Block: CYCLE

Variable

Default format

Use and Comments

A_CURPOS
B_CURPOS

2

Target angles for "alpha" and "beta" rotary axes (4/5 axes machines)

CURRENT_INIT

1

The current height above the drill point, along the tool axis, to which the tool would retract after the cycle. If CYC_RETR is "Init", it is equal to the current init height above this hole. If CYC_RETR is "Clear", it is equal to the clear height. If the clear height is larger than the init height, it will be equal to the clear height.

CYC_CLEAR

1

Cycle clear - distance of the clearance plane from the drill point, measured along the tool axis.

CYC_CODE

0

Cycle machine code - set in the DF2 file, "Canned Cycles" section.

CYC_DEPTH

1

Cycle depth value.

CYC_DWELL

5

Cycle dwell time in hundredths of a second.

CYC_DZINIT

1

The DRILL procedure DEL INIT value - distance of the init plane from the drill point, measured along the tool axis.

CYC_MANUAL

6

This variable is set "on" if the drill cycle is on a plane that cannot be handled by the machine, based on the relevant DF2 file parameter ("Output Cycles by Planes"). If the canned drill cycle can be handled by the machine, the variable is set "off".

CYC_NEXT

6

Indicates the type and nature of the next cycle bloc. It may get one of the following values:

CYC_OFF: this is the last cycle in a series, and the next cycle block is a cycle "off".

CYC_SAME: the next cycle has the same orientation as the current cycle.

CYC_ROTATED: the next cycle has a different orientation than the current cycle.

CYC_NEXT_CONNECT

6

Indicates if a connection is needed for the next cycle. GPP2 will set it to TRUE_ or FALSE_ based on the relevant DF2 parameters.

During the CYCLE block, the EX2 program may override the value of this variable, forcing GPP2 to have or avoid a connection after the cycle.

CYC_PECK

1

Cycle PECK value.

CYC_REDUC

1

Cycle DECREASE value.

CYC_RETR

0

Cycle retract code - set in the DF2 file, "Canned Cycles" section. The retract type determines the tool retract point after the cycle - to Clearance or Init plane.

CYC_TIMES

6

Number of times to peck.

CYC_XSHFT

1

Cycle shift along the X axis.

CYC_YSHFT

1

Cycle shift along the Y axis.

CYCLE_1...14

6

These 14 variables work in the following way: One (and only one) of them is set "on" while all other are set "off". They correspond to the 14 canned cycle types as follows:

CYCLE_1: High speed peck  

CYCLE_2: Left hand tapping  

CYCLE_3: Fine boring  

CYCLE_4: Spot drill  

CYCLE_5: Counter boring   

CYCLE_6: Deep hole peck

CYCLE_7: Tapping  

CYCLE_8: Boring  

CYCLE_9: Boring + spindle stop

CYCLE_10: Back boring 

CYCLE_11: Boring + dwell + manual out

CYCLE_12: Code for boring + dwell + feed

CYCLE_13: Gun drilling cycle

CYCLE_14: Thread milling cycle

Note: In the CYCLE OFF block, all 14 variables are set "off".

CYCLE_SUB

6

If the value of this parameter is 14, this means that it is a thread milling cycle, otherwise it is one if the legacy cycles.

M_CYC_TYPE

6

Type of Autodrill cycle.
1 – CYCLE_TYPE_DRILL
2 – CYCLE_TYPE_SPECIAL (thread milling)
3 – CYCLE_TYPE_GUNDRILL
4 – CYCLE_TYPE_POCKET
5 – CYCLE_TYPE_PROFILE
6 - CYCLE_TYPE_HELICAL

MCH_FEED

3

Machine feed rate - will be set if it needs to be modified in the cycle block.

MOTION_CODE

0

This variable can be used to replace CYC_CODE. It is assigned a value each time LIN_MOV, CIRC_MOV or CYC_CODE are assigned a value.

TOOL_CUT_TIME

The tool accumulated feed time at any given moment, in minutes.
Start at zero when the tool is first used and reset if the tool is changed to a replacement tool.

This variable is used in Tool Life Length Support & Force TOOL CHANGE Connection.

TOOL_FEED_TIME

The total cutting time of the current tool until (and including) this block. This is a string variable, of the form "hh:mm:ss", measuring the cutting time in hours, minutes and seconds.

TRD_APRFED

18

Relevant only to thread cycle (CYCLE_SUB is 14).
Approach Feed, expressed as percentage (%) of normal feed rate.
Real, non-unit-dependent.

TRD_APR_RADIUS

1

Thread helix requested approach radius. The actual radius may be smaller if there is no room between the tool and the hole (in internal threads only).

Approach radius of 0.0 indicated normal approach.

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_APRRAD.

TRD_BOTTOM_UP_SPECIAL

6

This system flag can be used by the EX2 program to request the special Bottom-up mode (mode 3 of TRD_CLIMB). If set to TRUE__, and "Bottom-up" is selected in the procedure, the special mode is applied.

TRD_BREAK_MOTIONS

6

The system flag used by the EX2 program in order to tell GPP2 that it requests the current cycle to be treated as thread-mill and broken down to multiple milling motions.

Can only be used from within a CYCLE block.

TRD_CLIMB

6

Cut direction, defined as follows:
1 : Bottom-up
2 : Top-down
3 : Top-down with up-cut – this is a special mode only applicable when "threads-per-step" > 1. While the overall process is top-down, each 360-degree helix is done from the bottom up.

TRD_CUTTER_COMP

6

Flag indicating cutter compensation mode:

0 – off.

1 – on, with toolpath created for the tooltip.

