is creating all these brilliant features and no fucker is using them. Windows open on a hot day cos they don’t know how to use the climate control.

These peole who say “oh I like a manual gearbox”. I say “fuck off your not Jenson Button” why do you need a bloody manual gearbox. Oh and a clutch (what’s that all about).

Drving is suppoed to be easy, buy yoursalf an old Ford Cortina or something or maybe an 1960”’s tractor. Do these people need something to do.

Driverless cars bring it on.

Background Edit is Useless

Background editing on a Fanuc control is useless.

No it’s not who said that?

The main reason why I’m writing about background editing is because you can get locked into it by mistake. It’s so easy to press the wrong button and end up stuck in background edit. It’s like the Guantánamo Bay of CNC Programming, very hard to escape from.

It’s Useless But Here is How To Use It

You will be in Memory or Auto mode and your programme is running merily producing your parts.

First of all press BG-EDT

Fanuc Background Edit

Once it’s active it’s there at the top of the screen

Fanuc Background Edit

You can now go to your directory and call your programme to edit in the usual way. Enjoy yourself editing your programme or even create a new one.

Don’t Hit Reset

There is only one thing you must not do in background edit. That is to hit reset as it will stop the machine.

Try to get into the habit of using rewind not reset.

Rewind

Background Edit (Fanuc)

  • You can’t Press RESET
  • You can’t edit the programme that’s running.
  • You can’t get to MDI screen
  • Some other screens won’t work.
  • Most edit functions will work.

As I said before you can get stuck in background edit it’s easy you just need to press this.

Fanuc Background Edit

When I’m training people on Fanuc Controls I always teach them about Background Edit. Even if you don’t use it, one day you’ll press it by accident. It could take you a long time before you realise what you did

Ignore At Your Peril

It’s easy to ignore these buttons and not even know what they do. When you one day accidentally press Background Edit in a pressing frenzy you’ll remember this.

Always Read The Label

When you get a problem on a CNC Control step back and carefully read everything on the screen. Sometimes your CNC Machine is screaming at you but you chose to ignore it.

Background edit is no exception.

Backgroung Edit Haas

You can edit the program that is running. How cool is that?

Piss off it’s not dangerous it’s the dogs bollock.

All that happens is that when the program finishes once you press reset your programme is changed.

Dead useful when you see something that wants changing and you know you’re gonna forget.

Mazak In ISO

On a Mazak when you are running an ISO programme (G Code) if you see an error on the next line or further on. You can edit it before the machine gets to it. Don’t you just love it.

 


Programme Restart Haas

Programme Restart Haas

Best feature by far on a Haas Machine is it’s programme restart. Guess what, loads of people don’t use it. In fact they don’t even have it switched on.

Restart Haas

First thing to do is switch it on on the setting screen.

If you are used to using a Fanuc control then you probably restart on a tool-change line.

Restart Haas

So you would search for N19 and start at that line.

Haas Restart, Total Confusion

What I find confuses people when they first try this on a Haas machine is that it picks up the previous tool. This is purely because it thinks the tool change is what you want to do. So it gets ready.

 

All you need to do is start on the next line.

Yep it’s that easy.

The control sorts out everything.

Coolant
Spindle
Position
You name it

It will even feed the dog, change your underwear and load the dishwasher.

Sorry I’m joking how could it feed the dog when you don’t have one.

Press cycle start and away you go. If  your Z axis is above the part it will come down slowly just in case something is in the way.

It really is that easy.

Oh n by the way it works just as well on a Haas CNC Lathe


Haas Screenshot How to Make One

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You might not know it but if you put your memory stick into your Haas control then press and hold SHIFT as you press F1 you get a Haas screenshot or a (Haas screen capture) on your memory stick.

Haas Screenshot

It is really useful if you need help because you can save a record of what is on the screen.

With this Haas Screen Capture. You could use it for set up sheets. It will also be useful if you want to create training literature.

If you want to enter a name for your screen capture just input it before doing the above.

I love the fact that Haas are constantly improving their products the machines are so well thought out. They were the first ones to incorporate a coolant hose to clean down the machine.

Extras

I notice now some things do come as extras but they still come well loaded. It’s not like when you buy a car and you find that all the things that really attracted you to it (don’t we just love the toys) are extras.

Haas Screenshot
Range rover with no wheels

Just having a memory stick on a machine is really good. I cant help but think that it seems to be taking so long for machine tool companies to really get to grips with technology.

Sometimes when I am training people who never worked a CNC before I feel embarrassed to say “oh the memory is like the size of a 1980’s calculator”

Haas Screenshot
1970’s Calculator

The editing on some controls (and I won’t name names, as I can’t retire yet) is poor to say the least. Students used to using a PC expect to be able to easily COPY and PASTE bits of programme.

Good luck with that one.

Fanuc Screen Capture

Yes you can do it.

Where’s The UNDO Button?

UNDO (don’t even go there) some do have it. But wouldn’t it be great if you could UNDO things like offset changes. These things are gradually coming in on new controls but I can’t believe how slow it’s all been.

And you thought this articcle was just about taking a Haas Screenshot

Anyway I’m rambling again (only doing it to get the word count up), I will be using this Haas Screen Capture all the time. Typical Haas practical, user friendly. Keep up the good work boys.

Fanuc Screen Shot

Yes Fanuc Does it Too

Go to a screen you would like to capture.

Press and hold the [SHIFT] button for 5 seconds.

The control appears to lock up for about 15 seconds.

Once it frees up an image will be on your memory stick or memory card.

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Programme Copy Fanuc Oi

Category : Useful Stuff

Before we start, Programme Copy Fanuc. I have decided to stop moaning, I’m just sick of the sound of my own voice constantly complaining about just about everything. These days there just seems so much shit going on at any one time that theres always something skulking in the background waiting to piss me off.

Well today it’s not going to happen, today instead of grumbling about how awkward it is to copy a programme on a Fanuc Oi control. I am going to explain how easy it is.

I think sometimes it’s not that something is hard to do it’s just that we can’t be arsed to get out the manual and drudge through the boring shit to find how to do it.

Heres One (I found in the book)

Increase Decrease Scale Oi Graphics

On the graphics screen on the Fanuc Oi control you press P to increase the scale and M to decrease the scale.

I mean that’s bloody obvious isn’t it. (Sorry I said no moaning). Took me a week and a powerful microscope to find that in the thick fat Oi Fanuc manual.

Programme Copy Fanuc

Programme Copy Fanuc

First of all press EX-EDT it’s this little beast

Good luck finding it (sorry no moaning).

Solution to finding Softkeys On a Fanuc Control

Beat the shit out of the fuckin keyboard with two fingers, simultaneously pressing every button, till the screen comes up that you want.

My many years of working on these controls has taught me this.

What Next, Programme Copy Fanuc

Press Copy

Programme Copy Fanuc

Then press ALL

Come on now it’s going great

New mouse for my CAD CAM system

 

Now This Bit I didn’t Know

What I always do here is just press EXEC

The programme will then manifest as programme O0000 and you just change it’s number to the one you want. O3 ALTER you know that kind of thing.

Pay Attention You’re Not At Work Now

If you look closely at the screen shot above you’ll see I’ve input 3. Just type in 3 then press INPUT

It looks like this

 

Now when you press EXEC guess what, it creates a new programme (programme O0003)

So there you have it. My advice as always is to keep using these techniques and shortcuts until they become second nature.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article maybe you should get some training from me, call me anytime.

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