I am trying to get a better understanding of modifiers.

Modifiers can be used to override the Auto Approach and Auto Retract. These are one time commands that work on the last issued path or flag.

If a PATH or FLAG are followed by a modifier like STAYZ or FEED it overrides the global settings for that move only.

The control clipboard line:

T01 PATH1 STAYZ FEED PATH2 PATH3

Would cut PATH1 then feed to PATH2 at the Z value of the end of PATH1. Then after cutting PATH2, move to the Auto Retract Z and Auto Approach to PATH3.

Is this correct and does the same rule apply when moving between FLAGS?

Bill

Bill,

All modifiers placed on the edit line before a SINK, PATH, or FLAG, command are onetime modifiers that only affect tool movement for that command.

There are only four modifiers that affect tool movement when placed after a SINK, PATH, or FLAG command. These are: MaxZ, JumpZ, HopZ, and StayZ. As you stated they override the global auto-retract that appears at the top of the clipboard.

Note that these modifiers can not presently affect retract for a range command like PATH1-6.

In your sample clipboard line:

T01 PATH1 STAYZ FEED PATH2 PATH3

STAYZ keeps the tool down after PATH1, canceling the auto-retract. The auto-approach to PATH2 still applies. If the auto-approach is SKIP-FP the tool will raise a few thousandths and rapid to PATH2.

If you had written:

T01 PATH1 STAYZ FEED1/2 PATH2 PATH3

PATH2 would be cut at half the tools feed rate, after which an auto-retract would occur, then an auto-approach to PATH3 would occur, then PATH3 would be cut at normal feed rate.

The execution looks like this:
<auto-approach> PATH1 STAYZ FEED1/2 <auto-approach> PATH2