CNC BLOG

I’ve done quite a bit of in-plant consulting and training over the years. While walking shop floors, and as you can imagine, I’m always...

Hydraulic chucks are very common workholding devices – especially on CNC turning centers. They provide a tremendous mechanical advantage....

This is necessary if you want to incorporate the techniques shown in the Macro Maven article of this newsletter. With custom macro B, you...

Almost every offset entry your operators make requires some kind of calculation to be done before an offset adjustment can be made. Say,...

One of the most frustrating problems a CNC operator can have is breaking a tap in the middle of taping many holes. The broken tap, of...

Managers often want to know the percentage of time a machine is actually cutting something in a CNC cycle, but trying to calculate...

Most companies expect a lot from their CNC operators. Common tasks include: Loading and unloading workpieces Activating and monitoring...

The primary reason companies perform preventive maintenance on their production equipment is to minimize, if not eliminate, unpredicted...

Many applications for custom macro B require the use of permanent common variables. These variables range in the #500 series and, of...

In custom macro B, SETVN stands for Set Variable Name. It allows you to place a short message – up to eight characters long – next to...

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

Most companies have developed setup documentation to help setup people get CNC machines ready to run production. Information about the...

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...

Suggested by Glenn J. Doutrich Sr. of Inside Development Systems, Inc. I’ve had several requests recently for this custom macro – so,...

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

What may be obvious to one person may not seem so to another. This is why – as a manager – you must understand and be willing to teach...

Most companies assume quite a bit of their employees when it comes to safety issues. They assume their employees know how to stay safe in...

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...