i never noticed that. i dont see that as being a help. I was thinking the actual drilling would be done in the subprogram: Eg: o1000 (main prog) G0G90G54X0Y0 G43ZH1S9000M3 M98P1 X1. M98P1 X2. M98P1 M30 01 GOZ.02 G1Z-.02F2. Z0.55F40. G0Z.5 M99

thanks for the tips! the face is not machined and flatness has been an ongoing issue thats why i was considering the subprogram

I want to create a bunch of holes in mild steel using a .108 dia. carbide drill 1/2 through. In order to prevent the drill from walking id like to start the hole .02 or so deep at a reduced fee to insure the drill doesn't walk , then drill using a method (i.j.k) or something like that. Is there a way to force mastercam to output a drill cycle using a sub program (or routine) long hand as we old school programmers would have done? I could use something like this: G81 G98 Z-0.02 R.O2 F2. PATTERN G80 G83 Z-.5 R0.02 I0.35 J0.2 K0.05 F40. REPEAT G80 BTW: (I do not have an open pot for a spotting tool) -Thanks