I have downloaded and unzipped the v1.1 CopyCat. In reading and testing the manual I attempted to record drilling holes. Specifically Peck.
What I noticed is that the X, and Y are being recorded when I jog, however a movement in the Z axis does not change location (and does
not even give coordinate).

The below code generates the R Less Than Z in Cycle in XY PlaneLine7 error. Please assist.

G0 X0 Y0
G0 X0.8775 Y0
G0 X0.8775 Y0.7818
G00 Z 0
G01 Z 0 F 15
G1 X0.8775 Y0.7818
(Peck Drill hole, with 0.25 tool 0.6 deep, in 3steps)
G83 Z 0.6 R 0 Q3
G80
G0 Z 0

Been a long time since the manual was written and drilling holes are covered on Page 10 of 14.
Are you using the input table shown in figure 5.9.3?
I just don't recall if there was any problem with posted drill cycles from the table.
RICH

Rich, Thank you for your reply.

I am using the input table as in figure 5.9.3 (page 10 of the CopyCat manual) as follows:
Tool dia     +0.25
Safe Z       +0.00
Hole depth +0.60
Hole dia     +0.25
Z inc         +3.00

... which in the comment of the code translated to (Peck Drill hole, with 0.25 tool 0.6 deep, in 3steps) which is what I believe I would have expected,
but tripped the error.

Is the error originating from the Z coordinates not being defined?
All the lines you see which have a Z reference show Z 0, however each time, physically, I was jogging the Z (motors moved, DROs changed)
but they didn't write to the code? The Z did write the depth of 0.6 on the code line below the comment, but no where else.

The hole depth I believe should be a neg numer -.60 if not then the hole will be HIGHER than Z. this value translates to the Z value

The safe Z is a distance above the work surface which will translate to the R value

Also the Zinc will be a peck cut value per step such as .050" which translates to the Q value

The drill cycle does NOT understand a number of pecks only a depth value.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

TP, Thank you for your input.

I believe that I tested some of your suggestions, however, I will go back again and retest.
As for the depth, I will go back and reread the manual, however, I thought that it said
that the depth could be specified in either pos/neg value as the program turns it into absolute
value. I have read so much lately that I am forgetting about which feature I read the specifics.

The reason I used the value of 3 for the Pecks was because, as you suggested, at first I also
put an incremental value such as .20, however, then the program comment read something like
(Peck Drill hole, with 0.25 tool 0.6 deep, in .02 steps) and that didn't seem correct to me either.

If this gives you any further insight, please let me know. I will go back and test some more.
Andy

OK here are the settings and results(;-)

Thanks very much for doing the testing.

The tool dia field is +0.00 on the controls, yet the Peck comment picked up 0.5?
Was this defined somewhere else?
Also, on line 4, did you zero the coordinates, or did you move down the Z from a higher position?
The reason I ask is because even though I had come down to the work piece from the 0.00 position
with the Z, and I did NOT zero the coordinates, the code did not write the position of the Z.

Thank you again.

That was just me quickly grabbing the wrong example file. I tested it 60 ways to sunday and it all seems to work correctly if you input it correctly.

CNC terminoligy iis not always intuitive and some of the docs are vague for the beginner.

No I did not zero the coords. ONCE you start the process you cannot rezero ANY axis or the whole process is flawed. The Z axis SHOULD have been zeroed to the top of the material prior to starting.

Hope that helps, (;-) TP

TP,

   I truly thank God for persons such as yourself who are willing to assist others with the expertise you have acquired. Thank you very much. I tested this out over the weekend, and it works just exactly as your example.

Andy

HI* ANDY, Glad you got it working (;-) I love it when a plan comes together and chips start flying.

(;-) TP