Tool Change auto page changes

[Eddie UK]

This is my first visit to the forum, I have a trial version of the MSM software that I intend to license once I get to grips with it. I really like it so far, you guys have done a great job.
My question as a newbie (I have searched on here but failed) is a simple one - when setting up tools what is the correct way of moving from one tool to the next ?
I have studied the manual & that gives you the theory but it doesn't tell you how to get to the tool you need to set. At the moment I am calling the tool via the MDI line (T0101 enter) but this takes me from the "WC Offsets" page to the "Tooling" page where the desired tool is now shown but a prompt to hit run to continue after tool change is flagged. I then have to go back to the MC page to touch off my tool. I use a QCTP & some jobs take up to seven tools so jumping back & forth just doesn't seam right. Am I missing the obvious here ? can I simply enter the desired tool number somewhere on the Offsets page & then touch off ?
Sorry if this is obvious to others but its only easy if you know how & I am trying to find out.
Thank you in advance Eddie.

[DaveCVI]

Hi,
The MDI line is the correct way to manually change between tools.
When using mach's "stop & wait" tool change mode, MSM will change to the Tooling page during the "wait" part of the tool change sequence (so that the operator can see the info for the tool that needs to be mounted). I think that this page change is what you are seeing.
When the operator clicks the cycle start button to tel the system that the operator has physically mounted the tool, MSM will return to the page that was displayed prior to the start of the tool change.
Thus you should not be needing to manually change to the WC offfset page - as if that is where you were before the tool change, that is where you will be after the tool change.
Are you not getting the display returned to the pre-tool change page?

Dave

[Eddie UK]

Thank you for your reply,
The tool change tab sequence is working correctly as you describe during the execution of a program. My question is aimed at the initial setting up of several tools before running programs. When I enter the tool I wish to set up in the MDI line on the WC Offset page, I am taken directly to the tooling page and prompted to press cycle start to continue after (you say manual ?) tool change. I have to click back on the WC Offset page in order to continue setting up offsets for the tool I entered. If setting up several tools, this can be a bit of a pain jumping back & forth & this made me think I had missed something when the rest of the software is so good. I did discover on the WC Offset page in the "Current Tool #" detail box, if I try to change the tool number it highlights green, lets me type in my next tool number but defaults back to original when I hit return, I can however change the tool offset number & that sticks & can be set against the unchanged wrong tool number.
So in short should I be able to enter tool numbers directly into the "Current Tool #" field rather than calling a manual tool change.
I have checked the mill software too & that is the same, tool number field wont change but offset field will.

Eddie (confused but happy so far)

[DaveCVI]

Thank you for your reply,
The tool change tab sequence is working correctly as you describe during the execution of a program. My question is aimed at the initial setting up of several tools before running programs. When I enter the tool I wish to set up in the MDI line on the WC Offset page, I am taken directly to the tooling page and prompted to press cycle start to continue after (you say manual ?) tool change.

By "manual" I mean that the system prompts the operator to change the tool. Cycle start is then clicked by the operator to tell the system that the tool has been changed. This is what the mach "stop & wait" tool change mode does.
It is also possible to use mach's Auto tool chance mode. In that configuration, MSM runs user supplied code to invoke the machines tool changer actions (search for M6ATC in the mill user manual; works the same way for lathes).
There is also a mach "ignore tool change" mode.. which does nothing for a tool change command.

I have to click back on the WC Offset page in order to continue setting up offsets for the tool I entered.
If setting up several tools, this can be a bit of a pain jumping back & forth & this made me think I had missed something when the rest of the software is so good.

Are you clicking the cycle start button to complete the tool change?
When the cycle start is clicked MSM will return you to the prior page.

I did discover on the WC Offset page in the "Current Tool #" detail box, if I try to change the tool number it highlights green, lets me type in my next tool number but defaults back to original when I hit return,

There are multiple reasons that MSM will not let you enter a value into the current tool # DRO directly. Basically this prevents you form tripping across several other nasty mach 3 bugs. See this thread for more info:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=109

I can however change the tool offset number & that sticks & can be set against the unchanged wrong tool number.
So in short should I be able to enter tool numbers directly into the "Current Tool #" field rather than calling a manual tool change.
I have checked the mill software too & that is the same, tool number field wont change but offset field will.

Eddie (confused but happy so far)

This should NOT be possible. If it is letting you do this, I consider it a bug and I'll go fix it (if I can) so that it won't do this.
Please use MDI to change tools as that is the correct/safe way to do so for mach3.

It seems that the inconvenience is arising from not getting back to the prior page after the cycle start press. I'm a bit unsure if you are clicking the cycel start button or not to complete the tool change sequence.

Dave

[Eddie UK]

OK I got it ??

I didn't click cycle start after I entered the tool number in the MDI. In my brain I presumed the machine would burst into life using the tool details I just entered if I did so.

I also got hung up on Mach3 letting you enter the tool No required in the tool DRO on the tool adjust page & loading all the offsets for that given tool. I thought MSM would be similar.

So now I enter the tool I wish to adjust in the MDI, get taken to the tool page where the tool I just entered is now shown, hit cycle start & get taken back to WC Offset page to finish touching off.

Thank you for your patience & so sorry I found a bug (possibly) on my first attempt.

Best regards Eddie

[DaveCVI]

No problem -

The WC offset page is used for touch of operations - and the touch of ops all work on the current tool # entry for the tool table.
BTW, you can also enter Tool data directly into the tool table from the tooling page. If you know the tool data you need to enter, then you can edit the tool table form the tooling page (Tool Table Info panel, upper right, click the edit button). With that panel you can edit whatever tool is selected in the panel - independent of what the current mach tool # is.

Dave