@Eric - We briefly talked about what it might take to keep the tool length in memory.
I have all my most used tools tagged and numbered. I was toying with the idea of a static rack but really want to hold out until Avid releases their ATC system. So that being said, I’m really keen on just using a manual tool changes, but would love to have them pre-measured so the EX system doesn’t remeasure them every time it performs a tool change.
For example I might have a project that uses tool 3 to do a task, it measures tool 3 and performs the cuts. If I switch to tool 2, it will measure tool 2 and do the cuts with it. If I switch back to tool 3 it will measure tool 3 again before making additional cuts. I’d love for it to retain tool 3.
Will there be a middle stage for the AVx0s users to do manual tool changes with a remembered library for use between now and the full ATC system, or is it more of a hold tight and we’ll get all of this when the ATC is released?
Great minds think alike. I also opened a support ticket ( 88756501) asking the very same question about a week ago and I’m still awaiting an answer. I’d be curious to know what Erik‘s reply is here.
The decision to clear out all tool lengths between tool changes on an MTC/QTC system is because we need to be sure that the tool you have in the spindle is the correct length every time.
The overwhelming majority of our users are NOT on ATC systems (or ATC spindles) so that is the reasoning behind this design decision.
To remove this option you have two choices:
1: Modify our M6 script. This is a little tricky right now because of the way our M6 script is put together, but it’s doable. The code is all in plain text in the main CNCM directory. The snippet of code you would want to look for is this in the M6 script:
O9106; clean up unused tools
IF #4120 EQ #9718 THEN GOTO 1200 ;don't clean tools if laser is in use (this allows for fast laser/router bit switching)
#120=1 ;starting tool to zero out
N1120
IF #120 EQ #4120 THEN GOTO 1150 ELSE ;don't zero active tool
IF #120 EQ #9718 THEN GOTO 1150 ELSE ;don't zero laser during job
#[10000 + #120] = 0 ;zero the first tool
#[11000 + #120] = 0 ;zero out diameters too
N1150
#120=[#120 + 1] ;increment tool number
IF #120 LE 100 THEN GOTO 1120 ELSE GOTO 1200
N1200
It’s just a simple loop that iterates through the tool numbers.
2: You abandon all of our scripts in favor of the “stock” way Centroid does it. This is fully documented on Centroid’s site.
Either of these two paths will work fine, but are unsupported by us. We’re happy to have you hack around, but our support folks won’t be able to help you out.
Pro tip: duplicate your profile to try any of these hacks.
3: (BONUS OPTION!) when our ATC system releases later this year we are doing a bit update to our CNC12 software. There will be a graphical tool library and a complete re-write of our tool change script. It takes a much more modular approach and “hacks” like this will be even easier.
On our tool rack systems we will maintain heights for all tools in the rack.
@Eric - Quite honestly, the way it’s been designed is great even with manual ATC. Unless you’re 100% sure you’re swapping in the right tool every time this is something that could absolutely bite you.
I’m looking forward to bonus option 3 and was hoping for a shortcut. Option 1 might be doable but were I to break a bit I’d still need to work through a good process to measure and update a tool number.
Has Avid considered allowing the software to maintain the diameter and length info for bits that aren’t assigned to a specific tool rack pocket yet?
In other words, I currently have about 25 or 30 bits, and not all of them will always be in the tool rack even when I eventually get one. Once I measure a bit, I’d love not to have to re-enter the diameter and length every time—basically, only update that info if I break or change the bit.
I think it’d be a nice enhancement and a helpful interim step for folks with ATC spindles who aren’t ready for the full tool rack setup yet. That way, we can have the software remember bits and diameters now, and then later on, transition smoothly to the full tool rack system.
Just curious if that’s something Avid has considered. Thanks so much!
I modified Avid’s scripts to do this; you don’t need to use my application to set anything up if you don’t have a rack, but it does make it much more useful for stuff.
For what it’s worth, I used to be a professional software engineer.
Sounds like I’ll be creating a new profile this weekend and loading in Corbin’s stuff to dabble! I wasn’t sure how it would work if I held off on a tool rack.
Yeah! You need to check the box “use ATC” but don’t add any tool pockets/positions. It will remember heights. You have to zero out the height when you remove a bit from the holder, at which time it will automatically re-measure it. My app makes zero’ing out the bit really easy using the tool table I wrote, but you can also use the CNC12 built in one (it is just not as easy).
If you run some GCode with an M6 tool change, it will move the spindle to your tool touch plate’s location, prompt you to remove the existing bit, hit enter, prompt you to enter the new bit, hit enter, and it continues cutting.
The custom screen buttons I added to the VCP are handy, but not necessary.
I’m using Corbin’s software with the AV40S spindle, the Centroid software package, and servos (not steppers). I installed it last night following Corbin’s instructions, and it works remarkably well.
For me—and possibly for others—the biggest advantage is how the Profile Manager works. You can easily switch between the Avid’s profile and Corbin’s software, making it incredibly flexible. I’m sure Avid will release something great in the future, but for now, Corbin’s software is a powerful and productive stopgap.
I highly recommend trying it out. If anyone needs more details, I’m happy to explain further.
@corbin - Couldn’t wait until the weekend. Love your tool management even without the ATC. I’m really tempted to order my rack now!
You could stick some amazon tool forks onto a 2x4 screwed onto the back of your table. I’ve come to realize that it doesn’t have to be too precise to work well.
@corbin - I modeled a rack using Portland cnc forks and send cut send will make it for me for ~ $175. Only downside is I’ll have to steal 6” from my right side. But it’s a 5’ gantry so would take me to 4-1/2’ wide.
Oh yeah, I saw your pictures of this earlier, and it looks great! I am looking forward to Avid’s pneumatic rack; I lose a lot of space at the end of my 8’ table for my rack. I occasionally unscrew it to cut longer pieces, and drop it back on and don’t have to re-align anything (the screw holes are good enough, and it doesn’t have to be too precise). I could do pneumatic myself…but it never was a priority.
I’m super keen on the pneumatic rack as well, which is why I’ve been holding off… but now using your profile changes is making me want to throw in an interim solution.
