Lesson Eight: G04 Dwell Techniques

G04 Dwell Techniques

Most basic CNC courses do introduce the dwell command. As you probably know, you
can make the machines axes pause for a specified period. With all machines, the dwell
period can specified in time (seconds). The primary application for the dwell command
(relieving tool pressure) is also commonly introduced in basic CNC courses. Here we
intend to discuss the dwell command in more detail and explore the various applications
for the dwell command (including to relieve tool pressure).
Can you specify the dwell period in number of spindle revolutions?
As stated, all controls allow you to specify the dwell period in seconds. With some
machines (those that allow feedrate specification in per revolution fashion), you can
additionally specify the dwell period in number of revolutions. This can be helpful,
especially when you are trying to relieve tool pressure. To designate the method by
which you specify dwell period (time or number of revolutions), use the G code for
specifying feed per minute or feed per revolution. For machining center controls, this
command is usually G94 for time in seconds or G95 for number of revolutions. For
turning centers, its usually G98 for time in seconds or G99 for number of revolutions.
Here are two examples for a turning center.
N060 G98 G04 X1.0 (Dwell one second)
N060 G99 G04 X5.0 (Dwell five revolutions)
Relieving tool pressure
As you probably know, the primary application for the dwell command (at least for
machining and turning centers) is to relieve tool pressure. For machining centers, this is
commonly necessary once you have plunged an end mill into a pocket or slot in the Z
axis, prior to beginning to mill the pocket or slot in XY.
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N045 G54 G90 S500 M03 (Select coordinate system, abs mode, start spindle
N050 G00 X0.5 Y4.0 (Rapid to slot in XY)
N055 G43 H01 Z0.1 (Instate tool length compensation, rapid to just above
surface)
N060 G01 Z-0.25 F2.0 (Plunge pocket in Z)
N065 G04 X0.5 (Dwell for 0.5 seconds)
N070 G01 X4.0 F4.0 (Mill slot)
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In line N065, the dwell period is in seconds since feedrate is being specified in per
minute fashion (note that most machining centers do not even allow feed per revolution).
Another time you have to relieve tool pressure in this fashion on machining centers is
when counter-boring. You know that this dwell is part of the G82 counter-boring canned
cycle.

Lesson Eight: G04 Dwell Techniques

For turning centers, its often necessary to relieve tool pressure after plunging a groove.
If you dont, its likely that the bottom of the groove will not be round. Heres an
example.
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N050 T0202 M41 (Index turret, select spindle range)
N055 G96 S400 M03 (Start spindle at 400 sfm)
N060 G00 X4.2 Z-3.5 (Rapid to just above groove)
N065 G01 X3.5 F0.005 (Plunge groove)
N070 G04 X5.0 (Dwell for five seconds)
N075 G00 X4.2 (Retract from groove)
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Were assuming this turning center allows the dwell period to be specified in number of
revolutions. And since feedrate is being specified in per revolution fashion, the dwell
period in line N070 will be five revolutions.
Are you dwelling to overcome machine problems?
As stated, the primary application for the dwell command is to allow time for tool
pressure to be relieved. Weve seen some CNC users, rather inappropriately, use the
dwell command in order to program around certain machine limitations. (Worse, weve
seen some machine tool builders actually recommend using the dwell command in this
manner.)
Say, for example, your CNC turning centers coolant system isnt reacting as quickly as it
is supposed to. Maybe theres a bad check-valve. You specify an M08, but it takes 2-3
seconds before the coolant comes on at full blast. Yet you have a tool (possibly a
coolant-through-the-tool drill) that requires coolant to be flowing at its maximum before
the drill can enter a hole. If its not, the drill could be damaged. In this case, some
programmers will simply program an 2-3 second dwell command after the M08 and
before the drill is allowed to enter the hole. While this does take care of the problem, it
adds time to the cycle. And its likely that the coolant systems check valve will
eventually worsen (taking even more time to fully activate the coolant). The right way to
handle this problem is, of course, to fix the machine.
Poorly interfaced M codes
With the coolant system example, at least the machine was originally designed to
function properly. It was a machine problem (the bad check valve) that caused the
programmer to add the dwell. However, we have seen many poorly interfaced M codes
(designed by the machine tool builder) that do not provide full confirmation that the M
code has been completed prior to allowing the machine to continue with the program.
One turning center manufacturer, for example, did not fully interface the chuck-jaw open
and close M codes. When an end user attached a bar feeder, they found that when the
jaw close M code was specified (to clamp on the bar after feeding), the program
continued before the jaws fully closed. The bar stop moved away while the jaws were

