Newsletter September 2023
Vacation is over? Here are the latest updates from “KELLER”.
With the end of summer break in most federal states (teachers from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg might already be checking their email inboxes), we warmly welcome you back from the summer hiatus. Our newsletter is here to bring you up to speed after the vacation period:
We’re excited to announce that the latest version, SYMplus™ 65, is now available. This update brings a variety of improvements and enhanced features, including:
- Simulators according to PAL2020: numerous enhancements and expansions.
- Turning: No more worries in the 2nd quadrant with the right-hand cutting tool. We’ve fixed this issue, making roughing easy now.
- More flexibility for your milling experience: Additional post-processors support tool preselection.
- Customize SYMplus™ to your needs: Explore the new possibilities for creating individual operation step macros with contours.
Learn more about the new features and optimizations:
Click here >
How to update the software:
Click here >
If you missed our webinar “PAL2020: Changes in the Machinist Examination” or want a refresher, we have great news for you. A recording of this webinar is now available on our YouTube channel (complimentary!). Gain insights into past IHK exams, upcoming changes, handling the current PAL coding, and discover how SYMplus™ can prepare your students for ‘fill in the blanks’ tasks. Please note that the Webinar is currently only available in GERMAN. If you would like to have it in English, let us know and we will find a solution.
Here are the links to the webinar:
Our new video series on YouTube delivers knowledge in less than 1 minute – hence the name “INSTANT CNC”. Quickly and concisely, you’ll get the essential information to quench your thirst for knowledge.
Currently, the series comprises a selection of exercises from the “A collection of exercises on CNC technology Milling according to the PAL2020” by CHRISTIANI. Additional videos, including exercises from the turning booklet, will follow soon.
The structure of these short clips is consistent: First, the drawing is displayed, followed by the 3D simulation using SYMplus™. During the simulation, you’ll receive information about each step of the exercise.
To the playlist „INSTANT CNC“ >
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to not miss any new videos. It’s free for you and would greatly support us. Thank you in advance.
Have a nice day and best regards.
– Your KELLER.Software Team
Much more from KELLER.Software …
SYMplus™ workbooks:
Ideal for PAL exam preparation as well as for normal lessons: The SYMplus™ workbooks (Turning and Milling). The workbooks are organised according to topics and levels of difficulty and offer optimal learning material:
- CNC entry
- DIN basics
- Control-specific technical training
- CAD/CAM
It also includes numerous exercises for successful training and further education.
Next Appointments in the KELLER.Academy:
Driven tools, level swivel and reform PAL2020
- 12.-13. October 2023
- 07.-08. December 2023
Basics of graphical programming (CAD/CAM) with SYMplus™
- 26.-27. October 2023
Basic DIN/PAL programming with SYMplus™
- 23.-24. November 2023
Exam preparation PAL
- 90.-10. November 2023
To subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please use the form below. Thank you.
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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The newsletter from KELLER
Do you know about the KELLER Newsletter? Stay in the loop with regular updates (currently every three months) delivered straight to your email inbox – all completely free!
To sign up, please drop us an email to info@cnc-keller.de. Don’t miss out!
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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SYMplus™ Update 65
Dear SYMplus™ users! The wait is over: Software Update 65 is now available!
- Simulators according to PAL2020: Numerous improvements and extensions.
- Turning: No more worries in the 2nd quadrant with the right turning tool. We have fixed the bug, so you can now rough effortlessly.
- More flexibility for your Milling experience: Additional post-processors support tool preselection.
- Adapt SYMplus™ to fit your requirements: Discover new possibilities for creating individual work step macros with contours.
The update is now live! Get the latest version of SYMplus™ and take your CNC production to a new level of efficiency and precision!
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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A long Weekend Awaits
It’s time to kick off the weekend a little earlier this time in Germany, starting on Wednesday! It’s the perfect time to unwind, soak up the sun, and replenish your energy.
The KELLER.Software team is taking a break and will return to full swing on Monday (June 12th) next week.
Enjoy the holidays and have a fantastic weekend!
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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Your feedback matters: Have a say in the next webinar topics.
We’re excited to announce that following the tremendous success of our “PAL2020” webinar, we’re now seeking your input to make our future webinars even better!
