Will ask here first, but probably on the General Forum shortly because I know this forum doesn't get much traffic.
A little background:
I have master programs for 10-32 UNJF-3A, 1/4-28 UNJF-3A, 5/16-24 UNJF-3A, 3/8-24 UNJF-3A, 7/16-20 UNJF-3A and 1/2-20 UNJF-3A families of studs. Some get a cross drill thru the thread, some thru the bearing diameter and a few thru the shank behind the thread. And in different combination's . Some no cross holes. I have separate subprograms written for holes thru the threads and bearing area for each size, and a couple subprograms for holes in different size shanks. Not all sizes as very few get drilled in this area.
These were written several years ago. The past couple of years I have been teaching myself Macro B programing. Although these cross drill subprograms use variables for RPM, drill locations, and feedrates, I don't consider them Macro programs. The master programs use quite a few variables. Before I changed my cut-off subprogram I was using variables #100 to #142 in my master programs. Now they start at #109. Naturally the set-up person only had to change a few of them. As few as 2 sometimes.
What I am looking to do now is write one subprogram that will run cross holes in all 3 locations regardless of OD size, material, drill diameter, drill type (carbide or HSS), threads or not, etc. I will be using G65 to pass the variables. I want to keep the number being passed as low as possible. Right now there will be 7 or 8 passed depending on hole location.
The problem:
One of the things I want in the sub is the feedrate. Currently I can think of only 4 sizes we run. However assigning a feedrate to these 4 only isn't the best way as there is some tolerance, and there may be more than one size drill we can use for each hole. I feel confident that I can write a program that will assign the correct feedrate for a given size drill. However, it may not be pretty.
Nor as short as I'd like. I like to keep my programs short as feasibly possible, and as clean as I can.
The question:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can assign the correct feedrates to various size drills? Neat and elegant? Please don't suggest using AND, OR as I've tried examples others said worked on their machines, but they didn't work on mine. Fanuc tells me that I can't use them the way I want to (comparing values). This is for an 18T control on a Hardinge 42 Conquest.
This will necessitate rewriting the master programs, and I am going to take the opportunity to see if I can't make them less complex. Cut down on the number of variables being used. Switch those I can to the #1 to #33 range. Right now I think there is a whole page of variables and calculations before the actual program. There is enough going on so that you can see the time lost before the program starts machining. That is why I put a check in it to see if the variables were already loaded. If they are, then the control skips right to the part machining. No hesitation.
