Gang tooling again

[tblough]

Looking at viewtopic.php?f=20&t=61&p=266&hilit=gang+tooling#p266 as well as TSB 128, both of these were some time ago. Is it still necessary to have the ATC unlock in order to use ganged tooling on a lathe?

[cnc_smith]

Is it still necessary to have the ATC unlock in order to use ganged tooling on a lathe?

For the Acorn no. For the servo systems Allin1DC CNC Controller and Oak CNC Controller yes.

[cnc_smith]

Is it still necessary to have the ATC unlock in order to use ganged tooling on a lathe?

For the servo there is away to not have to have the ATC unlock. Call out the same tool number with a different offset.
Example:
T0101 ; for cutting tool 1
T0102 ; for cutting tool 2
T0103 ; for cutting tool 3

With using a different offset for the different tools but calling the same tool number it will not stop and ask for a tool change. You still have make clearance moves between the different tools. If you do want to stop for a tool change you can use the same tool number as the offset number unless the tool you want to stop at is the default tool number you are using. In this case as long as it is different tool number than the default it will stop.

[tblough]

Thanks Dana. It was good to meet you at Eastec and thanks for passing on this tip.

[cnc_smith]

It was good meeting you too. Thank you for reminding me about using the same tool number with the different offsets to eliminate the need to have the ATC un-lock for gang tooling.