M6 Macro

[ben_heinman]

I had a problem with a machine (21i-MB control)that was doing a tool change to the waiting tool in the magazine even if the tool that was called was already in the spindle. (It would machine with wrong tool) So I changed the PLC but my M6 Macro program is stopping at line N100M31, if anyone can help me out that would be great. Here is the tool change macro prgm. O9003;#100=#4003;IF[#1008eq1]GOTO100;G80G91G28Z0.;IF[#1008EQ1]GOTO100;G4X0.5;M6T#20;N100M31;G#100;G49;M99;

[Ozemale6t9]

To gain a better understanding of your problem, what does your machine program look like? I mean, if you command M6 by itself, it will do a tool change regardless. If you command M6Txx, it will do a tool change. If you command TxxM6, it will only do a tool change if the tool is not in the spindle. At least that is the way all the 21 series controls I have seen work.

As for your question, without seeing what changes you made to your PLC, I would assume you have removed/modified the confirmation/completion signal for M31.

regards, Oz

[Bent]

Ozemale6t9
Just to clarify.
Are you saying there is a difference between T10 M6 and M6 T10 ?
And if you are is that the same with 18i-m ?
Thanks
Bent

[psychomill]

Are you saying there is a difference between T10 M6 and M6 T10 ?

I'm questioning this too. I've only seen this on particular machines. For the most part, it shouldn't matter. The M6 actually triggers a macro for which the "T" is writing a variable (#20). I"ve had programs that run both ways with no effect...

Hmmm , curious....

[Ozemale6t9]

I have seen machines where it does make a difference. It depends on how well the macro is writtten. On the ones where it does change tools even if the tool is already in the spindle, it is as if there is an eob after the M6 (M6Txx). I assume what happens is the control reads the M6 and processes this before reading the tool number from the line, rather than processing the whole line. So essentially, it toolchanges then preselects the tool. Some machines actually give you a message that you have to command it a particular way. Not sure about 18i-M, but I guess it would depend on the macro too.

regards, Oz

[ben_heinman]

It doesn't make a differnce if the M6 is before or after the Txx command (to clearify I never did a M6 command by itself). The new PLC seems to have solved the problem of the program doing a tool change even if T=SP. I forgot to mention in my original message that this would only happen if I was running in Remote DNC-CD off of a flash card. As I said earlier it will stop on the N100M31 line, which you responded that the confirmation of completion for the M31 could be missing. The machine builder sent me the PLC directly so I posed that response to him. So now I just have to wait and see what he says.