How to Command a Safe Tool Change Position to Avoid Fixtures and Rotaries - Haas Tip of the Day

Today, Mark shows you how to easily command a safe tool change position to avoid crashing a tool into your fixture or rotary. It’s all done with a simple program that you only need to write once, then you simply alias (reference) that program with a single M code!
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[@josedejesusmacielhernandez2578]

awesome!!! Thans for sharing your knowledge with us is very helpfull when working with five axis machine for the first time!

[@luv2machine]

Great tip! Would it have made more sense to alias the M16 command? This way you won't affect any other programs that don't use the rotary. Then you can use M16 for all of the rotary programs and never have to change the settings back and forth.

[@haasautomation]

+luv2machine Thanks for the comment! That would work pretty well. You could Alias and use an M16 to do tool changes if you have a trunnion on the table, and just use a plain M06 in your program if the trunnion isn’t on the table. Another option would be to Alias the M06, then change the Alias M parameter from “6” back to zero when the trunnion is removed.

[@dragonflyfab8982]

That's the way I do it.

[@Cireelim]

And another question, since this is what I actually what to accomplish: Is there an easy way to tell the Haas VF-3 too just Not move the table at all during a tool change?

[@ashleyaewells]

Is there a way to stop this safety move on a umc 750?, we have a large part coming up soon where we will need it to stay at B90. to have enough clearance for the tool change.

[@ParadigmUnkn0wn]

You would just set B90 along with the other necessary coordinates instead of the example coordinates here. Aliasing M06 like this permits setting your own safe toolchange location based on your setup and tooling.

[@yourijuteau]

You simply same my ass with that tip...Thank you so much HAAS. I had a KURT with a side winder on it. No way I could do the job without a macro for M6

[@brianharris9420]

I just added a 4th axis to a 2006 Mini Mill and discovered changing setting 81 to zero had no effect. Still changes to tool #1 on power up restart. I've found a work around by pressing zero return -> All. This homes the axes without tool change. However I'm so used to pressing "power up restart" at startup I would really like to know if there is a fix for making setting 81 work as this video describes?

[@dstryr932k]

Super usefull, did the same with our trt160 on a vf-2 yt. Thanks.

[@seanmueller6445]

Hi Mark We have a VF2 with an umbrella tool changer. Is there any way to have the z retract all the way AFTER the tool change and before any movement in the x and y to your cut location. We have a pretty tall work piece set up and a long tool. As of now they would crash, but after the tool change I can go into handjog mode and jug up another 4 inches. So I know there is more z above the tool change position.

[@haasautomation]

Sean Mueller - For sure. Check out the G53 Video, kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJWQmWOPdp58sLM. We can jog your Z-Axis up as far as it will go, and look at the machine position. If it goes to machine Z4.1 (4.1 inches above tool change position), then we can command a G53 G00 G90 Z4.0; G53 G00 G90 X-20. in our program, and it will move the tool all the up in the Z, then the X. All this movement could be placed in our own M or G code, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fovMe3iqZceAd5Y. If you have a newer NGC machine, we can use Settings 293-298, our Tool Change Mid positions, to safely position things now. - Mark, Haas Tip-of-the-day

[@seanmueller6445]

Thank you Mark!!! I tried it and it worked. Thank you soo much!!!

[@rattleheadracing7782]

I just tried setting this up and I am running into an issue where I'm getting an alarm that says H&T don't match. However they do match. If I turn setting 15 off, it works. Is it not possible to run this with both settings?

[@rattleheadracing9996]

RattleheadRacing update, it only alarms out when i run in graphics. Works fine while running parts. Why is that??

[@leejerry8425]

I use a extra offset for tool changes with my tunnion, moving the table to the safest place before a tool change and for the following tool.

[@jjameskern]

I do not have the fourth axis in my machine. But the problem I am having is I used everything but the fourth axis info and my machine gives a h and t not the same alarm and will not do anything with the program after the alias program. I tried it with m06 m16 both does same thing. Not sure what I am doing wrong moving z to zero and y to zero. My machine has a 30 x travel and I tried the x on several different stop points and get the same alarm Everytime. Can some one point me in the right direction

[@oldfrog17]

HI Mark, I did the opposite. I masked M16 as safe so that M6 runs normally. M16 is only in the programs that have long tools, tall fixtures, or a trunnion.

[@173roberto]

Hello, a couple months ago I whatched how to make fast tool changes on the lathe without going home position, but, it looks like it can just be done on new machines, how can use macros to do that in an old lathe?

[@blaketrower1131]

Hey Mark great video! My company received a Haas minimill that has the macro code O9000 set to 6 so it does move for a tool change; however there isn't a program O9000 in the control. How do i look up what the person before me used?

[@haasautomation]

Blake Trower - The program may be there, just not visible. Turn Off Setting 23 and look again, under LIST PROG. On Next Gen Controls, the 9xxx programs are stored in the 9000 folder, so you can look there too. If the file does not exist, it must be recreated. Check out this video for more info: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fovMe3iqZceAd5Y - Mark, Haas Tip-of-the-day

[@blaketrower1131]

Awesome! That's exactly what i needed. Thanks for your help Mark!

[@mattwest2294]

Hey Mark, Very useful stuff here. I'm trying to write the use of O9000 with a variable of 6 IN my program to have it set the variable automatically, instead of having to hit e-stop, change it, and then run. Is there a way to do this? I already tried a pass thru command line of "#[9000]=6" but ended up getting a error message of "522 Illegal Assignment Var or Value". Kinda stumped here. Any help appreciated. If the variables are Read-Only, how do I enable "write", then at the end of program re-enable "read-only"?

