How to program a pause?

[jonathan joseph]

I run routers and need to be able to program a pause before my vacuum table shuts off in order to have time to blow off the parts with air. These are thin lightweight parts with masking and if they aren't held down by vacuum they blow around and the masking comes off. One of my machines has a convenient vacuum on/off push button but another does not and you have to scroll through a long menu to manually switch on and off. Long term solution is to install some solenoid control switches but I can't get to that right now. A 20 or 30 second pause will give the operator time to clean them off before off loading. 

Thanks  in advance! 

Jonathan 

[Jake L]

I believe G04 (dwell) is the code you're looking for

[TFarrell9]

I'd use a Manual Entry instead of a dwell, assuming you're saying the vacuum table shuts off at the end of the program.

After the last toolpath: Router Toolpaths>Manual Entry>*type* M0

Then when the operator is done blowing it off, they can hit Cycle Start and the the remainder of the program will be ran. 

[jonathan joseph]

5 hours ago, TFarrell9 said:

I'd use a Manual Entry instead of a dwell, assuming you're saying the vacuum table shuts off at the end of the program.

After the last toolpath: Router Toolpaths>Manual Entry>*type* M0

Then when the operator is done blowing it off, they can hit Cycle Start and the the remainder of the program will be ran. 

Thanks! I'm still having a problem finding the right place to insert the M0 because my post uses what I guess you would call canned cycles maybe? There is a M73 that I believe raises the z, takes the gantry to park, and a few other things like opening and closing some blast gates for the dust collection. I've tried putting the M0 after the M05 and M06 and before the M73 then after the M73 but before M140 which is shut off all vacuum zones but the program keeps stopping as soon as the last part is done being cut. Can't get it to do what it normally does and return to park and then pause. Not sure it will help without understanding my controller but I've attached the file. 

EIGHTANDAHALFS.NC

[crazy^millman]

Sounds like you need to get your Mastercam dealer involved and have them help you dial in everything.

[TFarrell9]

18 hours ago, jonathan joseph said:

Thanks! I'm still having a problem finding the right place to insert the M0 because my post uses what I guess you would call canned cycles maybe? There is a M73 that I believe raises the z, takes the gantry to park, and a few other things like opening and closing some blast gates for the dust collection. I've tried putting the M0 after the M05 and M06 and before the M73 then after the M73 but before M140 which is shut off all vacuum zones but the program keeps stopping as soon as the last part is done being cut. Can't get it to do what it normally does and return to park and then pause. Not sure it will help without understanding my controller but I've attached the file. 

EIGHTANDAHALFS.NC 2.35 kB · 0 downloads

You're not using canned cycles here.  

I don't know what the M73 and M140 do for your machine, but if you put an M0 after the M06, it will stop the machine after the tool change (M06).

I agree with millman though, you should contact your dealer so they can get you dialed in. They can easily make the changes you want.