Possible to add a "park and pause" feature to G code ???

[ShawnM]

I have 3 different parts that I cut from sheets of HDPE. In my CAD software I add in the drill holes needed to secure the sheet to the spoil board. I do this in the CAD software rather than just try to randomly place them myself for fear of hitting a 4¢ screw with a $40 router bit.

I'd like to know how to have the machine go to the park position, which is my M56, after the first toolpath and wait for a cycle start before continuing on with the other 3 toolpaths. This is a single tool job with 4 different toolpaths. The first tool path starts and drills about 10 holes in the material so I can secure it to the spoilboard. After it drills those holes, before it starts the next tool path, with the same tool, I need the gantry moved out of the way and time to screw the material down.

Is it possible to have a single, custom m code inserted in the g code that will do this? I can crudely do it just by adding in a M56 and M00 in the g code but it would be nice to be able to simply insert a Mxx number in the code that corresponds to a custom mfuncXX.mac that moves the machinre to the park position and displays a M225 message to press cycle start to continue.

Can anyone suggest a simple way to do this other than the crude way I'm currently doing it?

[DannyB]

Maybe i'm missing something.
It seems you can just make mfunc00.mac that does what you want and then insert optional stop in the postprocessor?

Why use a completely custom mcode number?

[ShawnM]

Thanks Danny, I was hoping to create a custom m code that I could just manually enter into the g code after it's generated. It's easy to look at the code and see where the drill path stops and where I need to insert it. I currently would only use this m code for three projects so once it's in the code I'm good and it's saved on my CNCPC.

I didn't want to modify either of my 2 current PP for these 3 jobs but my other thought was to create a third PP just for jobs like this but I was hoping others might have an easier way to accomplish this.

[swissi]

ShawnM,

I would add all the commands you need (park and Pause message etc) into the mfunc6.mac macro preceded by the Skip command (forward slash eg. /M56).

With the function key Run[F4] --> Skip ON/OFF[F4] you can turn off the Skip when you need the commands and turn Skip On when not needed.

-swissi

[ShawnM]

I read about the "skip" feature and that is a cool feature but I don't use my custom M6 in this code as it's a single tool job. I have 2 PP, one for single tool jobs and one for tool change jobs where I use my own M6. This is a single tool job with 4 tool paths. I use a spiral O flute to "drill" the holes then I need a M56 "park" move and then a "press cycle start to continue" message after the first tool path. Just looking for the easiest way to accomplish this. Is it possible to create my own M func to do this?

[swissi]

There are plenty of mfuncxx.mac files that you can customize for your purpose. Just pick one you don't need in your setup (e.g M51 - M58).

You can customize your PP to output that M command at the right position in the post and you can even use the Skip command "/" to have the functionality to turn that command on and off.

-swissi

[ShawnM]

There are plenty of mfuncxx.mac files that you can customize for your purpose. Just pick one you don't need in your setup (e.g M51 - M58).

You can customize your PP to output that M command at the right position in the post and you can even use the Skip command "/" to have the functionality to turn that command on and off.

-swissi

I was planning to use an unused one so thanks for the tip.

Where do I find info on how to customize the PP to insert the M command in the right position? This would be very useful.

[swissi]

The big question here is: What CAM-System are you using?

I can help you with Fusion 360 but not with others. If you have another CAM, just Google for Post Processor customization or maybe somebody else here on the Forum can help with that.

-swissi

[ShawnM]

I appreciate the offer and I know you are the Fusion 360 "GURU" but unfortunately I'm using the Vectric software.

Since I only do this for 3 cut files I simply manually edited the g code and added two lines after the first toolpath, a M56 to park the machine (mine goes to the rear, center of the table) so I have access to the sheet to screw it down and a M200 to prompt actually me to secure material and then press cycle start to continue. Works just great.