Can BobCad support live tools? I thought is us to, but was told the new version does not. Can anyone validate this? Thanks in advance.

Can BobCad support live tools? I thought is us to, but was told the new version does not. Can anyone validate this? Thanks in advance.

No Bobcad does not support live tooling for Multi-Tasking Lathes.

BobCAD for lathe is only 2 Axis:

No C Y B programming.

From what I hear they are re vamping the lathe software at this time and adding some really needed tools and fixes.


I have been told for years they are coming out with live tooling but have yet to see that come to light. Maybe next year...

While BCC does not support live tooling on the lathe, I do find it interesting that some of the post processors made by BCC do.

For example:
Taken from Fanuc 21i-TB LATHEPST File

30. Tool change for live tooling.
n,coolant_off
n_forced,rapid_move,"G28","U0.","W0."
start_comment,comment1,end_comment
start_comment,comment2,end_comment
n,"M45"
n,"G28","H0"
n,rapid_move,"G54","G97","S100",t,live_spindle_on

31. Next operation same tool live tooling.
start_comment,comment1,end_comment
start_comment,comment2,end_comment
n,"M45"
n,"G28","H0"
n,rapid_move,"G54","G97","S100",t,live_spindle_on

32. Start of live tool face milling.
n,crl,xrl,coolant_on
n,zrl
n,"G98",s
n,g112

33. End of live tool face milling.
n,g113
n,rapid_rplane_face
n,"G98","M46"
n,"G28","U0.","W0."
n,optional_stop

34. Start of live tool face drilling & tapping.
n,crl,xrl,coolant_on
n,zrl
n,"G98",s
n,g112

35. End of live tool face drilling & tapping.
n,g113
n,rapid_rplane_face
n,"G98","M46"
n,"G28","U0.","W0."
n,optional_stop

36. Start of live tool diameter milling.
n,crl,xrl,coolant_on
n,zrl
n,"G98",s

37. End of live tool diameter milling.
n,rapid_rplane_diam
n,"G98","M46"
n,"G28","U0.","W0."
n,optional_stop

38. Start of live tool diameter drilling & tapping.
n,crl,xrl,coolant_on
n,zrl
n,"G98",s

39. End of live tool diameter drilling & tapping.
n,rapid_rplane_diam
n,"G98","M46"
n,"G28","U0.","W0."
n,optional_stop

40. Live Tool Spindle forward.
n,"M13"

41. Live Tool Spindle reverse.
n,"M14"

42. End of program Live Tooling.
n,spindle_off
n,rapid_move,"G28","U0.","W0."
n,"M30"
"%"

Yup! It looks like the post variables are there, just nothing in the software to use them.

I guess this is a good sign, at least we know they are working on it.