Programming / Setup help for bender.

[doanwannapickle]

I'm building a wire bender (think miniature tube bender) that has an air cylinder used for cutoff. There is a micro switch at each end of the cylinder. I plan to drive the machine with Mach 3 and a G100. I would like the sequence of the cutoff cylinder to proceed as follows:
1) Activate the cylinder.
2) Wait for the end of travel switch to trigger.
3) De-activate the cylinder.
4) Wait for the beginning of travel switch to trigger.
5) Proceed with the program.

Any suggestions on how to G-code this??

TIA,
Walt

[Al_The_Man]

This is not so much a G code but falls into the category of a machine function, M-Code.
The M code routine would contain the logic required to perform 1) to 5), the part program would wait for a finish signal 5), to proceed with the part program.
Al.

[jphagen]

What you need is a smart relay for a project like this.
Think about idec or a teco.

[doanwannapickle]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man This is not so much a G code but falls into the category of a machine function, M-Code. The M code routine would contain the logic required to perform 1) to 5), the part program would wait for a finish signal 5), to proceed with the part program. Al.

OK, I got it. I had totally forgotten that you can code custom M codes. I was looking in the main manual and not finding any help. I had never even downloaded the customization manual because I had no intention of making a custom screen. Oops. Now all I have to do is brush up on my very, very rusty basic.

Thanks,
Walt