how to add a dwell time?

Problems and questions
1

Hi,
I would like to have the drill remaining in the hole for e.g. 1sec after having done the work. But I don´t know how to do it in sheetCAM TNG. I have completed by hand the following example with line 0161 and 0191 to demonstrate what I mean.
N0120 T22 M06 G43 H22
N0130 G00 Z3.0000
N0140 S6000 M03
N0150 X9.5000 Y6.0000
N0160 G01 Z-1.200 F80
n0161 g4 p1
N0170 G00 Z3.0000
N0180 Y9.0000
N0190 G01 Z-1.200
n0191 g4 p1
and so on…
Adding about 50 advices of that kind seems me a little bit strenuous.
Thanks and best regards
4heiner

2

You would have to modify the post but it isn’t that difficult. Edit the post and look for function OnDrill(). It should look something like this:

function OnDrill()
   OnRapid()
   depth = drillStart
   buffer = plungeSafety
   endZ = depth + buffer
   OnRapid()
   if&#40;drillRetract < buffer&#41; then
     buffer = drillRetract
   end
   while depth > drillZ do
      OnRapid&#40;&#41;
      depth = depth - drillPeck
      if &#40;depth < drillZ&#41; then
         depth = drillZ
      end
      endZ = depth
      OnMove&#40;&#41;
      if &#40;depth > drillZ&#41; then --retract if we need to take another bite
         endZ = endZ + drillRetract
         if &#40;endZ > safeZ&#41; then
            endZ = safeZ
         end
         OnRapid&#40;&#41;
         endZ = depth + buffer
      end
   end
   if &#40;endZ < safeZ&#41; then
      endZ = safeZ
      OnRapid&#40;&#41;
   end
end

Change the last few lines to look like this:

   if &#40;endZ < safeZ&#41; then
      post.Text&#40;" G04 P1\n"&#41;
      endZ = safeZ
      OnRapid&#40;&#41;
   end
end

Note this is untested but it should work. Just out of interest why do you want to do this?

3

Hi Les,
thanks for the hints.
“Just out of interest why do you want to do this?”
I´m manufacturing rivets on a water tank for a model-loco. At first holes with 0.2mm are drilled and then the rivets are stamped by an special grounded (broken) drill. The rivets are better when the drill remains for a little time in the hole. Therefore the dwelling time.
Last question: how to edit the post?
Thanks and best regards
4Heiner

4

Ah I see. To edit the post go to Options->Machine->post processor and click on the ‘edit post’ button. This will create a new copy of the post with the same name but with (edited) at the end of the name. This copy is stored in your application data directory so it cannot be overwritten by installing a later version of SheetCam.

5

Hi Les,
I modified the file as you told me. Then I loaded the “new” scpost-file (machine > postprocessor > import postp.) The result is as following:
……
N0080 S6000 M01
N0090 G00 Z5.0000
N0100 X0.0000 Y0.0000
N0110 (Bohrer, 1 mm Durchmesser)
N0120 T22 M06 G43 H22
N0130 G00 Z3.0000
N0140 S6000 M03
N0150 X9.5000 Y6.0000
N0160 G01 Z-1.200 F80
N0170 G4 P1/n G00 Z3.0000
N0180 Y9.0000
The program won´t move after line 170.
But every line with “Z-1.200” is followed by a line like No. 170.
There must be a slight mistake. But I´m a musician in normal life and unfortunately I don´t know those special features.
Thanks a lot and best regards
4Heiner

6

You’re very close. It is \n, not /n.

7

Hi,
it works! Thank you so much!
I saved the modified processor under a special name for I suppose that it now will insert the G4 advice every time, which may not be desired.
So again thanks for the tip and best regards
4Heiner

8

His Les,
the hint using the dwelling time was very usefull. But it seems that e.g. one second is to long. I tried it with half and a quarter of a second and typed 0.5 and 0.25. But that wouldn´t go. So how has the input to be done?
Thanks for answer an best regards
4Heiner

9

Are you getting an error or is it just ignoring the dwell.? It could be that your control simply does not understand very short dwells. What control are you using?

10

Its just ignoring the dwell (always 1 sec). This is to be seen in the *.tap file.
I use Mach3 as control.

11

You are still getting 1s in the tap file? Are you sure you are using the correct post processor?

12

I did it once again:
I changed the postprocessor as you suggested:
…
if (endZ < safeZ) then
post.Text (" G4 P1\0.5")
endZ = safeZ
OnRapid()
end
…
I elected the modified Postprocessor “Mach3 Nieten” (that means rivets)…

The result is:
N0000 (Filename: Profil K 102 Nieten 3 Test 05.tap)
N0010 (Post processor: Mach3 NIETEN 05sec.scpost)
N0020 (Date:14.05.2012 Time:19:35:59)
N0030 G21 (Units: Metric)
N0040 G40 G90 G91.1
N0050 F1
N0060 (Part: Profil K 102 Nieten 3)
N0070 (Operation: Bohrer, Ebene 1, T22: Bohrer, 1 mm Durchmesser, 0,5 mm Tief)
N0080 S6000 M01
N0090 G00 Z5.0000
N0100 X0.0000 Y0.0000
N0110 (Bohrer, 1 mm Durchmesser)
N0120 T22 M06 G43 H22
N0130 G00 Z3.0000
N0140 S6000 M03
N0150 X9.5000 Y6.0000
N0160 G01 Z-0.500 F80
N0170 G4 P1 G00 Z3.0000
. . . and so on

So what am I doing wrong?
regards
4Heiner

13

The line:
post.Text (" G4 P1\0.5")
should be:
post.Text (" G4 P0.5\n")

14

Of course!
Thanks a lot.
Regards
4heiner