Automated Canned Cycle Variables

Cycle variables are classified as drilling (reaming, tapping, etc.) and threading. The “Drill Cycle Variables” with one exception start with the characters $CY; the “Thread Cycle Variables” all start with the characters $TH.

The cycle variables contain actual or default values as determined from the last CYCLE definition statement. Modification of these variables will only have an effect prior to the first motion statement following the CYCLE definition statement. For example, setting $CYTYPE (i.e., the cycle type) without having first coded a CYCLE definition statement will have no affect, however, changing $CYTYPE from 1 to 100 will have the effect of changing the programmed DRILL cycle to a MANUAL one.

Drill Cycle Variables

The $CRMODE Variable

Selected retract plane. (<0:? 0:Initial 1:R-Plane) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CRMODE variable contains the selected retract plane for cycles. If the value is less than one (1) then the retract plane is unknown. Note that setting this variable does not force GENER to use an alternate retract plane, it only sets the internal modal state for this machine function.

The $CYAPT Variable

Part program in-cycle flag Type: Logical, Read/Write

The $CYAPT variable is set to $TRUE when a CYCLE block is encountered in the part program. It is set to $FALSE when a CYCLE/OFF command is encountered. Motions are processed as cycle control points when $CYAPT is set $TRUE.

The $CYCAFL Variable

Automatic cycle flag Type: Logical, Read/Write

The $CYCAFL variable controls whether automatic cycle output should be overridden by cycle simulation. If the variable is set to $FALSE then all cycles will be simulated. By default, this variable is set to $TRUE.

The $CYCLRC Variable

Cycle CSINK clearance Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYCLRC variable holds the cycle CSINK clearance specified on the last CYCLE statement. It is valid for the CSINK cycle type. If a CSINK cycle has not been coded, the variable will be set to $NULL.

The $CYCLRO Variable

Cycle ORIENT clearance distance Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYCLRO variable holds the ORIENT type boring cycle clearance specified on the last CYCLE statement. It is valid for the BORE with ORIENT and BORE-BACK cycle types only. The variable will be set to $NULL for other cycle types. If a clearance value was omitted on the last cycle, the variable will be set to the default orient clearance.

The $CYCLRP Variable

Cycle standard clearance Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYCLRP variable holds the cycle clearance specified on the last CYCLE statement. It is valid for all cycle types. If a cycle has not been coded, the variable will be set to $NULL. If a clearance value was omitted on the last cycle, the variable will be set to the default clearance.

The $CYCLRS Variable

Cycle secondary clearance Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYCLRS variable holds the cycle secondary clearance. This represents the step clearance for DEEP and BRKCHP cycles. If a DEEP or BRKCHP cycle has not been coded, the variable will be set to $NULL. If a secondary clearance value was omitted on the last cycle, the variable will be set to the default secondary clearance.

The $CYCLR{XYZ} Variables

Cycle ORIENT xyz clearance Type: Numeric, Read/Write

$CYCLRX $CYCLRY $CYCLRZ

These variables hold the x, y and z components of the ORIENT type boring cycle clearance specified on the last CYCLE statement. It is valid for the BORE with ORIENT and BORE-BACK cycle types only. These variables will be set to $NULL for other cycle types. If a clearance value was omitted on the last cycle, these variable will be set to the x, y and z components of the default orient clearance.

The $CYDECR Variable

Cycle DECR value Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYDECR variable holds the cycle step DECR value. It is valid on DEEP and BRKCHP cycles only. If not coded on the last cycle, the variable will be set to $NULL. There is no default cycle step decrement value.

The $CYDIR Variable

TAP cycle in-feed direction (0:?, 1:CLW, 2:CCLW) Type: Numeric, Read-only

This read-only variable holds the TAP cycle in-feed spindle direction. It is only valid for TAP cycles (i.e., floating, rigid, deep and chip-breaking).

The $CYDPTH Variable

Total cycle depth Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYDPTH variable contains the total cycle depth as coded on the last cycle command line, or as calculated using the given incremental data in a DEEP or BRKCHP cycle.

