Hi All

Not much of a programmer, so I'm wondering how people write the g code handle the change from the W table for the first run to the Y table for the second and then back again.

When I programed G-Code back in the 90's on a twin table cnc. We would just write a standard g-code for the left table and then use the work coordinate offset to move it to the right table. So we would use G54 for spindle 1 on the left and G59 for spindle 1 on the right table. The program was the same and only the work offset was different.

Johann Huck
The Machine Warehouse, LLC.
704-839-6615
johann@tmwsales.com

Thanks.

In my case, the tables are different axis in the Y motion, one is Y and the other W, all of the Y axis commands need alternate between Y and W.

A few other minor issues, but that's the main one I can't get my head around.

Hi Dropout.

Should be easy to switch the Y commands to Work using a find & replace command in Notepad. If you use Notepad++ then you can do for a whole batch of files at the same time.

If you are trying to create a program that does Table 1 then Table 2 before stopping and starting over again then you may need an M00 code. This will stop the CNC until further input from you. Allowing you to ensure the table has been cleared and reloaded before cutting. This method will allow you to just keep running the same program over and over instead of switching the program every time you switch tables.

Good luck.

You might also want to contact the OEM of your machine and see if they setup some similar to a M81, M82, M83 command for your tables to operate as follows:
M81 - Independent Operation, each table uses their respective axis labels.
M82 - Slave mode, the second table would use the commands of the first table without the first table moving
M83 - Synchronous mode both tables would move linked together to the first table.

Then in your program in front of the table commands, you could insert the M82 with a block skip command in front of it such as /M82. Then on the controller you flip the switch on for block skip to run everything on the first table. Then you turn block skip off and run the exact same program on the second table without making any changes. But again, you need to check with your OEM and see if they programmed this and what M codes you should be using. These commands are usually on a shoda machine as I have given.

Johann Huck
The Machine Warehouse, LLC.
704-839-6615
johann@tmwsales.com

Here is a link showing how it is done on a Shoda. They also use a G52 offset to move the gantry over to the other table since it is all using the same work offset of G54 for the left table.

Shoda Table Slave, Independent, Synchro