FANUC Series 30i/300i/300is-MODEL A. Machining Center System. User's manual - page 126

23.MUITI-PATH CONTROL FUNCTION

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23.1 

OVERVIEW 

 
The multi-path control function is designed to enable 10 independent 
simultaneous machining with up to 10 paths (10-path control).    This 
function is applicable to lathes and automatic lathes which perform 
cutting simultaneously with multiple tool posts, combined machine 
tools which perform turning and milling simultaneously with multiple 
paths, and machines which require additional control paths such as a 
loader control path. 
 
For multi-path simultaneous machining, each machining program is 
stored in a folder in program memory for each path.    When automatic 
operation is to be performed, each path is activated after selecting a 
program for machining with path 1 and programs for machining with 
paths 2 to 10 from the programs stored in the respective folders in 
program memory.    Then the programs selected for the tool posts are 
executed independently at the same time.    When tool post 1 and tool 
post 2 need to wait for each other during machining, the waiting 
function is available. 
Other available functions specific to multi-path control include 
interference check for each path, balance cut, synchronous control, 
composite control, spindle control between each path, and common 
memory between each path. 
 
Just one LCD/MDI is provided for the all paths.  Before operation 
and display on the LCD/MDI, the path selection signal is used to 
switch between the paths. 
 

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Example)    For a system with four paths 

Program folder for path

1

Program folder for path

2

Program folder for path

3

Path 1

program

analysis

Path 2

program

analysis

Path 3

program

analysis

Path 1

position

control

Path 2

position

control

Path 3

position

control

Path 1 axis

control

CNC

LCD/MDI

Path 2 axis

control

Path 3 axis

control

Program folder for path

4

Path 4

program

analysis

Path 4

position

control

Path 4 axis

control

Program memory

Programs

Programs

Programs

Programs

 

 
 

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23.2 

WAITING FUNCTION FOR PATHS 

 

Overview 

Control based on M codes is used to cause one path to wait for the 
other during machining.    When an M code for waiting is specified in 
a block for one path during automatic operation, the other path waits 
for the same M code to be specified before staring the execution of the 
next block.   
A range of M codes used as M codes for waiting is to be set in the 
parameters (Nos. 8110 and 8111) beforehand.  Waiting can be 
ignored using a signal. 
 

Format 

M m (Pp) ; 

m: Number of an M code for waiting 

p:  (1)  In the binary value specification mode, specify the 

sum of the binary values corresponding to the 

numbers of paths which are to wait for one another. 

  (2)  In the path number specification mode, specify the 

numbers of all paths that are to wait for one another 

in combination. 

 

Explanation 

The following two methods for specifying paths which are to wait for 
one another at address P in the same block in which an M code for 
waiting is specified are available and can be selected using bit 1 
(MWP) of parameter No. 8103.    One method is to specify the paths 
with the sum of their corresponding binary values (waiting set for 
three or more paths specified with binary values).  The other is to 
specify them with their path numbers in combination (waiting 
specified with path numbers). 
When address P is not specified, paths 1 and 2 wait for each other 
(waiting set for two paths).  Always specify address P in a single 
block. 
 

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  - Waiting specified with binary values 

When bit 1 (MWP) of parameter No. 8103 is set to 0, the value 
specified at address P is assumed to be obtained using binary values.   
The following table lists the path numbers and corresponding binary 
values. 
 

Path number 

Binary value (decimal number) 

1 1 
2 2 
3 4 
4 8 
5 16 
6 32 
7 64 
8 128 
9 256 

10 512 

 
The bit position of each path in binary representation is shown below. 
 

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 

 

 

 

 

 
To make all of paths 1, 2, and 3 wait for one another, the P value is 
obtained as follows: 
 
Binary value of path 1  1 (0000 0000 0000 0001) 
Binary value of path 2  2 (0000 0000 0000 0010) 
Binary value of path 3  4 (0000 0000 0000 0100) 
 

Sum 

7 (0000 0000 0000 0111) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 1 (2

0

 = 1) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 2 (2

1

 = 2) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 3 (2

2

 = 4) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 4 (2

3

 = 8) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 5 (2

4

 = 16) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 6 (2

5

 = 32) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 7 (2

6

 = 64) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 8 (2

7

 = 128) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 9 (2

8

 = 256) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path 10 (2

9

 = 512) 

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All of the three paths can be made to wait for one another by 
specifying P7 together with an M code for waiting. 
To make all of paths 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wait for one another, the P value 
is obtained as follows: 
 
Binary value of path 1  1 (0000 0000 0000 0001) 
Binary value of path 3  4 (0000 0000 0000 0100) 
Binary value of path 5  16 (0000 0000 0001 0000) 
Binary value of path 7  64 (0000 0000 0100 0000) 
Binary value of path 9  256 (0000 0001 0000 0000) 
 

Sum 

341 (0000 0001 0101 0101) 

 
All of the five paths can be made to wait for one another by specifying 
P341 together with an M code for waiting. 
 

  - Waiting specified with a combination of path numbers 

When bit 1 (MWP) of parameter No. 8103 is set to 1, the value 
specified at address P is assumed to be a combination of path numbers.   
The following table lists the path numbers and corresponding values. 
 

Path number 

Value (decimal number) 

1 1 
2 2 
3 3 
4 4 
5 5 
6 6 
7 7 
8 8 
9 9 

10 0 

 
To make all of paths 1, 2, and 3 wait for one another, the P value is a 
number consisting of 1, 2, and 3. 

Example)  P123 

There are no restrictions on the order in which the numeric characters 
are specified, and the following six possible values can be specified: 

P123, P132, P213, P231, P312, P321 

Path numbers specified in combination in different orders for different 
paths are effective as long as the numbers of the relevant paths are 
specified. 

