Haas CNC Machine Code Reference

Haas Automation is the largest machine tool manufacturer in the western world in terms of unit volume and largest dollar-volume machine tool manufacturer in North America. The company was established in 1983 by an industry pioneer Gene Haas, who transformed the American manufacturing industry by demonstrating that high-quality CNC machines could be manufactured in the United States at competitive prices. To the manufacturing professionals and CNC programmers, the ability to master the Haas machine codes is critical to the maximization of productivity in the contemporary machining processes.

Haas’s American manufacturing excellence

Haas Automation changed the CNC machine tool industry with a very simple, but revolutionary idea: make everything in-house at their 1.3-million-square-foot manufacturing plant in Oxnard, California. This is a strategy that enables total control of quality of raw materials to finished machines and at competitive prices that threatened the industry norm of offshore production.
In 1988, the company made a breakthrough with the release of the VF-1 vertical machining center that sold below $50,000 dollars when industry analysts were not sure that an American-made machine could sell at such a price.

The VF name is shortened to represent the term Very First, which is to commemorate the entry of Haas into the machine tool market. The VF-1 continues to sell today, at a price of less than 50,000 dollars, and can usually be delivered within weeks of the order. View our inventory of Vf-2 & Vf-3 machines.

Haas does not only believe in American manufacturing because it is patriotic but because it is beneficial. More than 50 percent of the machines that the company uses to produce its products are its own, which shows that the company has confidence in the quality and reliability of its machines. They have a just-in-time production and lean manufacturing processes that allow them to produce more than 1,300 machines per month in four key product lines: vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes and rotary tables.

Complete Haas machine code reference tables

Haas G-codes for milling machines

Haas programming is based on the popular Fanuc standard with proprietary enhancements that increase productivity and ease of use. This compatibility-first strategy implies that the majority of Fanuc G-code programs can be used directly on Haas machines, and operators enjoy the exclusive Haas innovations.

Complete Haas M-code reference

Haas M-codes allow full machine control beyond simple spindle and coolant control. The large library of M-codes proves that Haas is dedicated to automation and manufacturing efficiency.

Haas lathe G-codes for turning centers

Haas turning centers use special G-codes that are optimized to work with lathes but are compatible with the common turning programming procedures.

Haas lathe M-codes for turning centers

Unique Haas programming features

Advanced pocket milling capabilities

Haas machines have advanced circular pocket milling commands (G12/G13) which automate complicated pocket work. The codes allow programmers to construct circular pockets using simple parameter inputs:

G12/G13 Parameters:

• D: Tool radius or diameter compensation
• I: Starting circle radius
• K: Finished circle radius
• L: Loop count for multiple depth passes
• Q: Stepover increment
• F: Feedrate

Enhanced coordinate systems

Haas offers 99 work coordinate systems via G154 P1-P99, which is much more than the six coordinate systems. This wide range of capability accommodates complicated fixtures and multi-setup without coordinate conflicts.

G51 scaling capability provides proportional scaling of coordinates with optional center point specification and G68 rotation provides rotation of the coordinate system about specified centers. These options are optional to activate, and they offer strong functionality to complex part geometries.

Integrated automation features

Haas is also committed to automation as shown by the Haas M-codes which include comprehensive pallet changer control (M17/M18), automatic door operation (M80/M81) and chip management systems (M31/M33). M36 pallet part ready command can be used with automated loading systems to achieve lights-out manufacturing.
High-pressure machining can be assisted by through-spindle coolant control (M88/M89), and automated chip clearing without operator involvement is available through air jet control (M83/M84).

Programming best practices for Haas machines

Leveraging Haas-specific features

Effective Haas programming is a mixture of standard G-code compatibility and proprietary additions. The G150 general purpose pocket milling command allows defining custom pocket geometries with subprograms, and is compatible with CAM-generated toolpaths.

Automatic measurement cycles (G35, G36, G37) incorporate probing directly into machining programs, and allow automated tool setting and measurement of the workpiece without operator intervention. These cycles facilitate tool setting as well as in-process verification.

Optimization techniques

Haas machines have the advantage of high-speed machining due to sophisticated control algorithms. G187 accuracy control optimizes cutting parameters to high-speed applications and look-ahead processing provides smooth motion in complex toolpaths.

Modular program construction and efficiency of repetitive operation are possible with subroutine programming (M97/M98). The M109 interactive user input command enables the operator to communicate with the program during the execution of the program in part-specific parameters.

Conclusion

The fact that Haas Automation is the largest machine tool manufacturer in the western world, coupled with their American manufacturing prowess and their ability to program their machines to do just about anything, makes learning these machine codes a must in the modern manufacturing industry. The compatibility-first strategy of the company makes it easy to adopt, and proprietary additions give competitive advantages in productivity and automation.

Haas has demonstrated that American manufacturing is competitive on the world stage by producing the revolutionary $50,000 VF-1 that changed the industry to the latest 5-axis machining centers and automation systems. Haas machine codes are the basis of manufacturing success in competitive markets across the globe, especially among manufacturers who want to have reliable and productive CNC solutions with extensive programming flexibility.