[Tommie]

Hi there,

I Am not a Fanuc programmeur, so I is probably an easy question!!
I have a vertical lath with milling options (rotating tools) with 18i-T control.
I am using a ballnosemill. In the tooltable is the length till the tip of the tool and the correct diameter/radius.
I want to load the tool and use is with the tool length minus the tool radius!!
So using the center of the ball!!
So I think what needs to be done is:
1: read out the tool radius into a parameter.
2: load the tool length minus the toolradius into its current memory.
3: start milling with the shorter tool (center ballnose)

How can this be done in the program??

Thanks in advance

[christinandavid]

The tool dimensions stored in the tool offset table are also stored in system variables.

You could therefore use these to input your required tool length into a spare tool offset. On a 31i mill I would use the following in the program:

T8 M6(ball nose);

#11063=#11008-#13008
(tool 63 length offset is tool 8 length offset minus tool 8 radius offset);

G43 H63 Z100(load length offset 63);
etc


If it is viable, I would probably prefer to alter the ball nose (T8) length WEAR offset instead to eliminate the need for a spare tool offset, eg:

#10008=-[#13008]
G43 H8 Z100....

Obviously your control and machine configuration may differ from mine, so consult your manual to find the correct system variable numbers, search the forum, or ask the question and someone with the specific knowledge for your control will be able to provide you with the correct system variable numbers.

DP

[fordav11]

assuming he has macro that would be one way. another way is to use G10

[Tommie]

Thanks to you for both helps, I will try both and see which one fits me best.
Another question!!
What #'s are free to use in calculations?
I can not find a real overview about what range of #'s are system parameters and what range is free for programmers to use in standard all day programming!!

Thanks again!!

[fordav11]

if by # you mean macro variables, there's a nice list here.....
Types of Fanuc macro programming variables
you can use all from 1-999. Additional Common Variables are a paid option.