How To Get 320 Tools and Offsets in CNC12 Mill?

[floridamachineshop]

I'm incorporating a 320 tool gantry-style tool matrix. I've checked Centroid CNC12 Mill software specs, lists of parameters, a few other places... I'm not seeing how to store 320 tools and offsets in the CNC12 Mill software, it appears the maximum at this time is currently 200.

1) What would it take to change the CNC12 Mill control software to accept/store 320+ tools and length/diameter offsets in the controller? (I have heard that there are several other CNC mill manufacturers with controls on some of their models that have the ability to store 500 to 1000 tools and offsets)

2) Alternatively, is there a CNC12 Mill "hack"/workaround that could be used to accomplish the objective of having all 320 tools in the tool matrix and all of their proper offsets available at any time for use by the machine? (Without any human intervention, human data entry/ editing, etc)

-Thanks

[cnckeith]

the strategy now is to create a tool library with the 200 tools. save it, name it

create another tool library with a different set of tools. save it , name it.

switch between them.

can you describe your application that requires more than 200 tools? would love to understand this.

[floridamachineshop]

It isn't for the production of a product or a part, it's the creation of a process. Shawn Brown at SBSOLO Manufacturing in videos for Practical Machinist has outlined his methodology for setting up tools. Here's my best attempt at re-explaining it: He basically has 180 tool length offsets, one offset for each tool assembly numbered from 21 to 200, then each tool length offset (for the tool assemblies numbered 21 to 200) is associated with each tool pocket numbered 1-20 on his VF2 as he loads the tool changer for a job. While toolholders aren't free, he explains he saves a TON of time breaking down tool assemblies, building up tool assemblies, measuring length offsets, inputting length offsets, diameter offsets, not to mention the potential for human error along the way. Basically only unique tools for jobs are assembled and set up, and these get one-time length offsets. Every other tool is assembled, already in the system, and permanently ready to load into any pocket 1-20

Shawn loves his system and has mentioned on several occasions how badly he wishes HAAS had more than 200 length offsets in the controller for his machines. I think he said that HAAS UMC's have 500 (if I recall correctly). And of course large horizontals that have matrix tool holders can have several hundred tool length offsets/ tool numbers.

Taking Shawn's approach to the next level, rather than physically loading and unloading combinations of the 180 tool assemblies that are pre-assembled with their offsets pre-entered into the controller into the mill's physical 20 pockets... The next level would be to physically have 180, or 200, or in my case, up to 320 tool assemblies physically loaded in my gantry-style tool matrix. Customer needs a 7/16-20 tapped hole? No problem, it's already loaded in the tool matrix with offsets already entered and ready to go. That tap requires a 26/64 drill? No problem, it's already loaded in the tool matrix with offsets and ready to go, etc.

Just UNC and UNF taps and their drills from #4 to 1/2" consumes around 40 tool numbers and offsets. Then there's metric taps and their drills. Various bull-nose end mills, ball mills, and sharp corner end mills might not seem like that many... but having roughers and finishers doubles the quantity of many of those tools needed. Also It's best practice to keep ferrous and non-ferrous tools separate and only use them on their designated application, that can necessitate "doubling" the number of tools again for many of the tools. Then having redundant tooling for overnight runs programmed with in-process tool break detection doubles the number of tools again for many of the cutters.

A matrix tool holder is an investment, tool holders are an investment, having up to 320 tools loaded, measured, in the controller, ready to cut.... priceless.

1) Could increasing the number of tools to 500, like Shawn says the HAAS UMC's are, be a possibility for the next version of CNC12? I can appreciate this change isn't as simple as going into the IDE you use and changing "maxNumTools = 200;" to "maxNumTools = 500;" I can barely program in C++ and even I can appreciate that there's no way anything is ever that easy... but any chance it could be put on the list for the next CNC12 upgrade? I've never met a machinist who wished they had fewer tools. I love Centroid because the flexibility and power it gives the builder: Standard features that other machine manufacturers charge separately for, tons of I/O, PLC programming, etc. Any chance of limiting tools to like 500 or 999 or something instead of 200 in the next release of CNC12?

[cnckeith]

thanks.

- dumb question, so Shawn Brown has more than 200 tool holders and the money and room to store them all loaded up with tooling that he may or may not use?

- are you aware that you can mix and match cnc12 tool numbers, height and diameter offsets?

for example T2 can have a diameter offset of D143 and a height offset of H66

its common to group drill bits and preset them to the same length.


- and its more than simply increasing the number of tools on one line of c it also effects job processing and the tool library menu itself and then a ton of testing.

i have on the books a complete re write of the CNC12 tool library for v5.50.0 at this time we can add more tool numbers (1000) Pro will include up to 200 and for 201 to 1000 an Ultimate license will be required. more info here.
viewtopic.php?p=93753#p93753
check out the pdf mockup

[cnckeith]

and same request here.

viewtopic.php?p=97689#p97689