Tooling Variables

There is a built-in limit of 200 tools that can be recorded, after which processing will fail if new tools are attempted to be defined or loaded.

The $FT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}FT}$

First tool number

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $FT variable contains the first tool number used in the program, or 0 if a tool has not been loaded yet.

The $LT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}LT}$

Last tool loaded (<1:?)

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $LT variable contains the tool ID or pocket number of the last (i.e., previous) tool loaded.

The $NT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}NT}$

Next tool to be loaded (<1:?)

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $NT variable contains the tool ID or pocket number for the next tool to be loaded. It has the same value as $TS (i.e., preselected tool number).

The $T Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}T}$

Current tool loaded (<1:?)

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $T variable contains the tool ID or pocket number (depending upon the machine type) for the currently loaded tool. Although the $T variable can be set within macros, it will have a limited effect.

The $TI Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TI}$

Current tool index

Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $TI variable can be used as a row number index into the $TLSUM, $TLTAB, $TLMIN and $TLMAX tables. It will be set to 1 if a tool is not loaded (i.e., the $TLxxx row number for the dummy tool). Otherwise, it will be set to the $TLxxx row for the currently loaded tool. For example, the tool number of the current tool can be obtained by the expression: $TLTAB(1,$TI).

The $TLMAX and $TLMIN Variables

$\textbf{{\char36}TLMAX}\textbf{(}\mathit{axis},\mathit{n}\textbf{)}$

Maximum tool travel table

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

$\textbf{{\char36}TLMIN}\textbf{(}\mathit{axis},\mathit{n}\textbf{)}$

Minimum tool travel table

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TLMAX and $TLMIN tables contain maximum and minimum axes travel information for each tool. The tables are organized as $TLMAX(column,row) and $TLMIN(column,row), where each row contains information for a specific tool and each column contains the travel for each of the 15 possible machine axes, as follows (only $TLMAX shown):

$TLMAX(1-3,n)

X, Y and Z linear axes

$TLMAX(4-6,n)

U, V and W secondary linear axes

$TLMAX(7-9,n)

A’, B’ and C’ rotary table axes

$TLMAX(10-12,n)

A, B and C rotary head axes

$TLMAX(13,n)

Extending (quill) axis

$TLMAX(14-15,n)

N1 and N2 removable rotary head axes

Row 1 contains travel for the entire program to date. Rows 2 and later contain travel information for specific tools. The number of rows is defined by $TLSIZ. Use the $TI variable as a row index to access travel information for the current tool.

Travel information represents the travel to the current point in the program. A value of $NULL indicates that the axes has not moved or been referenced in a motion block.

The $TLNAME Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TLNAME}$

Current tool name

Type: String, Read/Write

The $TLNAME variable can optionally be set in macros to identify the name of the next tool to be loaded. This variable will be automatically cleared after a tool change, but the tool name will be retained in the $TLTAB table.

The $TLSIZ Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TLSIZ}$

Size of tooling tables

Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $TLSIZ variable indicates the number of tool entries in the $TLxxx tables.

The $TLSORT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TLSORT}$

$TLTAB sort column

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TLSORT variable controls the row sorting order of the $TLTAB and related $TLMIN, $TLMAX and $TLSUM tables. By default these tables are not sorted, instead listing tools in the order that they were first defined in the MCD. Changing the sort order of the tooling tables also affects the order in which they are listed in the CERUN listing file tool summary. $TLSORT can be set as follows:

+n:

Sort tooling information by the specified $TLTAB column number n (1-50).

0:

Do not sort tooling information; list in the order as defined in the program.

–n:

Sort only the listing tool summary by the specified $TLTAB column number |n|.

The $TLSUM Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TLSUM}\textbf{(}\mathit{type},\mathit{n}\textbf{)}$

Tool summary table

Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $TLSUM table contains timing and feed information for all tools defined in the program. The table is organized as $TLSUM(column,row), where each row contains information for a specific tool and each column contains a specific type of summary information, as follows:

$TLSUM(1,n

Total feed time (in seconds)

$TLSUM(2,n)

Total positioning time (in seconds)

$TLSUM(3,n)

Total of all other time (in seconds)

$TLSUM(4,n)

Minimum feed rate (in uPM)

$TLSUM(5,n)

Maximum feed rate (in uPM)

$TLSUM(6,n)

Minimum spindle speed (in RPM)

$TLSUM(7,n)

Maximum spindle speed (in RPM)

Row 1 is reserved for the dummy tool. Other tools appear at rows 2 and later in the order in which they were defined in the program. The number of rows is defined by $TLSIZ. Use the $TI variable as a row index to access summary information for the current tool. The minimum and maximum feed rate values are initialized to 10000 and –1 respectively, and are recorded at the endpoint of each motion. The minimum and maximum spindle speeds are initialized to zero, and are recorded at the endpoint of each motion if the spindle is turning.

The $TLTAB Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TLTAB}\textbf{(}\mathit{type},\mathit{n}\textbf{)}$

Tool table

Type: Any, Read/Write

The $TLTAB table contains tool information for all tools defined in the program. The table is organized as $TLTAB(column,row), where each row contains information for a specific tool and each column contains a specific type of tool information, as follows:

$TLTAB(1,n)

Tool number

$TLTAB(2-4,n)

Unused

$TLTAB(5,n)

OSETNO value, $NULL:NA

$TLTAB(6,n)

Tool length

$TLTAB(7-8,n)

Unused

$TLTAB(9,n)

Tool ID (same as tool number)

$TLTAB(10,n)

Unused

$TLTAB(11,n)

Tool diameter

$TLTAB(12-19,n)

Unused

$TLTAB(20,n)

Tool name (string)

$TLTAB(21-50,n)

Available for use

Row 1 is reserved for the dummy tool. Other tools appear at rows 2 and later, by default in the order in which they were defined in the program. The number of rows is defined by $TLSIZ. Use the $TI variable as a row index to access tooling information for the current tool. $TLSORT can affect the row ordering. There is a built-in limit of 200 rows (i.e. tools) that can be recorded, including the dummy tool, after which further new tool definitions will be ignored with an error.

The table is writable. Columns 21 through 50 are currently not used for any built-in purpose and therefore are available to store information of any type (including SEQUENCE).

The $TOZ Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TOZ}$

Tool offset in the Z direction (length)

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TOZ variable contains the tool offset in Z (i.e., the tool length).

The $TP Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TP}$

Current tool pocket number

Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $TP variable contains the pocket number for the tool that is currently loaded. It has the same value as $T (i.e., current tool loaded).

The $TS Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TS}$

Preselected tool number (<1:?)

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TS variable contains the number of last tool selected. If the value is less than one (1), no tool has been preselected.