Need Help!- Tool Change question

[kenickie22]

In X3, is there a way to not do tool changes when only one tool-path/tool is selected, and then do tool changes when multiple tool-paths are selected?

For the most part, we manually change a tool and then send a single tool-path via DNC. We would like to eliminate the wasted movement/code if possible. When we are running with the tool changer, we want the M06. Is the do-able?

Thanks.

[Mike Mattera]

The way I've done it in the past, depending on the post, you can edit the post to check if there is only one tool used (I dont remember the variable off the top of my head).

If numtools > 1,
[
code for tool change
]
else, start the spindle and run the program.

So, It will require a post modification.

Mike Mattera

[kenickie22]

Thanks Mike.
I've tried:
if ntools < 1 [#pbld, $, *t$, sm06, e$] else [pbld, $, *t$, sm06, e$]
with no luck. When I do this, it gets rid of the tool-change when doing a single toolpath post, but it also removes the first tool-change in a multi-toolpath post. I'm new at this, so I'm sure I'm missing something obvious. Any idea on what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

[Aquatic]

Originally Posted by kenickie22 In X3, is there a way to not do tool changes when only one tool-path/tool is selected, and then do tool changes when multiple tool-paths are selected? For the most part, we manually change a tool and then send a single tool-path via DNC. We would like to eliminate the wasted movement/code if possible. When we are running with the tool changer, we want the M06. Is the do-able? Thanks.

I'm assuming you want to use multiple of the same tool in the program

What machine you running?

Some machines(we use HAAS) you can load tools as a group.
In MC you need to check the 'force tool change' block. When posting - at the start of each operation that the box was checked, there is a tool change command. But the same tool number.

The Haas control recognises the need for a tool change in different ways - Cut time, total time, cutting distance, tool load, at every tool call.

Hope this helps

[Mike Mattera]

You really want to check if it's greater than 1.

If > 1, do a tool change,
else, if it's not dont do a tool change.

This used to be standard in the post, but most people wanted it taken out. I know it's in my Fanuc style post as a selectable option.

Mike Mattera

[Superman]

You can look at it from a different view

creating a custom macro (for the toolchange operation in the machine) to interogate if the required tool is available, and also if it is in the spindle and then skip toolchange if it is.

it would mean that M06 would be replaced with a different M-code, and the post would only need updating to the new toolchange code ( say M106 or G106 )

It would be best to keep the toolchange code in the program to avoid running the wrong tool in the spindle when selecting another program to run.
( say you skipped running a program that had a toolchange in it )

PS This all depends if you can run a custom macro in a HAAS

[asmvn]

My takisawa Mac v1 with Fanuc OM its a tape drill, but this machine can milling something, type M6 they hang and then I change to Mxx Pxxxx with Macro like supeman and I can change 10 tool.
Thank Supeman and btw , my tool change is umbrella dock and turn around to change tool, but sometime , they can catch exactly my tool request , they pass 2 ~3 round or more to catch tool and after that system say fault. This problem after the rats bit tool sensor wire and I repaid already. and now I'm give up,

[kenickie22]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I still haven't been able to get this to work in Mastercam, but it's not a big deal. I can just hand edit the code - if we forget to, the worst that will happen is that we'll waste the time of going to the ATC position (some of our machines are extremely large).

By the way, the machines we are using this post on all have Fanuc controls.

[ObrienDave]

If I remember correctly, defining it as tool number zero, will skip the initial tool change sequence.
As always, please test before using.