Operation

In order to load a tool in the magazine or in the spindle, it is necessary that the tool has been previously defined in the CNC tool table.

This table defines the list of available tools and the data associated with each of them (Number, Family, Corrector, Status, Type, Length, etc.). This table is common for all the machine magazines.

The following types of parameters can be edited in the tool table:

• Numeric parameters. Edit the desired value and press [ENTER].
• Icons. Click the mouse or press the space bar to change the icon.
• Dropdowns. Select the desired option from the available options using the mouse or the keyboard arrows.

To edit the values of a tool follow these steps:

From any page, access the main menu by clicking the red box in the top left corner.

Press the [Tools] button, belonging to the "Tables" section, or the softkeys [F9] and then [F4].

Select, in the tool table, the tool you want to edit. On the right side of the page you can edit all the data associated with the selected tool.

To edit the tool parameters, put the focus on the parameter you want to change, enter the new value, and press [ENTER] to validate it. When pressing [ENTER], in addition to validating the edited parameter, the focus will be placed on the next parameter.

The HMI displays a magazine table for each tool magazine that the CNC has. The magazine table shows the distribution of the tools and the remaining life of each of them (if life control is active).

To edit the values of a tool follow these steps:

From any page, access the main menu by clicking the red box in the top left corner.

Press the [Tools] button, belonging to the "Tables" section, or the softkeys [F9] and then [F4].

Check, in the tool table, that the tool you want to load into the magazine exists, and that it is not in the spindle or in any tool magazine.

Using the horizontal softkey menu, select the magazine in which you want to load the tool.

Select the magazine position where you want to load the tool and press the [Load Tool] soft key or [F10]. One of the empty positions in the warehouse must be selected.

Enter the number of the tool you want to load into the magazine and press [ENTER] or [START] as indicated in the bottom bar.
- Press [ENTER] to validate the data.
- Press [START] to execute the loading.

Once the tool loading process is complete, the tool will be displayed in the magazine table.

The same process is also explained in the following video:

Tool calibration is available from the "Jog" and "Execute" pages, and is accessed via the [Measure / Offsets] softkey or [F10].

Depending on the CNC type (Lathe or Milling model), the [Tool calibration] button will be different. The HMI offers in both CNC types the possibility of calibrating both lathe and milling tools. The HMI will show the necessary data and update the help graphic depending on the selected tool.

Available tool calibration types

Depending on if there is a tabletop probe or not, the HMI will display all types of tool-calibration or not. These are all possible tool-calibration types:

1. Manual calibration. Calibration without probe. It is done without the tabletop probe. A reference surface is required in order to calibrate the tool. All movements are performed manually. Check 0.4 How to calibrate a tool manually section for more information.
2. Semi-automatic calibration. Calibration with probe. This option is available when you have a desktop probe. The positioning movements are carried out manually and the probing movement is carried out by the CNC. Check 0.5 How to calibrate a tool semi-automatically section for more information.
3. Automatic calibration. Calibration with probe. This option is available when you have a desktop probe. All movements are performed by the CNC using the #PROBE calibration canned cycle. Check 0.6 How to calibrate a tool automatically section for more information. In addittion, it is also possible to run an automatic tool calibration cycle during a program with its corresponding cycle, both in ISO and conversational. In order to do that, navigate to Probing Cycles and insert one of them into the program.

The same process is also explained in the following video:

Access to manual calibration

From any page, access the main menu by clicking the red box in the top left corner.

Press the [Jog] or [Execute] button, belonging to the "Operation" section to access the page from where you want to calibrate the tool.

Once inside one of these pages, press the [Measure / Offsets] softkey or [F10].

Once the menu is displayed, press the [Tool calibration] button. The [Tool calibration] button will be different depending on the installed software (Lathe or Milling model).

Manual calibration only allows you to calibrate the active tool, which can be either a milling machine or a lathe. The CNC will show the necessary data and update the help graphic depending on the selected tool.

As a probe is not available, a reference surface is necessary to be able to calibrate the tool. Calibration consists of manually moving the tool until it makes contact with the reference surface corresponding to the axis on which the tool is to be calibrated, and then validating the calibration on that axis. After validation, the new values are saved in the tools table.

Define the dimensions of the reference surface (milling model) or reference part (lathe model) to be used for calibration.

• Milling model: to define Zp, enter the value of the distance between the base of the head where the tool rests and the reference surface. Thus, the measured tool length (L) will be the distance between the nose of the head and the tip of the tool. In the case of kinematics, it is essential to measure in this way. This can also be done using a "presetter".
• Lathe model: the Xp and Zp values are the dimensions of the part that will be used to make the calibration. Use a blank and do a turning and facing. The value of Xp is the diameter of the part and the value of Zp is the distance between the facing surface and the base of the part fixture.