If you can understand German and would like to contribute, we invite you to take part in our short survey. Your feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the topics we cover. The survey is Anonymous.
- Access the survey by clicking here: https://www.surveymonkey.de/r/M8BTTS9
Thank you for your understanding and support in shaping the direction of our upcoming webinars!
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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Newsletter June 2023
Unlocking New Horizons: Explore the PAL2020 Webinar Recording and IHK Exam Innovations
If you have missed our webinars on the topic of “PAL2020: What’s changing in the cutting machine operator exam” or would like to review the content again at your leisure, then we have great news for you. As of now, the webinar recording is available to everyone free of charge!
Please note: Webinar Recording is currently available only in German language.
The Webinar covered the following topics:
- Changes in past IHK exams
- Innovations that are coming in the future and how they will be incorporated into the exam
- How to transfer old programs to the changed coding
- How your students can prepare for the fill in the blank tasks
- “Debriefing” of the final exams for cutting machine operators in May
How can you get the webinar recording?
Type https://pal.cnc-keller.de into your browser and register yourself on the page, and we will send you the link to the recording via email.
Since the beginning of the year, we have hosted this webinar once or twice a month. With a total of 18 events, we received a great response. A participation rate of 80% is something we’re very pleased about.
Your KELLER.Software team wishes you a relaxing vacation, sunny days and/or just a nice summer time!
– Your KELLER.Software Team
Much more from KELLER.Software …
Next Appointments in the KELLER.Academy:
Driven tools, level swivel and reform PAL2020
- 13.-14. July 2023
- 24.-25. August 2023
Basics of graphical programming (CAD/CAM) with SYMplus™
- 27.-28. July 2023
- 07.-08. September 2023
Basic DIN/PAL programming with SYMplus™
- 10.-11. August 2023
- 21.-22. September 2023
To subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please use the form below. Thank you.
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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Newsletter March 2023
PAL2020: How to rewrite old PAL programs.
With the reform of the PAL norms in 2020, quite a few changes came our way. G17 is now G15, G86 and G88 remain, but many new or modified cycle addresses have been added, and so on and so forth.
However, we found out through interesting exchanges with the participants in our new webinar series, “PAL2020: What’s Changing in Machinists’ Exams,” that the PAL2020 commands feel like deciphering hieroglyphics.
But since we’re not all likely to be Indiana Jones, we’d like to give you a little overview of the changes in this newsletter – To decipher the hieroglyphics, so to speak.
Here you can find a table with the comparison “PAL2008/PAL2012” and “PAL2020” (status spring 2023):
To the comparison: “PAL2008/2012 ↔ PAL2020” >
Well, now you can understand the hieroglyphs a bit better, but you still have a lot of programs that run with the old PAL standard, or more precisely, don’t run anymore. What about that?
One trick that is so easy and old that you might not even think of it is the search-and-replace function in SYMplus™. You can use it to rewrite anything that can be replaced one-to-one, like G17 with G15. And this is how you proceed:
1.
Open the program, which you have programmed in an older PAL coding, in the mode “PAL2020”. You will then get the message, “The NC program is faulty!” This is exactly what we want to change, so just click it away with “F10”. In your editor, the last block that does not correspond to the coding according to PAL2020 will now be marked. Here in our example, the exercise program “LAGER3” from the workbook “Plane Swing”, is the line “N65 G17 CR180 AR90”.
2.
Press the “F1” key to select “Search/Replace” and enter “G17” in the “Search for” field and “G15” in the “Replace with” field:
Then click “Replace All” to replace “G17” with “G15” throughout the document. Finally, apply this edit by pressing the “F10” key.
3.
Next, in our example, the line “N45 G48 G40 R10 Z0” is marked as incorrect, because after PAL2020 the commands for tangential approach and departure have also changed:
Replace them according to the same principle: “G48 G40 R” becomes “G40 G46 RR”. And then “G41 G45 D” = “G41 G45 DL”.
And already you have done quite a lot of work without having to trudge through the lines piece by piece.
Everything else (like changing cycle addresses) is explained on our support page:
http://cnc-keller.yoursupport.de/cnc.en/entries/000605/rewrite-old-pal-programs-for-pal2020
Have a nice day and best regards.
