10 Multiple Tool Programming
10.3 Writing an NC Program for Multiple Tools
147
Follow the procedure below to configure the ATC.
Procedure: Configuring the ATC
1.
Click
Tools
|
Configure ATC
to access the
Configure ATC window.
The Tool Station Use area shows which tool is
currently present in each of the four tool
stations.
2.
To specify a different tool at a station, click the
station position in the Tool Station Use area, and
then select the tool at that position from the Tool
in This Station menu.
3.
Click
OK
to save changes made and close the
window.
10.3.
WRITING AN NC PROGRAM FOR MULTIPLE TOOLS
The T code is used in the NC program to offset the cutter so that the NC program becomes independent
of the cutter length. The offset for each tool is specified in the Setup Tool Library window. This means
you can replace a worn tool with a tool of a different length without changing the NC program: you need
only enter a new offset.
The T code can be located anywhere within the block of NC code, but is normally placed after any of the
G codes.
Use the M06 code with a T code for multiple tool operations. If you do not use an M06 code, the
machine will use the tool currently selected in the ATC and interpret the T code as an offset reference
only.
When used with an M06, the T code indicates, by number, which tool and which offset to use. For
example, M06T2 tells the machine to insert Tool #02 into the spindle and use the offset specified for
Tool #02.
Safety
The tool must be retracted from the workpiece before performing a tool change.
The tool that is shown in the Machine Info window is the default tool for the start of a program. The
control software assumes that tool is in use unless another tool is specified with a T code. Once a tool is
specified, any X, Y and Z coordinates are applied to that tool until another T code is encountered in the
NC program.
In the example below, the Machine Info window shows that Tool #01 is in use. Unless the program
includes a T code, the offset specified for Tool #01 in the Setup Tool Library will be used throughout.