Select the tool and corrector to calibrate. After selection, the CNC will show the dimensions defined in the tool table for that tool offset. To calibrate a tool, it must be the active tool. If a tool is selected and [ENTER] is pressed, the CNC only shows the data for that tool. Press [START] to change the tool and to set active tool. The bottom bar shows the active tool at all times.

Approach the tool manually, in the desired axis, until making contact with the reference surface and press the [Take measure] softkey of the axis to validate the calibration. After validating the calibration, the values are updated and the wear value is initialized to zero. The new values are saved in the tool table. If the machine is a lathe, perform the same operation for the other axis.

Access to probe calibration

From any page, access the main menu by clicking the red box in the top left corner.

Press the [Jog] or [Execute] button, belonging to the "Operation" section to access the page from where you want to calibrate the tool.

Once inside one of these pages, press the [Measure / Offsets] softkey or [F10].

Once the menu is displayed, press the [Tool calibration] button. The [Tool calibration] button will be different depending on the installed software (Lathe or Milling model).

Press the [Calibration with probe] softkey or [F9] to access the probe calibration page.

This option is only available if you have a desktop probe installed on the machine.

On a milling model, the HMI allows you to calibrate the length or radius of the milling tools and the offsets of the lathe tools. In a lathe model, it allows to calibrate the offsets of any tool.

Calibration consists of manually approaching the tool to the probe and then ordering the CNC to carry out the probing movement. The CNC will move the tool along the selected axis until it makes contact with the probe. After making contact with the probe, the calibration in that axis is considered finished and the values are updated. After completing the calibration, withdraw the tool manually in the opposite direction in which the probing movement has been done.

Calibrate the tool

To calibrate a tool with a probe follow these steps:

Define the probing distance and feedrate. If the feedrate is not defined, the probing will be carried out at the feedrate defined by the machine manufacturer.

Select the tool and corrector to calibrate. The tool to be calibrated must be the active tool.
When entering the calibration cycle, the data of the active tool is displayed. If you want to measure a tool other than the active tool, go to the "T" field and edit the number of the tool to measure.

• If [ENTER] is pressed, the cycle will be updated with the data of the new selected tool.
• If [START] is pressed with the focus on the "T" or "D" fields, a tool change will be performed and the selected tool will become the active tool.
• If [START] is pressed with the focus outside the "T" or "D" fields, a warning will be displayed indicating that the tool change will not be executed.

Manually approach the tool to the probe until it is on the path that will be used for probing. To calibrate the radius with a cylindrical probe, the path must coincide with the center point of the probe, otherwise the calculation of the radius will be wrong. Using the horizontal softkeys, select the axis and direction in which you want to perform the calibration. After this, press the softkey [Calibrate] or [F12].

Press [START] to calibrate or [ESC] to cancel calibration. Pressing [START] the tool moves parallel to the axis and in the selected direction until it touches the probe. The measured value is updated and the wear value is initialized to zero. The data is stored in the tool table. Lastly, remove the tool manually in the opposite direction of the probing movement.

Access to probe calibration

From any page, access the main menu by clicking the red box in the top left corner.

Press the [Jog] or [Execute] button, belonging to the "Operation" section to access the page from where you want to calibrate the tool.

Once inside one of these pages, press the [Measure / Offsets] softkey or [F10].

Once the menu is displayed, press the [Tool calibration] button. The [Tool calibration] button will be different depending on the installed software (Lathe or Milling model).

Press the [Calibration with probe] softkey or [F9] to access the probe calibration page.

This calibration is only available if you have a desktop probe installed on the machine. All movements are performed by the CNC. This option allows you to calibrate both milling and lathe tools. The CNC will show the necessary data and will update the help graphic depending on the selected tool.

Calibration is performed using a probe canned cycle. The CNC moves the tool until it makes contact with the probe and validates the calibration in each of the axes. The tool can be calibrated in any of the axes of the plane.

Calibration starts by pressing the [START] key. When the CNC finishes the calibration on the selected axes, it updates the tool table with the measured values. In addition, the CNC assumes the new values.

Calibrate the tool

To calibrate a tool with a probe follow these steps:

Select the tool and corrector to calibrate. It is not necessary to place the tool in the head; the CNC takes care of doing this operation if necessary.

If it is a milling tool, select the operation to perform from the horizontal softkey menu.

Define the calibration cycle data.

Press the [Run Cycle] soft key or [F12].

Press [START] to calibrate or [ESC] to cancel calibration. The CNC calibrates the tool making all the necessary movements; it is not necessary to approach the tool manually. If the tool defined in the cycle is different from the active tool, the CNC will automatically change the tool and then measure it.

After performing the calibration, the tool table data is updated.

There are many ways to carry out an inspection of the tool. Here are some instructional videos:

Performing a tool inspection:

Tool inspection in manual mode:

Using MDI in tool inspection:

Compensating tool in tool inspection:

Repositioning in tool inspection: