Inserting Tool Changes

task target This task shows how to add tool changes in the program. You can either:

The procedures below illustrates tool changes for axial machining and milling operations. Differences for turning operation tool changes are described in Tool Changes for Turning Operations below.
 

Insert a Tool Change Locally
scenario 1. In the specification tree, select the program entity after which you want to add the tool change.
2. Select the desired icon in the Auxiliary Operations toolbar (Tool Change sub-toolbar).

The corresponding dialog box appears for defining the tool change.

3. Select the Tool tab in order to specify the tool to be referenced by the tool change. You can do this by either:
  • creating a new tool
  • selecting another tool that is already used in the document
  • selecting another tool either in the document or in tool catalogs by means of a query.

This is the same procedure as described in Select or Create a Tool.
4. Select the Tool Assembly tab if you want to:
  • create a new tool assembly. In this case a tool assembly is added to the Resource List.
    Please refer to Edit a Tool Assembly in the Resource List for more information about how to specify the geometric and technological characteristics of the a tool assembly.
  • select a tool assembly that is already used in the document.
5. Select the Syntax tab .
  • Select the Initialize from PP words table check box to consult the tool change syntax defined in the PP table that is referenced by the Part Operation.
  • Otherwise, enter a PP instruction for your tool change. This user-defined syntax has no link with the PP table and its validity is not checked by the program.
  • If the PP Instruction comprises a sequence of PP word syntaxes, you can choose the sequence to be used by means of the Sequence number spinner.
6. Click OK to create the tool change in the program.
key points You can click Replay Tool Path to visualize the tool at the tool change point.
This point is specified in the current Part Operation.
 

 Generate Tool Changes Automatically
scenario 1. Right-click the Manufacturing Program in the specification tree and select Generate Tool Changes.

The program is updated with all necessary tool changes. Each generated tool change is inserted just before the first machining operation in the program that requires the tool change.
    Initial program:
MO1 using Tool1
PP instruction
MO2 using Tool2
PP instruction
MO3 using Tool2
MO4 using Tool3		 Program after tool change generation:
Generated Tool change1
MO1 using Tool1
PP instruction
Generated Tool change2
MO2 using Tool2
PP instruction
MO3 using Tool2
Generated Tool change3
MO4 using Tool 3
key points   To delete tool changes that were automatically generated, right-click the Manufacturing Program in the specification tree and select Delete Generated Tool Changes.

All tool changes that were automatically generated are removed from the program.
 

Tool Changes for Turning Operations

Lathe Tool Changes

The Tool Change dialog box for Turning operations is slightly different from the one shown above. The main difference is that there are tab pages for the Tool Assembly, the Insert Holder and the Insert.

However, the procedure for inserting tool changes is the same.

Multi-Slide Lathe Machines and Mounting Station

When a kinematic Multi-slide lathe machine (that is, a CATProduct representation created using the NC Machine Tool Builder product) is assigned to a Part operation, you can specify a station for a tool/tool assembly on a tool change activity by means of the Mounting station combo.

When a new tool change is created, you can select where this new tool/tool assembly is stationed on the turret by selecting the empty stations on the turret from the Tool Assembly tab (for a lathe tool assembly) or from the Tool tab (for mill and drill tool/tool assembly) of the editor.

The selection or modification of a station is reflected in the Turret Station Editor of the corresponding Manufacturing Program.

end of task