Re: Multi Part Production
This is silly easy.
1. Load both programs in your control, run neither of them independently, as they will be run as sub programs by the following master program
2. create a master program that is 3 lines:
M98 P0001 (run part 1 program)
M98 P0002 (run part 2 program)
M30 (repeat)
3. Run the Master Program and create a pair of parts.
I used this exact same code for a customer of mine that wanted to run 2 different parts, every other cycle, as their production demand was equal for both parts but they did not want to run separate batches of parts as production was hand-to-mouth at the time. It worked great.
(the M98 Pxxxx call will likely be a different program number than 1 or 2. Just substitute the xxxx with your 4 digit program number for each part program)
Note, if the parts are different length and you have to input the part length into your barfeeder, you will have to enter the longer of the 2 parts
Edit: In regard to the different sub spindle stick out lengths, I would probably just use different geometry offests in the slave program (I would just call the 2nd program run the 'slave program'). For example, one program could use offsets 1-50 and the other 51-100. Then, to reduce operator error, I would make the 1-50 offsets the 'master'. I would only apply offsets to offsets 1-50. forget 51-100 exist at all. Then, at the beginning of each tool block in the Slave program, use a macro statement that writes the offset and geometry from 1-50 to the corresponding 51-100 offset. This sounds complicated and scary but is actually very easy. It would only take a few lines of code, like #2751=#2701; #2151=#2101; and so on. You would have to write macro statements for each axis offset (X,Y,Z,R,T) for both wear and geometry, so you would potentially need up to 8 lines of system macro code at the top of each tool block in the program with slave offsets, but you would only have to do it once and its not as hard as you think.
I cant attach a more detailed explanation at the moment, but message me if you'd like more information on how to use system macros to copy tool geometry to a secondary offset.
Cheers!
CNC Product Manager / Training Consultant