On newer haas mills I know you can type in a message and the machine will cut it in the material. can someone tell me where this option is and how to use it.

That's a canned cycle. (Like a drill cycle). I set up my post processor for Mastercam so I can do either serial engraving or standard letter engraving using a drilling cycle. The commands for HAAS is G47. Does not work in incremental.

E = Plunge Rate
F = Feed
I = Angle of Rotation
J = Scale
P = 1 for serial
P = 0 for literal
R = Return Plane

The initial serial number can be set manually in macro variable #599.

Enjoy.

Matt,
I think you can use incremental movements in your Gcode to position the tool prior to using the G47. You just don't know where the tool will be when the line of text is done.

Also, if you are using a rotation in the line of text, be sure to check Setting 73 on the Haas. (incremental or absolute angle)

Bill

Bill, I'm not sure if it automatically switches to absolute, but it says in the manual that G47 must be run in absolute.