I ran 20 parts today with 4 tool changes.
Everything went fine for the first 5 or 6 parts
then the spindle wouldn’t stop at the tool change.

The light was flashing like it was ready for a tool change, the XYZ had stopped moving but not the
spindle.


I put a M5 before every tool change to cure this.
Any have this problem?

I put a M5 before every tool change to cure this.

I didn't realize that an M6 was supposed to execute an implied M5. I put an M998 and an M5 before every M6 (well, my posts do it for me...) and my spindle always stops. :D Why weren't you putting an explicit M5 from the start?

Best regards,

Randy

Cam was writing the code.

What program is it, tt350? Can you edit the post to have it add the M5? I'm certainly no CAM expert, but if it is Sheetcam (I only use Sheetcam, Meshcam and hand-written gcode) I could send you the post I've tweaked for PCNC.

Best regards,

Randy

I’m using Visualmill Basic.
I can edit the post manually but what puzzles me
is that the spindle stopped on the first four or five
parts and then would keep running after that.

It is normal to have it in a CNC controller that the M6 stops the spindle, wether auto tool change or manual.
For e.g. in auto it may have to stop and orient for tool change etc.
You would have to examine the machine control logic to see what condition has changed for the M6 not to stop the spindle, if it did originally.
Whatever condition (sensor etc) it is that indicates the tool change has completed or partially completed, may be permanently on, so that the control thinks the tool change is complete.
Al.

Seems I remember reading about a safty switch on the door that turns off the spindle when the door is opened.

M6 should turn off the spindle regardless, it is just common sense.

Seems I remember reading about a safty switch on the door that turns off the spindle when the door is opened.

M6 should turn off the spindle regardless, it is just common sense.

Sooo what do you do when M6 is in the code and it keeps running???

Seems I remember reading about a safty switch on the door that turns off the spindle when the door is opened.

Yes, the door safety switch is the only spindle interlock to the PCNC software. The spindle won't run with the door open, and the door can't be closed with the spindle lock engaged.

M6 just causes PCNC (customized version of Mach 2/3) to display a message calling for the next tool, and when the operator has changed the tool, he/she clicks an on-screen button to allow the gcode execution to continue.

M6 should turn off the spindle regardless, it is just common sense.

Yes, it is common sense, Andre'. But as a Degreed Mechanical Engineer who nearly cut off two fingers with a table saw :eek: after carefully planning his motions, I don't take too much for granted these days. :D G17 and G90 are usually taken as default too, but I still put them in my gcode...

Best regards,

Randy

I would contact Tormach to find out what condition resets after the tool change. If it is manual tool change, M6 should stop the axis and the spindle and execute a program stop, when the tool change has been achieved, then the cycle start is usually the button to continue.
I would say either something is being bypassed inadvertently, or there is a bug in the control programming.
Al.

I think you are missing my point, so restated.

Any machine tool builder who integrates a control into a machine and tries to implement a tool change without first turning off the spindle deserves all the lawsuits they get. Most of the programs executed by M codes are written or at least modified by the machine builder or are written by the control manufacturer to the machine builders specs.

As the owner/user what you do in such a case is call up the builder and ***** until they fix it.

I think you are missing my point, so restated.


Maybe include a quote so we see what/who its directed to.:confused:

I don't think you can get any suggestions here unless post the gcode file.
Also what are you running; Mach2 or Mach3? You can also post to the yahoo group for tormach. More activity there.