Acu-Rite CNC 3500i user manual Islands

7.2 Canned Cycles

Islands

An Island is an area within a pocket cycle that is left uncut. This cycle provides the ability to create islands within pockets. The Island step can define up to five sub-programs as islands.

Islands must be programmed using sub-programs.

The Island cycle must immediately precede the pocket cycle. If more than five Islands are required, additional island cycles can be programmed.

To insure the islands are correctly executed, each sub-program describing the island shape should begin by establishing absolute or incremental dimensioning.

Programmed by itself, with no additional parameters, will clear all previous island definitions. All defined islands are also cleared after the use of any compatible pocket cycle or finish cycle. If the islands need to be avoided for multiple pockets and/or finish cycles, they need to be re-defined before each desired pocket/finish cycle.

The contour of an island cannot overlap other islands or the pocket contour itself, or the pocket cycle will generate an error indicating that it cannot calculate the tool path correctly.

Island sub-programs need to consist of a sequence of contiguous line and/or arc movements starting and ending at the same point.

The machining side must be specified with a Left (G41) or Right (G42) in the first step of the island. This indicates which side of the contour the cutter needs to be, as viewed from the direction in which the island is defined.

An active tool diameter is required to execute pockets and islands. Program the tool prior to the islands and pocket.

Field	Code	Description
FirstIsl	A	First island
SecondIsl	B	Second island
ThirdIsl	C	Third island
FourthIsl	D	Fourth island
FifthIsl	E	Fifth island

G-code format: G162

See examples at the end of this chapter

190 7 Programming: Canned Cycles, sub-programs