CNC BLOG

In past issues of The Optional Stop, we’ve stressed the importance of maintaining a good structure in your programs. The primary reason...

As you know, G04 is used to specify a dwell – or pause – in your CNC program’s execution. With Fanuc controls, the format for the dwell...

As you probably know, current model CNC machines can be used with two measurement systems – the Imperial (inch) measurement system and...

There are three basic plane selection commands: G17 – XY plane selection G18 – XZ plane selection G19 – YZ plane selection When you first...

All CNC machines made today allow you to transfer program to and from a distributive numerical control (DNC) system. Indeed, you probably...

It is not uncommon to perform several machining operations on a group of holes. You may, for example, have to spot drill, drill, and tap...

With Fanuc controls, a special series of parameters is used to create user defined G codes. As with all parameters, specific parameter...

Every so often I get a question related to how standard canned cycles work – or rather – how they don’t work in a manner desired by the...

As you know, Fanuc-controlled machining centers come with at least six fixture offsets, invoked in a program by G54 through G59...

Suggested by Rick Lucchetti of TC Industries in Crystal Lake, Illinois People strive to obey the Ten Commandments – indeed, almost...

As you know, M codes are miscellaneous functions – which can also be thought of as machine functions. They tend to command programmable...

Safety commands – by our definition here – are a series of commands placed at the beginning of all programs that confirm that the machine...

In this issue’s G Code Primer, we discuss how to program certain program-related parameter changes with G10. Doing so, of course,...

In order for the cutting tool to move to the correct coordinates, the program zero point (program origin) must be properly instated....

There are many parameters that affect the way a CNC machine executes a program. In many cases, one appropriate setting for the parameter...

One of my cardinal rules is that all sizing adjustments should be done with offsets. However, I do – from time to time – see operators...

Suggested by Troy Hubert of Cox Manufacturing In past issues of this newsletter, we have addressed this topic for chucker-type CNC...

G66 is one of the more misunderstood custom macro B commands. Fanuc calls it a modal custom macro call. It looks just like a G65 command....

With most Fanuc controls, the L word is used to specify the number of repetitions for a subprogram call. The command M98 P1000 L4 for...

As you know, block delete can be used to give the operator a choice between two conditions. The operator is told to turn the block delete...