Need Help Understanding Sheetcam Gcode Output

[Beefy]

Hi All,

I'm learning the gcode which is output from Sheetcam for my plasma cutting
table. I have a touch off Z-axis for referencing the torch height to the top of
the material before each cut. I'm using the "MP3000-DTHC-SmlArcFix" post
processor.

Here's the first few lines of the gcode:

N0030 G21 (Units: Metric)
N0040 G53 G90 G40
N0050 F1
N0060 (Part: Sheetcam Tryout - Square)
N0070 (Process: Outside Offset, VISIBLE, T1: Plasma, 2 mm kerf)
N0080 M06 T1 F2000 (Plasma, 2 mm kerf)
N0090 G00 Z12.7000
N0100 X857.4000 Y942.6000
N0110 G28.1 Z12.70
N0120 G92 Z0.0
N0130 G00 Z0.1370
N0140 G92 Z0.0
N0150 G00 Z5.0000
N0160 M03

Questions:

Why is F1 (1mm per minute ?) inserted in line N0050. It's correctly set at 2000
mm/min three lines later.

What is the meaning of having a tool change on line N0080. I'm a beginner to
this but I can't see any purpose to this, I mean there is no tool change. I
would have expected just the feed rate to be set and that's it.

Line N0090 says rapid the Z-axis to 12.7 but at this point the Z-axis position
is not known, it hasn't been referenced / homed. With a floating Z-axis on a
plasma cutter the homing is the touch-off and is the top of the material, and
this is not done until after this starting on line N0110.

I think I've got the rest of the gcode worked out but the above has me stumped
at present.

Thanks,

Keith

[Torchhead]

Check the same post on the Yahoo CandCNCSupport Forum. Answered in detail

TOM caudle
www.CandCNC.com