Say I have 1000 cuts to make with my plasma, and I want to have a minute pause after 100 cut sequence ( to cool down the plasma cutter ) and then continue the next 100 cut , pause again etc…
how to modify the post processor so the pause processing can be automatically set ? thank you
What post are you using? Some posts such as the Mach3 plasma pauses post already do this.
Hi Les,
I use MP3000 post.
Yes it has G04 pause function, but I want to have it automatically paused after 100 cut ( before 101st pierce )
manually i can do it , but is time consuming reading every line of gcode 
Counting pierces isn’t very accurate. You also need to worry about the length of each cut. To add to the confusion, ambient temperature will also have an effect. Rather than modifying the post you may be better off using code snippets.
First create a code snippet. Click on the ‘G’ tool button. Give the snippet a name such as ‘pause’. In the box below enter:
M00
Now you have created the snippet, switch to start point mode. Pick a start point where you want to pause. Right click on the start point and select ‘properties’. In the ‘use code snippet’ dropdown select your ‘pause’ snippet. When you run the post processor SheetCam will now inset M00 just before it pierces that start point.
Thanks Les,
This is exactly what I needed
how can I add a pause during a long cut after the start point?
If you are going to interrupt a long plasma cut with a machine pause (M00), that introduces a new problem, how to re-start the torch when resuming the cut ?
option A) modify the pp by accumulating distance of each cut segment with hooks, to invoke a custom function doing so, in OnMove() and OnArc(). The custom function, upon tripping the distance accumulator limit, would have to call OnPenUp() , plant the ‘M00’, then call OnPenDown(). No leadin will be used, but none necessary in that XY did not move. It will likely leave an ugly divot in the kerf though, but just about any method would.
option B) use open contours on the long cuts, then you control the cut distance in CAD. Downside is would likely have to run No Offset jet Operation and compensate for kerf in CAD drawing of contour.
option C) use sheetcam Tabs and Action Points. Place a Mode / ‘Edit tab’ where you want to pause the cut, make the tab 0.3mm long. Now drop a Mode / ‘Edit action point’ on the center of the tab, make the distance 0.1mm from placement. Now use the code snippet as Les described in previous post. The machine pause should occur between the tab segments of the contour, double check that in the gcode file after it’s produced by Run post processor. If it’s not between the end cut and start cut gcode, adjust the placement of the action point on the tab graphic. It’s kludgy, but it works, I just tested it. By using tab, you still have a closed contour that can take kerf offset as you desire, and sheetcam will perform the OnPenUp() and OnPenDown() functions on either side of the tab, without leadin.