The $CYDWEL Variable

Cycle dwell time Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYDWEL variable holds the cycle dwell time at the full cycle depth. If the value is positive, it represents seconds. If it is negative, it represents revolutions. If not coded the variable has the value $NULL. This variable affects Virtual Machine simulation and cycle timing.

The $CYDWLS Variable

Cycle step dwell time Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYDWLS variable holds the cycle dwell time at each step in a DEEP or BRKCHP cycle. If the value is positive, it represents seconds. If it is negative, it represents revolutions. If it is $NULL, a dwell is either not coded or is not supported for cycle steps. This variable has no effect on MCD output but does affect Virtual Machine simulation and cycle timing.

The $CYDWLT Variable

Cycle top dwell time Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYDWLT variable holds the cycle dwell time at each retract in a DEEP cycle and following the thread reversal retract of a TAP cycle. If the value is positive, it represents seconds. If it is negative, it represents revolutions. If it is $NULL, a dwell is either not coded or is not supported at the top of deep drilling and tapping cycles. This variable has no effect on MCD output but does affect Virtual Machine simulation and cycle timing.

The $CYEND Variable

End of cycle flag Type: Logical, Read/Write

The $CYEND variable is set to $TRUE when a CYCLE/OFF command is encountered. The next motion will be processed as an end-of-cycle positioning move when this flag is set. The $CYEND flag is automatically cleared after a motion, or can be manually cleared by setting $CYEND to $FALSE.

The $CYFEDT Variable

Cycle feed rate type Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYFEDT variable holds the cycle feed rate type. Valid values are 1=IPM, 2=IPR, 3=MMPM, 4=MMPR, 5=PERMIN, 6=PERREV. If multiple feed rate types were coded on the cycle command line, this variable represents the first feed rate type. If a cycle has not yet been coded, the variable will be set to $NULL.

The $CYFEDV Variable

Cycle feed rate Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYFEDV variable holds the cycle feed rate. If multiple feed rate types were coded on the cycle command line, this variable represents the first feed rate type. If a cycle has not yet been coded, the variable will be set to $NULL.

The $CYINCR Variable

Cycle increment Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYINCR variable holds the cycle increment value. If multiple increments were coded on the cycle command line, this variable represents the first increment. If a cycle has not been coded, the variable will be set to $NULL.

The $CYINVR Variable

Cycle INVERS flag Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYINVR variable holds the cycle INVERS flag and is valid on the TAP cycles. It is set to one (1) if the INVERS option has been coded. If not coded the variable has the value $NULL.

The $CYMCH Variable

Machine in-cycle flag Type: Logical, Read/Write

The $CYMCH variable is set to $TRUE when a CYCLE block is activated in the output program. It is set to $FALSE when the cycle is canceled. When a cycle point is simulated using regular motions, $CYMCH is $FALSE even though $CYAPT is $TRUE.

The $CYMIN Variable

Cycle minimum step value Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYMIN variable contains the minimum drill step amount supported by the control. This is relevant when using the DECR (i.e., step decrement) option of the DEEP and BRKCHP cycles. The minimum drill step value defined using QUEST can be changed by setting the $CYMIN variable.

The $CYMULTRD Variable

Number of rigid cycle thread starts Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYMULTRD variable contains the number of thread starts defined using the MULTRD option on the last TAP-RIGID, TAP-DEEP or TAP-BRKCHP command.

The $CYORNT Variable

Cycle ORIENT angle Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYORNT variable holds the cycle ORIENT angle. It is valid on the BORE with ORIENT, BORE-BACK, TAP-RIGID, TAP-DEEP and TAP-BRKCHP cycles. The variable will be set to $NULL for other cycle types. If an orient angle was omitted on the last cycle, the variable will be set to the default angle.

The $CYRATIO Variable

Cycle RATIO value Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYRATIO variable holds the cycle RATIO value and is valid for TAP and REAM cycle types. If not coded, the variable has the value $NULL.

The $CYRETN Variable

Cycle RETURN value Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYRETN variable holds the cycle RETURN (i.e. retract) value and is valid for all cycle types. If not coded, the variable has the value $NULL. If coded without a value, the variable has the value 10000.

