Does this sound right?

[chunkstyle]

Hokay,

After the problems I went thru with the Shopbot this week I noticed something that seemed odd, looking back on it.

Playing around with the link this morning confirms what I was seeing during the week.

Scenario is this: Say you have a sheet newly loaded on the machine. You've got, maybe two or three drill operations and then your pocketing and outline cuts. This will require three to four bit changes.

You go thru the usual "locate material such and such". Hit O.K.

Next step is tool change file that asks if you zeroed to bed (why the heck does it ask for confirmation of something that HAS happened instead of what will happen? ie: "Do you want to zero to bed?" as opposed to the current "Did you zero to bed?". Just asking)

Then it asks if tool # such and such is loaded in machine. If answer is no it goes thru the Z zeroing routine, etc...

All this is great and works fine for cutting out your shet stock when your panel processing using more than one bit.

Problem for me was when an error occurred while in the middle of a sheet's operation and I had to quit out.

When the file was regenerated from the link and the sheet number that was unfinished is typed in, the tool change file is not called up.

For instance, If I was as far as the outline cut in the panel processing and had to quite the file, rewriting the file and starting the same sheet again does not bring up a tool change prompt. Instead, it will simply plow into the first order of business (in my case, drill operation first) without a tool change prompt at the start of the file using whatever bit was in the spindle (in this case a .25" M.C. bit) and proceed to try and drill with it.

To beat this I had to learn to chuck the right bit (first drilling operation bit) into the spindle and Z-zero thru SB3 before I loaded up the link file. That way it would start the drilling operation with the correct bit installed.

This only happens after quitting out of the link file. Shouldn't there be a tool change call up at the start of the cutting file after re-generating the file from the link?

[zeykr]

I changed the link startup parameters to always call for a non-existent tool, that way it always does a tool change right off the bat when the link is started.

Not in front of that machine, or I'd include a screen shot.

[Gary Campbell]

Tim...
THis seems to be a variable "write" problem that occurs when a file is interrupted. You can verify this by checking that the "&z_tool" variable is in [U] [L] and comparing that to what is written in the my_variables file.

[Gary Campbell]

Ken...
Have you researched to find why this is neccesary? MTC or ATC? OEM toolchange files? I ask because I havent seen this before.

[chunkstyle]

Thanks Gary,

Seems to be a different tool number between the &z_tool and the my-variables tool number.
Used the tool change files that Kenneth sent me that you had made originally.
No more problem with interrupted link file. I'm going to use these files as they seem to be working fine and took care of the problem. Thank for the help and files!

[Gary Campbell]

Tim...
Glad you found it and are cutting. Let me know if you need help tuning them for your machine.

[chunkstyle]

Thanks Gary,

I really like the way the tool change is working. The constant dialogue box showing what tool is the current one being used is real helpful if you are distracted by something and can't remember if the next tool call up was a 5mm bit or the 1/8". Saves a lot of time (money) having details like this one thought out.
Also love how easy it was to set up the parking position for the bit change. No more crammed space over my remote touch off plate. Another problem I had was loosening a bit and having it drop out onto my remote plate causing it to get nicked up. Had to sand the plate down occasionally and dial back in my plate thickness variable.
Not anymore. Anything that saves me time (money) and works simply is a keeper. Big thanks to Ken and Yourself.

Tim

[zeykr]

Gary,

I did it as I don't use the MTC for everything I do, and may have changed the bit from what it thinks was last in use. Wanted the link to always request a tool change when first run just to be sure.

[Gary Campbell]

Tim...
Glad you have it working. Now that you are running the "outlaw" files your phone bill will show less calls to Durham. If you run into something that you and Ken cant wrap your heads around shoot me an email. Later on in the summer I will show you the "advanced" version and the supporting routines. Adds support for Vectric products. Maybe this summer during your annual tuneup. :D

Ken...
Now I understand. I had forgotten about an unwritten bit change. Since the Link will always call for a toolchange, I had a "set tool" routine that would write the variable after I installed a bit(s), zeroed the drills. It is not fun to have the wrong bit in, especially when it is too large.

EDIT: Tim... If a file is canceled mid run, you will still have to verify that the tool# in the spindle is the same as what is written in the my_variables file. If I remember correctly, just type "C7" after the error and the tools will write.