Re: Tool change also smart/dumb boxes

Hi.

I just read Rays' excellent post and Smokes' response, and all the
sudden I realised (when Ray pointed out EMC tool change support
capabilities):

There is NO provision for 'telling' a toolchanger mechanism 'which'
tool we want in almost every CNC S/W pkg. mentioned on this list!

Many have a "toolchange' command (M06) and some have a "toolchange"
location, but where is the info for WHICH tool to change?! They
nearly ALL assume manual change!

Most also support a list of tools 'mapped' to tool numbers with the
gcode "T" word. But there is no ACCESS to which T number is active,
or sought, that could be used by a toolchange mechanism to select the
desired tool.

This would certainly be desirable in a smart black box, and a useful
provision (I/O bit count) in a dumb box!

3 bits selects 7 tools, 4 bits = 15 tools, etc. (assumes 0 is no tool)

If the tool changer is 'somewhat' smart, then it could use a serial
command set and protocol, using only one bit.

Possible feature-itis? Yes. I'm just surprised I haven't run into
this before. Most of my experience is multiple heads and 'go to a
certain position/slot' tool changes.

Hope this helps.

Ballendo

P.S. Thinking out loud: I suppose this is another case where the
machine (at the expense of time) could move and press an index button
X number of times to bring the tool(carousel) into position. Lot of
extra toolpath, and possibility of crash if the 'index' doesn't :-(,
but it does get around the problem...