– Your KELLER.Software Team
Much more from KELLER.Software …
Reach your learning goal quickly and efficiently: it’s not easy to successfully pass the IHK final exam for machinist turning or machinist milling.
To support you in this endeavor, we have developed SYMplus™, a special PAL software. Here, the focus is on practical exercises to achieve the greatest possible learning success.
Learn more >
Next Appointments in the KELLER.Academy:
Basics of graphical programming (CAD/CAM) with SYMplus™
- 13.-14. April 2023
- 25.-26. June 2023
Exam preparation PAL
- 20.-21. April 2023
Basic DIN/PAL programming with SYMplus™
- 11.-12. May 2023
- 29.-30. June 2023
Driven tools, level swivel and reform PAL2020
- 25.-26. May 2023
To subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please use the form below. Thank you.
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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Comparison of old PAL programs and PAL2020
Complete table with a comparison of “PAL2008/PAL2012” and “PAL2020” (status spring 2023):
PAL2008/PAL2012 | PAL2020 | Meaning | Where is it found? |
G41 G45 D | G41 G45 DL | Linear tangential approach | Milling and Turning with driven tools |
G42 G45 D | G42 G45 DL | Linear tangential approach | Milling and Turning with driven tools |
G40 G46 D | G40 G45 DL | Linear tangential departure | Milling and Turning with driven tools |
G41 G47 R | G41 G46 RR | Tangential approach on a quarter circle | Milling and Turning with driven tools |
G42 G47 R | G42 G46 RR | Tangential approach on a quarter circle | Milling and Turning with driven tools |
G48 G40 R | G40 G46 RR | Tangential departure on a quarter circle | Milling and Turning with driven toolsn |
G17 | G15 | Svivelling and Resetting the machining level | Milling Level selection |
G17 | G15 G17 IP3 | Level selection face end with virtual Y axis | Turning with driven tools |
G17 C | G15 G17 IP0 | Level selection face end with polar coordinates | Turning with driven tools |
G17 Y C | G15 G17 IP5 CM | Level selection face end with real Y axis | Turning with driven tools |
G18 | G15 G18 TURN | Level selection for Turning | Drehen mit angetr. Werkzeugen |
G19 X | G15 G19 IP1 DM | Level selection surface area with virtual Y axis | Turning with driven tools |
G19 C | G15 G19 IP0 | Level selection surface area with polar coordinates | Turning with driven tools |
G19 Y X | G15 G19 IP5 DM | Level selection chord area with real Y Axis | Turning with driven tools |
G86 | M1 ; G86 | Radial recessing cycle | Turning, not automatically “translatable”, therefore commented out here with M1 ;. The cycle must then be reprogrammed. |
G88 | M1 ; G88 | Axial recessing cycle | Turning, not automatically “translatable”, therefore commented out here with M1 ;. The cycle must then be reprogrammed. |
Other changes do not necessarily require the revision of existing programs, but may have an impact in the simulation:
PAL2008/PAL2012 | PAL2020 | Meaning | Where is it found? |
G0 X Y Z | G0 X Y G0 Z |
Positioning logic for G0 and G10 omitted | Milling |
T S F M13 | T M6 S F M13 |
Tool change with M6 In SYMplus™, however, T still triggers the change directly, M6 remains optional |
Milling |
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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Happy (Chinese) New Year
Happy New Year, or as it is called in Chinese: Xīn nián kuài lè (新年快乐).
The 15-day Chinese New Year begins today, and it is the Year of the Rabbit. The Rabbit zodiac sign promises to bring us: Longevity, Peace and Prosperity. That does sound pretty good, doesn’t it?
We would also like to wish our long-standing partners from China, “ChinaWindow” a wonderful year ahead. Our founder, Mr. Keller and Head of Sales, Mr. Reckermann, were able to visit them in China in the past, and they were also able to visit us here in Wuppertal. We hope this new year brings more collaborations between us.
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!

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Snow chaos in Wuppertal, KELLER.Software cozy in homeoffice
Oh, there was snow chaos in Wuppertal yesterday morning. Hopefully, you all arrived safely? Or did you just switch to homeoffice like we did?
A colleague who did make it to the company took this photo from the office.
Do you have any questions?
Our experts are at your disposal. We look forward to your inquiry!
