Originally Posted by
HillBilly
These type of toolhangers require the tool changer to do operations while the CNC is preforming motion to save time. For instance they usually prestage tools with a T# call with no M6. It would seem imposible for the PC to process the I/O events for this while issuing motion commands to the Galil, especially if the G code were small segment code.
The non random ones would start machining as soon as the new tool was in the spindle and the PLC would take care of putting the old tool back where it goes in the magazine.
Darek
I'm not sure of the technical details, but I'd conjecture that you could put some logic in the timer.fil that will execute simultaneously with a running program. Of course, you'd probably want to provide an exit for any logic loop designed to oversee completion of prestaging.
I do make use of the timer to get real time rpm off the spindle encoder (lathe). The logic runs whenever the spindle is turning, so gcode is being executed.
I think most of the other camsoft provided files tend to execute in sequential fashion, for example the gcode, mcode or macro.fils
First you get good, then you get fast. Then grouchiness sets in.
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)