Lesson Eight: G04 Dwell Techniques

still closing and allowed the bar to feed too far. The proper long-term solution to this
problem is, of course, to have the jaw closing M code fully interfaced so that the machine
must receive a confirmation signal that the jaws are closed before it is allowed to
continue with the program. Yet when this user contacted the machine tool builder, they
were told to include a dwell command after the jaw close M code to allow time for the
jaws to close. Programming around non-interfaced M codes with the dwell command can
be very dangerous. In this example, if for any reason the jaws dont close in the allotted
time, the program will simply continue.
You should never have to use the dwell command to program around non-interfaced M
codes. Given the technology of todays programmable controller logic, machine tool
builders can modify the way M codes behave with relative ease. So if you do happen
across an M code that is not fully interfaced, and especially if its function could be
hazardous, we urge you to contact the machine tool builder to have it fully interfaced
(dont take no for an answer). CNC machines are dangerous enough when all M codes
are properly interfaced.
Other M codes you should never program around with dwell commands include indexing
devices, pallet changers, tailstocks, tool changing, or just about any other machine
function that takes time to complete.
Another time weve seen the dwell command rather inappropriately applied has to do
with spindle acceleration. With most turning centers, if the spindle is not yet up to speed
when a positioning movement is completed, the control will make the machine wait until
the spindle is up to speed. As you accelerate, not waiting for the spindle may not be too
dangerous (machining will simply be too slow). However, say youve just faced a
workpiece to center using constant surface speed and the spindle is running at its
maximum speed. Now you rapid this tool up to a large six inch diameter to do some
rough turning. Its likely that the (three inch) motion will occur much faster than the
spindles deceleration to the appropriate speed for a six inch diameter.
In this case, if the machine does not wait for the spindle to slow down before the tool is
allowed to continue, machining will occur much faster than it is supposed to. This could
cause damage to the tool and/or workpiece and if the workpiece is not securely held, it
could be thrown from the work holding device. This may be another time when you are
tempted to program a dwell command to handle a machine problem. You can, of course,
include a dwell command right after the machines movement to the six inch diameter
that is long enough for the spindle to slow down to the appropriate speed. However, if
you do this kind of work on a regular basis (several different workpieces), its likely that
youll eventually forget to include the dwell command - and the results could be
disastrous. Again, the better long term solution is to get the machine tool builder to fix
the machine. This problem may be as simple to solve as a parameter change.
G09 and G61 - exact stop check commands
We mention the exact stop check command during our discussion of the dwell command
(G04). As you know, the CNC machine will have the tendency to round corners as it
transitions from one G01 command to another. The larger the machine and the faster the
feedrate, the more the tendency there will be for corner rounding. The G09 command

Lesson Eight: G04 Dwell Techniques

will cause the machine to come to a complete stop between motions. For outside corners,
this will have the effect of eliminating corner rounding. Here is an example.
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N055 G00 X-0.6 Y-0.25 (Rapid to approach position)
N060 G43 H01 Z-0.25 (Instate tool length compensation, move to work
surface in Z)
N065 G01 G09 X4.25 F5.0 (Machine lower surface in Y, stop at command
end)
N070 G09 Y5.25 (Machine right side in X, stop at command end)
N075 G00 Z0.1 (Retract in Z)
N080 G91 G28 Z0 M19 (Move to tool change position, orient spindle)
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Note that G09 is a non-modal G code. Since we need it twice in this series of commands,
it must be programmed twice. There is another exact stop check command that is modal
(G61). Heres the same program using G61. Note that G64 (normal cutting) cancels the
exact stop check mode.
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N055 G00 X-0.6 Y-0.25 (Rapid to approach position)
N060 G43 H01 Z-0.25 (Instate tool length compensation, move to work
surface in Z)
N065 G01 G61 X4.25 F5.0 (Machine lower surface in Y, stop at command
end)
N070 Y5.25 (Machine right side in X, stop at command end)
N075 G64 G00 Z0.1 (Retract in Z)
N080 G91 G28 Z0 M19 (Move to tool change position, orient spindle)
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