SFA

How do you program in a "stop" in your program. Like to pull a pod or somthing?

Alpha cam btw

Not sure about alpha, but you typically a quick redneck way to do it is, assign a fake tool! Make up a tool name and you can place it into the sequence. Don't give it a turret or pocket number and make the machine think you need to manually place it in. The machine will come to the front asking for the tool.

Again not sure how to do it in Alpha, but just think outside the box or you could always just as an Alpha user!

IF you understand the G code, you can modify the anc file by putting M0 where you want the pause.

There should be an icon that looks like a traffic light. Then you click on the actual tool path you want it to stop after. So if you want it to stop before polish tool 1, you click on tool path for the #4 diamond. Should stop automatically after a sink cutout.

On our CMS machine I go into the output file from EasyStone using notepad in Windows and following the program I just insert a new line of code into it. On our machine a stop command is M00 (and that is the letter M followed by two zeros, not moo as the sound a cow makes). Save the file and then run it at the machine. When it hits that line of code the machine will just stop with a message on the screen "paused at keyboard". Then you hit the cycle start to continue the program where you left off.

Chris,

In Alphacam, Under the "Machine" menu, "User Defined Code" sub-menu, there is a command called "Direct Input". This allows you to input a line in the code after the last operation you just added. You could then enter the M0 command like Scott suggested. You may also need to add a move or two to get the machine out of the way. Just make sure the head(s) are called up before the direct input line you added.

We added our own tool bar to Alphacam that allows us to add a text message with the stop like "Hey operator, remove the cup that's about to be cut!". Also, when the stop is added, the Titan moves its head to a parking spot that's out of the way.

Chris,

I would Follow Carmine's advice first since he has a northwood and then Matt Binsfeld's second since he uses alphacam with the Park Machines

Matt Lansing, Why are u manually typing a pause when it is built into the software whether u are using Easystone or Wintools. Call me I will show you if your intrested.

Do what Carmine suggested. It is in Stonevision. It is the command labeled Add Stop and is represented by redlight.

Chris - Why do you need a stop? I never use stop. The stop is already programmed for sink cutouts. Are you cutting slabs?

Eric, we never program a pause in the code as a regular course of business. Chris asked and so I gave a answer in case anyone running some CMS equipment was curious too. I assumed it is also in Easystone too just never had a need to look for it.

dan k. wrote:Chris - Why do you need a stop? I never use stop. The stop is already programmed for sink cutouts. Are you cutting slabs?

You could need one possibly if you need to change tools for some reason. It's unlikely but it's a possibility. If we had to put a bevel on one section and an ogee on another we would need a stop because those tools share the same spots in the tool racks. Most likely we would do two separate programs though.

A stop would also be nice if you're using extra blocks around a small piece that needs to have a profile all the way around it. In that case we just do two separate programs as well.

Retract Cup will put a stop comand in for easystone, but that could cause problems if u have a retractable cup u dont want dropping... Older Easystone that is!

Camzl1 wrote:Matt Lansing, Why are u manually typing a pause when it is built into the software whether u are using Easystone or Wintools

Theres nothin wrong with being a little intimate with your G code

In easytsone it is just a button, drops in line just like a tool.

That being said I never use it. I am always there when we are running (unfortunatly) and use the "knob stop" to pull pods and sink drops etc......

if you are going to be by the machine while it is running you couldn't just turn down the traverse speed to almost nothing and pull the pod?

Bretth wrote:Theres nothin wrong with being a little intimate with your G code

Not to jack the thread but this is very true. Most CAM packages only scratch the surface of modern NC controller functionality. Intimacy with your controller's input via hand coding opens up a large range of options that many long time CNC owner/operators never know exist.

If you have ever executed a T0M6 in MDI you already speak G-code, you just need to need to add a few more phases to you vocabulary to talk fluently with you machine directly.

STU

We program a stop after the 4th diamond. This allows us to hit the bottom edge real quick with a polisher. This way when the polish tools hit, they don't get completely tore up by the rough sharp edge. Help save the polish tools and they last longer.

I got my own answer when I ran it while planning to turn the knob back.

Guess what? Its programed in all ready

Oh well........got my first dumb question out of the way.

Stuart Gill wrote:

Bretth wrote:
If you have ever executed a T0M6 in MDI you already speak G-code, you just need to need to add a few more phases to you vocabulary to talk fluently with you machine directly.

STU

Is that put up the tool in brembana speak?

I only speak omag m-code.

according to google translator I think he means M156T0

invio-cycle start-cycle start.

coolhandchris wrote:
Is that put up the tool in brembana speak?

I only speak omag m-code.

I believe it is Brembanese But yes that is "Park it!" where I come from.

STU

Knowing G code is a great help. I can email you some codes if you like. THe nice thing is you can add something in on the machine without going back into the office, such as if you screw up and have a lead just a hair outside of your envelope, you can simply edit the block and keep going without going into the office and resending the program, etc.....It also works good for making your own programs, for example, I have a program on the machine called WASH, where it picks up a blank tool holder, then goes to x0,y0,z100, external water on, then to the other side of the table, steps up a foot, and zigzags back. to the end of the table and parks.

I have one also for dressing tools, where it picks up the tool, brings it to the front, spins it up and so on. This way you can dress the first tool, then put in a pause then after dressing, go over and hit cycle start, it will pick up the next one and so on. Just makes things a bit easier then just entering everything in MDI(A) in my case.....Problem is, my tools never get dressed since I do not run the machine anymore.......

Stuart Gill wrote:

coolhandchris wrote:
Is that put up the tool in brembana speak?

I only speak omag m-code.

I believe it is Brembanese But yes that is "Park it!" where I come from.

STU

M156T0 bitches.

Being able to go into G code and having at least a foggy idea of what it means is really important I think. Undoubtedly you will have instances to start from various points in a cycle and when I was having air valve issues from it sticking because my air is so humid, I was able to locate the pause before air blast and change it from 2 to 4 seconds so the machine would not error out. May not sound like alot but when a cylce stops every tool change over a warning it was HUGE. You can start by pulling up your post code on cycles you just wrote and try to follow it as it is doing what you just told it to. Then you will start to recognize what is happening and why. You don't need to be able to write a G code program, just understand how your own Post code works. It could come in handy one day.

Nick wrote:You don't need to be able to write a G code program, just understand how your own Post code works. It could come in handy one day.

Straight Up! Bitches

STU

Chris,

My dad always told me, "There are no dumb questions, just dumb people." That doesn't apply to you.

Just busting your chops buddy, I know how you feel. All of us CNC owners have been there! Glad your making progress.