G-code program with pauses

[Black Forest]

Back story. My mill is not set up for rigid tapping. No encoder on the spindle and I have not installed the VFD yet. As of now if I make a part with multiple holes that need to be tapped I take the work piece to my drill press with a tapping head and cut the threads that way. It would MAYBE be useful if I could use the tapping head on my mill utilizing the quill to tap the same way as on the drill press but have the table move to the previously drilled holes. I made a part yesterday with ten 5mm drilled holes to be tapped with 6mm tap. If the table would move to each hole and pause while I tapped the hole and then I hit a button and it would move to the next hole, etc.,etc. that might be helpful. So my question is how to write the g-code or use Intercon to do it?

[Black Forest]

I just thought if I would hit feed hold when the table moves to a hole I could tap the hole and then hit cycle start. Would that be the most efficient way to do it? I could use a G04 pause for 3 seconds. That would give me time enough to hit feed hold. Or?

[tblough]

You could add an M0 after each positioning move in the g-code file if you edit it manually, or use Intercon to add an M0 using the add M&G code feature.

[Black Forest]

Doesn't the M0 code turn off the spindle?

[tblough]

Doesn't the M0 code turn off the spindle?

What does the manual say? Have you tried it?

[Bham-Tech-RM]

Doesn't the M0 code turn off the spindle?

What does the manual say? Have you tried it?

I was curious, so I went and tried it for you. Worked as desired for me, spindle stayed running.

Code: Select all

O1000
G00 G17 G20 G40 G49 G80 G90; SAFETY
G54; WCS
M25; TOOL CHANGE POSITION
T1 M6; TOOL CHANGE
X0. Y0. S300 M3; PLACE-1 & SPINDLE START
G43 H1 Z1.5; DOWN
M00; TAP-1
X1.; PLACE-2
M00; TAP-2
X2.; PLACE-3
M00; TAP-3
X3.; PLACE-4
M00; TAP-4
M5; SPINDLE STOP
M25; TOOL CHANGE POSITION
M30; END

Simple as that.

Could probably do something more operator-friendly using an M225 to display a "TAP NOW" instruction for indefinite time, until cycle start is pressed to advance to the next position.

[Black Forest]

You could add an M0 after each positioning move in the g-code file if you edit it manually, or use Intercon to add an M0 using the add M&G code feature.

I tried the add M&G function in Intercon but it didn't work. Intercon gave a warning that any codes added would not be recognized by Intercon. ?????

I did read the manual.

[tblough]

Intercon's warning was that it can't guarantee that the G codes you enter will operate correctly with the rest of the program. If you manually enter G0 Z-5.0 in the program, YOU are responsible for ensuring you have clearance to rapid towards your part.

[Black Forest]

Is there somewhere or place I can look to get either tutorials or videos on how to write G-code files that will be Centroid compatible? I would like to learn how to write simple programs in Notepad++. Programs I could write and then load into CNC12. something like a Centroid CNC programs for dummies!

[tblough]

CNC Cookbook has been around for a while: https://www.cnccookbook.com/cnc-programming-g-code/

Other than the tutorials in the Centroid manuals, nothing is going to be "Centroid" specific. A good way to start might be to construct an Intercon program, post it, and then step through the commented g-code it generates.