Update 6.23 released 30th Sept 2004

The OneCNCXR update 6.23 has some alterations to the tool change logic.

This change is not included in the posts of existing so you need to add this variable to your post. When you install 6.23 or later you will have 3 new posts automatically added that include this change. They are Haas New, Fanuc New and Extron that include.

For new users there it is added to the Fanus Haas and Extron posts

Effectively what this means that it has logic to give you control over the modal operation of the tool change. This measn that if you use the tool in more than one function and it is the same tool it has the ability to handle this even if you change the work shift or speeds and feeds.

This example shows the standard post for Haas and Fanuc type controllers. There is really only a minor change to the user the rest is handled by new logic. If you set up your post like this you will see how it works. I have also included some posts to download.

The change only applies to the start lines of the tool change in this example.

Posting to Fanuc compatible or Haas controllers

Start and Finish Format

Start Lines

End Lines

Note:
Tool start and end lines always the same and is not affected by modal operations

Tool Change Specifications
Here is a recommended standard Haas/Fanuc tool change format.

Start Lines

End Lines
M01 (optional stop so that you can stop the program at the end of a machining function)

Note:
End lines always the same and not affected by modal operations.

Feed Line Format
{G} {X} {Y} {Z} {F}

Rapid line format
{G} {X} {Y} {Z}

CW Arc format (G02)
{G} {X} {Y} {Z} {I} {J} {R} {F}

CCW Format (G03)
{G} {X} {Y} {Z} {I} {J} {R} {F}

Compensation left format (G41)

Compensation right format (G42)

Post settings dialog
We now have a switch for tool modal

Here you see the new {TC}variable being used

Changes:
You will notice that we have introduced another variable called tool change {M06}

That variable is now used instead of a hard wired M06 the reason for this there is now logic to bind {T} which is the tool {TC} which is the tool change code and {TDES} tool description have combined logic they are all in or all out. For example if there is no tool change the 3 variables are not inserted.

Action:
If the same tool is used for the next function and the tool modal is tagged the there is no second tool change in the code and no end lines until the end of the last function using that tool.
.
When the tool change is not posted because it is modal the (three tool change variables) tool change is not inserted even if there were changes to the "work offset" "tool notes" or "spindle speed" variables.

This would also include any other variables if used in the tool path start lines..

If any of the other variables are changed like "spindle speed" " work offset" or "tool notes" the other code in the tool path start lines and end lines are inserted without the 3 tool change variables.

Customization
As shown above we only use an M06 for the tool change however it is unlimited the code you can have in that variable. It has been said that some machines require several codes because of their dumbness well that is possible the way it works now.

Some new high speed machines require the spindle speed in the first rapid line that is also now possible by moving the variable and M03 into the rapid line format should that be required.

Now the variables have ability for multiple lines.

When entering the prefix code for example the {TC} variable in the prefix you entered M05 M09 G53 it would post as one line.

If you entered it in the prefix as M05n M09n G53 it would post as:

M05
M09
G53

Update 6.21 released 30th September 2004

The ability to have a greater scope in the quality of viewing the models. The slider bar now has more adjustment allowance to assist in viewing large radius faces that were showing flats while viewing.

Solidworks 2005 is about to be released.

On going testing and quality assurance with this as well as the SW 2004 had prompted us to revise our image quality settings as we have found problems with the proper displaying of some models.To be able to better control this especially for the extremes of model size we needed more scope to control this as well as being able to control models of low precision better.

In this version 6.21 there is a new slider bar in the display settings.

File> Properties> Display tab>

By default this is set to the middle which is similar to previous but now you can go higher to assist with tiny or intricate parts or of the models are huge and lethargic it can be reduced.

Now read this carefully:
If you have a model on the screen and you go to adjust the image quality it will happen now regenerate to the new image quality setting without having to reload the file. There is a message that comes up and asks if you want to change the setting on the current mode yes no or cancel, if you say no it does not update the current mode, if you cancel it does not, but if you have adjusted the setting it will update any new models or other models because it can be multi document. The reason the message is there is because if it is a huge model and it is going to be regenerated you may not want to do this particular model hence the ability not to that.

Update 6.22 released 23rd September 2004

Fillet all edges modified due to reports on some operating systems.