Simple Tool Changer on mill, The pocket number IS the tool number loaded into the spindle. An M06/M6 command then puts the spindle tool in the correct pot and the machine waits for the next tool pot number to be positioned to allow the spindle to be loaded. Machines with a tool change rack or a carousel will position the spindle above the tool change magazine and move the proper tool pot into position. This is simple and effective but very time consuming and not very flexible. This also allows a tool large enough to interfere with an adjoining tool to be used as the adjoining pockets are left empty and the control knows nothing about the empty pockets.
Simple Random Tool Changer on a mill, The tool number is the tool. This causes consternation when a new operator places tool number 1 into pot number 1 and so on for all the tools. After running the program the operator sees pot number 1 no longer holds the tool he placed into pot number 1. This happens because the tool changer placed tool number 2 into postion for the tool change and the tool changer pulled tool number 1 from the spindle to allow tool number 2 to be placed into the spindle. At the same time tool number one was placed into pot number 2. The control must keep track of which tool number is in which pot so the next time tool number 1 is called for use - pot number 2 can be positioned to allow tool number 1 to be loaded into the spindle. This allows the next tool to be positioned for a tool change while the machine is still running the tool in the spindle. Tool changes are much quicker and are simple and effective. Somewhat Complex Random Tool Changer on a mill, The same as the simple random tool changer with added capabilities such as a secondary tool number 1 (for example). The primary tool number 1 dulls or times out. The secondary tool number 1 in whatever pot it is in is called by the control choosing to replace the primary tool number 1. The pot the secondary number 1 now is included in all the tool changes and the pot with the primary tool number 1 is ignored. The BEST Tool Change Protocol, The best tool change protocol is the tool number and pot number stay the same. They may not match but the tool is pulled from and placed into the same pot for the duration of the tools use. The complexity is in the tool change mechanism. When tool 1 is in the spindle and tool 2 is called as the next tool then tool tool 2 is place into the tool change position. The tool changer picks the tool out of the pot and position itself for a tool change. The tool change happens and tool 2 happily starts cutting while the tool change arm waits for the pot for tool 1 to be placed into position so the arm can place tool 1 into the same pot it pulled to one from just prior to the tool change. The next tool is called in the program and the tool is place into the tool change position and picked up by the tool change arm waiting to be put into the spindle. This allow the tool change time to be reduced like a random tool changer but allow tool management like the simple tool changer. This also allows for much simpler large tool management and spare tool management. It woul also allow automated tool installation into the local machine magazine from a tool hive. This would require another tool change arm and is beyond what would be required for a single machine installation. About 3 months ago I talked with a man that said he had installed LinuxCNC on a machine but (talking with an authoritative condescending voice) changed it to Centroid as it would allow him to put an encoder in the spindle and do rigid tapping. I quietly mentioned LinuxCNC has had rigid tapping for only about 15 years. His stumbling answer was almost incoherent. Our conversation ended shortly thereafter and I left. I sent him a few video links and then after about two weeks I stopped by to ask him if he had seen them. He had not had time as he is too busy. I then sent him a video link of peck tapping but have not talked to him again. :) At least he didn't ask if LinuxCNC had cutter radius compensation and/or tool length compensation. On Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 5:32 PM andy pugh <bodge...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, 21 Jun 2022 at 20:57, Jérémie Tarot <silopo...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > So, the tool _number_ as associated with the G-code T-command is very > > > deliberately _not_ a key but a "property." > > > I think that number is really a pocket_id in a tool_magazine to which is > > associated a tool_id, which in turn has a tool_number... Properly indeed! > > The T-number can be the pocket number if you want to run your query > that way. But it's a very bad choice for a random toolchanger. > > -- > atp > "A motorcycle is a bicycle with a pandemonium attachment and is > designed for the especial use of mechanical geniuses, daredevils and > lunatics." > — George Fitch, Atlanta Constitution Newspaper, 1912 > > > _______________________________________________ > Emc-developers mailing list > Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers > -- Addressee is the intended audience. If you are not the addressee then my consent is not given for you to read this email furthermore it is my wish you would close this without saving or reading, and cease and desist from saving or opening my private correspondence. Thank you for honoring my wish. _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
