Tool change ?

[Blacksunshine]

If im cutting or engraving an image with one tool designed for that purpose, and I then want to cut out around the image I have just engraved; down through the total thickness of the wood...How do I stop my cnc to change to a different cutting tool.

[wyldesyde007]

Originally Posted by Blacksunshine If im cutting or engraving an image with one tool designed for that purpose, and I then want to cut out around the image I have just engraved; down through the total thickness of the wood...How do I stop my cnc to change to a different cutting tool.

Well if you are using mach3 you could click the stop button during the move towards the area of the image you want to cut all the way through, shut off your router, change the bit (being careful to install the new bit so that it's depth is the same as the previous bit) then restart the router and click the start button. Mach3 will continue running the code as if nothing happened. you do want to make sure that the diameters on the bits are the same as the position of the cutter is calculated from the center of the tool.

[ger21]

Add an M6 in your code where you want to change tools. then , in General config, at the top left, under tool change, check "Stop spindle and wait for start".

Mach3 will stop and wait for you to change the tool.

[cob]

I am also having problems with the tool change on mach you can try adding the (M6 t?) but the way I am going about doing it is I set all the tools to one same hieght. then i run the first tool and when it is done cutting I tell it to retract enough on the Z axis where I can take that tool off and add the next tool in . right before the next tool change just remember to add (M01) on the program .and on mach 3 press the active on tool change in the DRO. and that should stop the program and let you change then next tool then just hit CYCLE START . this will work if you are manually changing tools on at a time
hope that helps