2 – on, with toolpath created for the geometry – this mode is only relevant to Cimatron 10 and beyond!

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_CUTCOM.

TRD_FASTFED_PERCENT

18

Feed rate of the “fast” motions inside the cycle (like moving up to do the next pass). Expressed as percentage of normal feed.

TRD_FULL_FINISH_PASS

6

If set to TRUE_, a full circle motion in fixed Z will be added to the thread milling output, to be used for boring. Can be set as TRUE_ under a condition, in BEGINNING OF PROC for example.

Works only for internal threads.

If "Step per Thread" is not 1, it will error while posting.

If retract was set as "helical", it will be forced to be "horizontal".

TRD_HELICAL_APPROACH

6

If TRUE_, GPP2 will apply a helical tangential approach, meaning the Z value will gradually change as the tool approaches the first helix point. If FALSE_, the approach is horizontal only (and will create a small mark, as it coincides with the helical groove).

Default: TRUE_.

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_HELAPP.

TRD_HELICAL_RETRACT

6

If TRUE_, GPP2 will apply a helical tangential retract, meaning the Z value will gradually change as the tool retracts. If FALSE_, the retract is horizontal only (and will create a small mark, as it coincides with the helical groove).

Default: TRUE_.

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_HELRET.

TRD_INTERNAL

6

Set to TRUE_ for internal threads, FALSE_ for external.

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_INTERN.

TRD_LIN_TOL

1

If arcs are broken to linear motions, this variable defines the tolerance (maximum distance between the perfect arc and the linear lines).

Default 0.01 mm (0.0004 inch).

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_LINTOL.

TRD_MAX_TOOL_DIAM

18

Maximum allowed tool diameter, expressed in percents (%), relative to the thread diameter (taking into account stock size and tapered threads). If the ratio between the tool diameter and the thread diameter exceeds this value, GPP2 stops with an error message.

Default: 90%.

TRD_NOMD

1

Relevant only for thread cycle (CYCLE_SUB is 14)
Thread nominal diameter. For tapered threads, this is taken as the diameter at the drill point Z level.

TRD_PITCH

1

Relevant only for thread cycle (CYCLE_SUB is 14)
Thread Pitch is the distance between 2 consecutive threads (Z difference between threads).
A positive value indicates a right-hand thread.
A negative value indicates a left-hand thread.

Thread Pitch example:

TRD_RIGHT_DIR

TRD_SIDE_STEP

1

The side step used between two passes, except possibly the last pass. Only relevant if the stock width is not zero.

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_SIDEST.

TRD_STEP

6

Relevant only for thread cycle (CYCLE_SUB is 14)
Threads per Step.
The number of thread revolutions by which the cutter is shifted along its axis.
Threads per step is defined as an Integer ≥ 0.
0 = One 360° helical path to the depth of the thread.
1 = A continuous helical path over the entire length of the thread.
> 1 = Several helical paths with approach and departure; between them, the machine controller shifts the cutter along its axis by the Thread per Step value, multiplied by the pitch.

Cutter examples:

TRD_STOCK_WIDTH

1

Material stock width. GPP2 will make several passes, each one deeper into the material, and each one closer to the nominal thread size by the side step.

For internal threads, GPP2 will start with a diameter smaller than the nominal, and will enlarge it with each pass. For external threads, it does the opposite.

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_STKWID.

TRD_STRANG

2

Relevant only for thread cycle (CYCLE_SUB is 14)
Thread start angle (where the helical motion starts, after the approach). Value of 0 indicates the X axis of the GPP2 output UCS.

TRD_TAPERED_ANG

2

Tapered thread angle. Angle is always positive, and taper direction (in or out) is determined by the internal/external parameter. The nominal diameter is always assumed to be at the top (at the drill point height).

In GPP, this variable is named: TRD_TPRANG.

TRD_USE_ARCS

6

If TRUE_, GPP2 will use helical (360-degree) arcs for the thread helix. If FALSE_, all arcs will be broken to linear motions.

Default is TRUE_ if the PP uses "linear arc fitting" (as defined in the DF2 file) and helical arcs are allowed there (see variable ARCFIT_HELICAL). Otherwise, the default of TRD_USE_ARCS is set to FALSE_.

X_CURPOS
Y_CURPOS
Z_CURPOS

1

The drill cycle point, in the posting UCS coordinate system.

X_CYC_CLEAR
Y_CYC_CLEAR
Z_CYC_CLEAR

1

The "clearance" point, located CYC_CLEAR distance above the drill point, where "above" is measured along the tool axis.

X_CYC_DEPTH
Y_CYC_DEPTH
Z_CYC_DEPTH

1

The "depth" point, located CYC_DEPTH distance below the drill point, where "below" is measured along the tool axis.

X_CYC_DZINIT
Y_CYC_DZINIT
Z_CYC_DZINIT

1

The "init" point, located CYC_DZINIT distance above the drill point, where "above" is measured along the tool axis.

ZCYC_END

1

The tool Z value after the cycle. GPP2 initializes that variable according to the retract code (to the init or clearance height).

During the CYCLE block, the EX2 program can change the value of the variable, telling GPP2 where the tool really ended, based on the specific machine behavior.

ZCYC_INIT_FIRST

1

The "init" Z value of the first cycle in a series (the "on" or "toinit" cycle.

ZCYC_NEXT_CLEAR

1

The "clearance" Z value of the next cycle. This variable is only meaningful if the next cycle is in the same orientation as the current cycle. See CYC_NEXT.

ZCYC_NEXT_INIT

1

The "init" Z value of the next cycle. This variable is only meaningful if the next cycle is in the same orientation as the current cycle. See CYC_NEXT.