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
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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 |
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Last week we conducted a wonderful training course at HG Medical.
The company from Raisting (Bavaria) gave three apprentices (cutting machine operators) a crash course in PAL turning (with face, shell, and chord surface machining) and PAL milling (focus on plane swivel). Building on what they had already learned at school, it was a very effective two days of training, and the three of them are now “relaxed” about the final written exam. Of course, we are keeping our fingers crossed for them!
We at KELLER.Software are pleased about the excellent partnership with HG Medical, as well as with the vocational school and other companies in the Weilheim-Schongau region.
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Congratulations to all participants on successfully completing the course!
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Practical Tip: How to organise Postprocessors – In Video format
SYMplus™ provides a list of around 50 Postprocessors. In reality, you will hardly ever need all of them. Mostly you work with one or a few. So selecting the right postprocessor can prove to be a nuisance with such a large list. Here is a tip that can help you organise those Postprocessors efficiently: Create a second folder for postprocessor parameter sets, and copy the postprocessors you currently need into this folder. That’s it.
In this practical tip, you will see how this works:
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For more tips, keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletters.
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SYMplus™ Update 64
With plusCARE™, there’s even more inside your SYMplus™ CNC software than there are gifts under the Christmas tree: Update 64 of SYMplus™ is now available.
The KELLER.Software team has already begun working on their good year resolutions and has put together a package full of innovations for you with Update 64:
- Bugfix regarding the selection of the machining strategy for roughing
- The HEIDENHAIN iTNC530 simulator supports the programming of a straight line defined by angle and one end point coordinate
- The SINUMERIK 810D/840D simulator supports the programming of circular arcs with center point and opening angle
- Improved error handling in case of wrong plunge strategy in PAL pockets (rectangle, circle, groove)
- Crash in case of incorrectly programmed retraction plane in PAL contour pocket is prevented
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SYMplus™ Update 63
SYMplus™ Update 63 is now available to all customers with plusCARE™ and includes new features as well as great improvements.
- Scale the font size in the editor of the simulators to 200% by default (e.g. for the beamer image of the teacher’s computer)
- When creating PAL gap-filling tasks, store individual instructions for each gap in the text
- Receive the new simulators for the SINUMERIK 808D control system
- The exchange of revolver stations and individual allowance presettings for roughing, facing and grooving in turning operation was never so easy
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Newsletter December 2022
6 steps to an organised Postprocessor list.
SYMplus™ provides a list of around 50 Postprocessors. In reality, you will hardly ever need all of them. Mostly you work with one or a few. So selecting the right postprocessor can prove to be a nuisance with such a large list. Here is a tip that can help you organise those Postprocessors efficiently: Create a second folder for postprocessor parameter sets, and copy the postprocessors you currently need into this folder. That’s it.
Here it goes:
Step 1: Open the “Work plan” operating mode (alternatively also “PAL simulator” or “Simulator”).
Step 2: Select “F1 File” > “F5 Management” > “F4 Postprocessor Parameter”.
Step 3: Mark the file(s) relevant to you and …
Click here to read the full version of the Practical Tip >
SYMplus™ Update 63 is now available to all customers with plusCARE™ and includes new features as well as great improvements.
Scale the font size in the editor of the simulators to 200% by default (e.g. for the beamer image of the teacher’s computer)
When creating PAL gap-filling tasks, store individual instructions for each gap in the text
Receive the new simulators for the SINUMERIK 808D control system
The exchange of revolver stations and individual allowance presettings for roughing, facing and grooving in turning operation was never so easy
In addition, many detailed improvements in the simulators for PAL2020, SIEMENS 810D/840D and HEIDENHAIN allow for more effective work. The use of mobile licenses and the sources for the creation of individual macro work steps (by customer order) have also been improved. Other sample programs have been revised according to PAL2020 (for new installation as part of the user data).
More information about Update >
Lastly, we want to pause and look back at the past year.
It was great to see that many events and meetings took place this year. It started with the BETT UK education fair in London in March and ended with the BZI Remscheid open day last month.
The fact that face-to-face meetings were more feasible again than in the past two years was also evident at the KELLER.Academy: close to 40 guests came to the Academy courses this year (in comparison: there were less than twenty in 2021). In addition, the KELLER.Academy celebrated its fifth anniversary and held (virtual) training courses in Pakistan and Mexico, both of which are far away. In September, we published the new “SYMplus™ license via the Internet”, with which you now only need one KELLER ID to let several users work with SYMplus™. And in October, a new edition of the workbooks was also published.
Look out for more new improvements next year!
Missed new developments? Check out our website at KELLER.News for all the important information including newsletters, announcements and more.
KELLER.News >
The KELLER.Software team wishes you a pleasant Advent season and relaxing holidays.
– Your KELLER.Software Team
Much more from KELLER.Software …
Next Appointments:
12. – 13. January 2023: Basic graphic programming (CAD/CAM) with SYMplus™
26. – 27. January 2023: Basic DIN/PAL programming with SYMplus™
New on YouTube: With the PAL2020 reform, some commands in the PAL encoding have been changed. As a result, programs written according to PAL2008 or PAL 2012 no longer run and lead to error messages. With this practical tip, you can easily rewrite your programs.
Watch now on YouTube >
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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