[@MikeCentola]

You can’t use variables when aliasing m codes. You’d have to use G65 to call it directly.

[@MJP20121]

Also once the Z axis is retracted to clear the work, can the other axis's move simultaneously on the same line? IE (G53 G00 G90 A0. Y0. X-40.)

[@niktowazny8350]

+MJP20121 yes

[@Julio-rk7qw]

Good

[@christopherheun636]

Works great. Though I've been changing parameter 81 back to 0 before all work probing (machine behaves as if there's an M6 beginning all probing macros) How can we avoid this?

[@haasautomation]

+Christopher Heun Older VQC Templates use Macro O9023, which will cause a tool change if the probe isn’t already in the spindle (Macro #560 holds the T# of the spindle probe). Newer IPS Templates, and probing from the Offset Page, use Macro O9995, which won’t force a tool change. The operator will still need to be careful to avoid fixtures when using older VQC templates. We’ll need to make sure that we change to the probe intentionally before running the probing cycle. This usually isn’t an issue, as we need to position the probe before running the cycle. Hope this helps!

[@christopherheun636]

Whoop there it is. Still often use VQC on our new machines out of habit. Thanks!

[@chrism3162]

I have 12/2016 nex gen supermini with trt100 and have used this m16 and have same issue when using tool setting probe error only way is to edit programs every time in mdi to get to work i don't quite understand what you are saying to Christopher as it is more in reference to older controls can you please explain how to edit probe macro to avoid edit every time in mdi. Thanks

[@chrism3162]

I have 12/2016 nex gen supermini with trt100 and have used this m16 and have same issue as Christopher Heun when using tool setting probe error only way is to edit programs every time in mdi to get to work i don't quite understand what you are saying to Christopher as it is more in reference to older controls can you please explain how to edit probe macro to avoid edit every time in mdi. Thanks

[@haasautomation]

Since this video was made, we’ve added Settings 293-298 to the Next Gen Mill controls. These Settings allow you to specify Tool Change Mid Positions for every axis, which will help avoid your rotary even when changing tools in MDI (ATC FWD). Check to see if those Settings are available on your NGC machines, and if not, give your local Haas Factory Outlet a call and look into upgrading your software to the latest. Changing your Tool At Power Up (Par./Set. 81) to a zero is a great feature as well, on older machines, while these new settings will take care of things even when changing a tool at Power Up. - Mark, Haas Tip-of-the-day

[@BARI644]

Mark hi. Please tell me I stand a new generation and I have the settings 293-298. That is, I enter these coordinates into the data settings and something else?? in order when changing the instrument table moved??

[@ThePrimitiveInstinct]

If you alias an existing G/M code is it permanent or can they be reverted back to their original function

[@haasautomation]

Definitely. We can just set our M Macro Call value back to “0” (01:05 in video) and the control reverts back to the original code. For some more information on Aliased M and G codes, check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/fovMe3iqZceAd5Y - Mark, Haas Tip-of-the-day

[@markbernardo2320]

Our vm2 does this for all tool changes . Even when you are using the atc fwd / rev buttons, the table comes to the front right of the machine, after Z retracts .

[@geoguy180]

+Mark Bernardo I use a VM2 SS and ours doesn't do this, it would be a right pain if it did!

[@markbernardo2320]

+George Allan Yeah we had parameters/settings changed I believe to it went to this position on all tool changes, not just M06 commands. We have a trunnion on our machine so we did it for the same reason as this video. I don't remember what the actual change is but if anyone needs to know how to do it, I can look into it.

[@haasautomation]

+Mark Bernardo It sounds like you’ve had your local Haas Factory Outlet change some parameters so that your machine positions to certain locations every time a Tool Change is commanded. This is very possible, depending on the Software Version your mill has. Customers are welcome to contact their local HFO to see if this is possible on their machines. We don’t give public instructions on this method because every application is different, and changing parameters involves all kinds of wonky math and an understanding of the machine’s servo motor encoders. . . and if it’s done incorrectly, there is a serious risk of crashing your machine! Thanks for the comment Mark. Yours truly, Mark from the Haas Tip of the Day

[@Cireelim]

I can’t get this to work. After the subroutine the table moves back to the original M06-position to change tool. From what I can see the machine doesn’t care that I’ve specified the coordinates for each axel before the M16 in O9000

[@nickdufromont]

Having the same issue, has anyone figured it out?

[@MJP20121]

In the example you showed, why move the A and Y axis?

[@MJP20121]

+MJP20121 I see you want 1 for all.

[@ExMachinaEngineering]

+MJP20121 If you imagine the machine being in the position it is at the very start of the video, you need to move Y, and to move Y you need to move A first. Working with CNCs, you can never take anything for granded, at least that's what I think.

[@Thewaldo12345]

G91 G28 X0. Y0. No problem.

[@briansmith4932]

Covering that red stop...just in case

[@1999danie]

Not very ergonomic your control panel it would be much better if it was adjustable up and down

[@nf794]

And that noise is bullshit

[@VadymMedvedev]

Вниз по Z нормально. А вот разворот стола по A или B не очень хорошая идея. Откуда вы знаете, какая деталь торчит из оснастки? Может её вообще поворачивать нельзя, т.к. она так не помещается в рабочую зону.

[@haasautomation]

Вадим Медведев - Great comment. In our latest NGC software, the user can now easily limit rotary axes. Setting 310-318. Thanks for the comment. - Mark, Haas Tip-of-the-day

[@mattlf9120]

Take one of these mills back to 1890, everyone would have a shit attack.

[@Александшулумей]

Американцы как всегда заморачиваются. Всё проще. Создаем подпрограмму в программе и вызываем её когда нам нужно выехать в безопасную позицию.