The $CYRIGID Variable

Rigid cycle activation state (-1:?, 0:off, 1:on, 2:code) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYRIGID variable indicates the rigid tap cycle activation state. It is set to two (2) when a rigid tap activation code is output, or to one (1) when a rigid tap cycle is output that does not require a rigid activation code. It is set to zero (0) when rigid tapping is canceled.

The $CYRPTO Variable

Cycle RAPTO value Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYRPTO variable holds the cycle RAPTO value and is valid for all cycle types. If not coded, the variable has the value $NULL.

The $CYTIME Variable

Cycle times count Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYTIME variable holds the cycle times count and is valid on the BRKCHP cycle. If not coded the variable has the value $NULL.

The $CYTYPE Variable

Cycle type Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $CYTYPE variable holds the cycle type. Valid values are:

 –2:

Unknown cycle type

 –1:

NOMORE

  0:

OFF

  1:

DRILL or CSINK

  2:

FACE or DRILL with dwell or CSINK with dwell

  3:

TAP-FLOAT

  4:

Reverse TAP-FLOAT

  5:

BORE

  6:

BORE with dwell

  7:

BORE with ORIENT

  8:

BORE-BACK

  9:

REAM

 10:

REAM with dwell

 11:

DRILL-DEEP

 12:

DRILL-BRKCHP

 13:

THRU

 14:

TAP-RIGIDl

 15:

Reverse TAP-RIGID

 16:

TAP-DEEP

 17:

Reverse TAP-DEEP

 18:

TAP-BRKCHP

 19:

Reverse TAP-BRKCHP

100:

MANUAL

Thread Cycle Variables

The $THCHFA Variable

Chamfer angle Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THCHFA variable contains the thread chamfer angle, as coded using CHAMFR or ATANGL on the thread cycle command.

The $THCHFL Variable

Chamfer length or height Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THCHFL variable contains the thread chamfer height or length, as coded using CHAMFR or ATANGL on the thread cycle command.

The $THCHFT Variable

Chamfer type (0:off, 1:CHAMFR, 2:ATANGL) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THCHFT variable indicates whether the chamfer angle ($THCHFA) and size ($THCHFL) were defined using a CHAMFR command (value 1) or an ATANGL command (value 2). A value of zero (0) indicates that a chamfer was not specified.

The $THCUTS Variable

Number of regular passes Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $THCUTS variable contains the number of regular passes, as coded using CUTS or calculated from STEP and DEPTH on the thread cycle command.

The $THDPTH Variable

Thread depth Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $THDPTH variable contains the total thread depth, as coded using DEPTH or calculated from CUTS and STEP on the thread cycle command.

The $THFINA Variable

Finish allowance Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THFINA variable contains the amount of finish allowance, as coded using FINCUT on the thread cycle command.

The $THFINC Variable

Number of finish passes Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THFINC variable contains the number of finish passes, as coded using FINCUT on the thread cycle command.

The $THMIN Variable

Thread minimum step value Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THMIN variable contains the minimum thread step amount supported by the control. This is relevant when using the constant cross section in-feed method. The minimum thread step value defined using QUEST can be changed by setting the $THMIN variable.

The $THMODE Variable

Thread in-feed mode (0-4) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THMODE variable contains the thread in-feed mode as coded using OPTION on the thread cycle command. Valid values range from 0 through 4.

0:

constant amount, along CUTANG (default)

1:

constant amount, single edge

2:

constant amount, alternating edges

3:

constant depth, single edge

4:

constant depth, alternating edges

The $THNOSE Variable

Tool nose angle Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $THNOSE variable contains the tool nose angle, as coded using TLANGL on the thread cycle command.

The $THSTEP Variable

Thread first step value Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $THSTEP variable contains the first thread step amount as unsigned value, as coded using STEP or calculated from CUTS data on the thread cycle command.

The $THTYPE Variable

Thread cycle type Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $THTYPE variable holds the machine cycle type. Valid values are:

  0:

Off

101:

Single thread cut, turning

102:

Single thread cut, facing

201:

Multiple thread cut, turning

202:

Multiple thread cut, facing