Example)  The following are treated as the same P value and 

these paths can be made to wait for one another: 

 

 

M200P123 for path 1, M200P231 for path 2, and 
M200P321 for path 3 

 
To make all of paths 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wait for one another, the P value 
is a number consisting of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. 

Example) P13579 

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  - Waiting for path 10 

To make path 10 and another path wait for each other, specify a value 
of 0 for the combination. 
If a number begins with 0, 0 cannot be recognized.    Specify 0 in the 
second or subsequent digit from the left. 

Incorrect example)  P013579 
Correct example)  P103579 

In the incorrect example, the P value is assumed to be the same as 
P13579.    Path 10 cannot be made to wait for other paths and other 
paths cannot be made to wait for path 10. 
 

Example 
  - When the value specified at P is obtained using binary values 

Assume that the waiting ignore signal for path 2 (G1063.7 for a 
system with three or more paths) is set to 1 and M101 to M103 
(parameter No. 8110 = 101 and parameter No. 8111 = 103) are set as 
M codes for waiting.    In this case, programs O100, O200, and O300 
for individual paths are executed as follows: 
 

O0300;
G50 X    Z     ;
G00 X    Z    T0303;
M102 P7;  ................. <2>

O0100;
G50 X    Z     ;
G00 X    Z    T0101;
M03 S1000;

.
.

M101 P3; .................. <1>
G01 X    Z    F     ;

.
.

M102 P7; .................. <2>

M103 P7; .................. <3>

O0200;
G50 X    Z     ;
G00 X    Z    T0202;
M03 S2000;
M101 P3; .................. <1>
G01 X    Z    F     ;

.
.

M102 P7; .................. <2>
M103 P7; .................. <3>

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

G00 X    Z     ;

.
.

M103 P7; .................. <3>

G00 X    Z     ;

.

G01 X    Z    F     ;

.
.

<<Waiting (M102)>>

<<Waiting (M103)>>

Path 1

Path 2

Path 3

 

 
<1>  M101 P3; (making paths 1 and 2 wait for each other) 
 

When the waiting ignore signal for path 2 is set to 0, paths 1 and 
2 wait for each other.    Because the signal is set to 1, however, 
paths 1 and 2 ignore the M code for waiting and immediately 
execute the next block. 

<2>  M102 P7; (making paths 1, 2, and 3 wait for one another) 
 

In this example, path 3 waits for processing on paths 1 and 2 to 
terminate.    Because the waiting ignore signal for path 2 is set to 
1, however, path 3 assumes that waiting is completed when 
processing on path 1 terminates, and executes the next block. 

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<3>  M103 P7; (making paths 1, 2, and 3 wait for one another) 
 

In this example, paths 1 and 2 wait for processing on path 3 to 
terminate.    Because the waiting ignore signal for path 2 is set to 
1, however, path 2 does not wait for processing on path 3 to 
terminate and executes the next block, but path 1 waits for path 
3. 

 

  - When the value specified at P is obtained using path numbers in combination 

 
Assume that the waiting ignore signal for path 2 (G1063.7 for a 
system with three or more paths) is set to 1 and M101 to M103 
(parameter No. 8110 = 101 and parameter No. 8111 = 103) are set as 
M codes for waiting.    In this case, programs O100, O200, and O300 
for individual paths are executed as follows: 
 

O0300;
G50 X    Z     ;
G00 X    Z    T0303;
M102 P123; ............. <2>

O0100;
G50 X    Z     ;
G00 X    Z    T0101;
M03 S1000;

.
.

M101 P12; ................ <1>
G01 X    Z    F     ;

.
.

M102 P123; .............. <2>

M103 P123; .............. <3>

O0200;
G50 X    Z     ;
G00 X    Z    T0202;
M03 S2000;
M101 P12; ................ <1>
G01 X    Z    F     ;

.
.

M102 P123; .............. <2>
M103 P123; .............. <3>

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

G00 X    Z     ;

.
.

M103 P123; .............. <3>

G00 X    Z     ;

.

G01 X    Z    F     ;

.
.

<<Waiting (M102)>>

<<Waiting (M103)>>

Path 1

Path 2

Path 3

 

 
<1>  M101 P12; (making paths 1 and 2 wait for each other) 
 

When the waiting ignore signal for path 2 is set to 0, paths 1 and 
2 wait for each other.    Because the signal is set to 1, however, 
paths 1 and 2 ignore the M code for waiting and immediately 
execute the next block. 

<2>  M102 P123; (making paths 1, 2, and 3 wait for one another) 
 

In this example, path 3 waits for processing on paths 1 and 2 to 
terminate.    Because the waiting ignore signal for path 2 is set to 
1, however, path 3 assumes that waiting is completed when 
processing on path 1 terminates, and executes the next block. 

<3>  M103 P123; (making paths 1, 2, and 3 wait for one another) 
 

In this example, paths 1 and 2 wait for processing on path 3 to 
terminate.    Because the waiting ignore signal for path 2 is set to 
1, however, path 2 does not wait for processing on path 3 to 
terminate and executes the next block, but path 1 waits for path 
3. 

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 CAUTION 

1  An M code for waiting must always be specified in a 

single block. 

2  Unlike other M codes, the M code for waiting is not 

output to the PMC. 

3  If the operation of a single path is required, the M 

code for waiting need not be deleted.    By using the 
signal to specify that waiting be ignored (NOWT for 
the system with two paths, NMWT for the system 
with three or more paths), the M code for waiting in 
a machining program can be ignored.    For details, 
refer to the manual supplied by the machine tool 
builder. 

4  If using a waiting M code in block multiple-M code 

command mode, be sure to specify it as the first M 
code.