Drilling a grid of holes

[powerfulp]

Hi,

 

We have a simple fixture plate that needs a grid of holes put in it. They are M16 holes, 2.000" apart. 17 rows, 35 across.

 

What would be the best way to go about writing the program for this? I've never written a macro program, but this seems like that might be the best way to go. If so, how would you go about writing this? And how is the best way to draw these points on MasterCam?

 

Thanks for any help!

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

I usually just write these type by hand. Use your canned drill cycle with incremental move called 35 times, then move to the next row and call it again. some controls you have to get creative with sub-programs to make it work, but most will let you do a repetition of some sort.

[sweinberg]

There are probably better and 'more correct' ways to do this, and you can do it all in code pretty easy, but if you're in Mastercam anyway, you can just create a circle for your first hole, then Xform rectangular array to set up your pattern. Then just use mask on arc (or just 'last' after your first operation if you're doing more than one) when selecting geometry to get all your circles together for each of your operations real quickly.

[powerfulp]

Yeah, I was just checking if there was a better and/or more creative way to go about it than creating a point-by-point G-code program and also if there was a real fast way to do it (draw the points) in MasterCam. We have MasterCam, but I rarely get to use it.

 

Thought maybe a macro where you can just define how many holes in each direction, etc., etc. And maybe I was looking for an excuse to use a macro program because it's always interested me, but I've haven't been able to do any for one reason or the other.

 

Thanks

[Reko]

I program everything in Mastercam and drawing up a grid of holes would take only a minute or two, but if I had to do it manually, I would call the drill cycle and drill the first hole, then call a SUB-PROGRAM (M98) that has an incremental step over... then loop it the number of times of holes in that row... then repeat it for the rest of the rows.

 

Like I said, I'd do everything in Mastercam though.

[Redfire427]

Just program one hole, then translate the toolpath. Takes seconds.

 

Carmen

[jeff]

Don't even need to translate, you can just select window points, 3 clicks = done.

[powerfulp]

Cool. I will give it try. Thanks.

[Redfire427]

The OP's question was "And how is the best way to draw these points on MasterCam?"

 

My suggestion eliminates the need to draw all the points. Just one point would be needed if it is a grid.

 

Carmen

[sweinberg]

Dunno why, but I prefer the Xform array -> mask arc method that I mentioned before rather than translating the toolpath.

Takes about the same time. Maybe it's because you have everything on your screen *shrug*

[kccadcam]

Toolpaths; Drill; click the little arrow up in the corner of the drill point selection box.....

fill in the blanks, no geometry needed....

[jeff]

Toolpaths; Drill; click the little arrow up in the corner of the drill point selection box.....

fill in the blanks, no geometry needed....

 

Good call, I totally forgot about this option, mainly because it's kind of "hidden"

[Jayson Kramer]

Toolpaths; Drill; click the little arrow up in the corner of the drill point selection box.....

fill in the blanks, no geometry needed....

Thank you , I was reading and reading waiting to see if any one would bring the grid option up. this what I use for sub plats and what I teach to use.

[Rotary Ninja]

Heh, I never knew that button was there. Jay just sits back and watches the chaos while laughing his @$$ off