Turn on to Tool Monitoring

The Haas Advanced Tool Management function, which has previously only been active on Haas mills, is now available to Haas Lathe users with software version 9.02 or later.

The feature, which is normally an expensive option on CNC controls, is standard on all Haas machines and provides the user with tool management functionality based on tool life, in terms of total time and feed time, tool load, and usage. Substitution of the relevant axis commands is necessary to run on a lathe but the basic format remains.

The monitoring system requires the programmer to specify a group of tools in the program, rather than an individual tool number, and the control will automatically call the active tool from within that group – a tool group must be setup prior to using a program. To use a tool group in a program, first set up a tool group. Next, substitute the tool group ID number for the tool number and for the H-codes and D-codes in the pro gram. See the following program for an example of the new programming format: 

T1000 M06 (tool group 1000)

G00 G90 G55 X56.5 Y187.5 S2500 M03

G43 H1000 Z50. (H-code 1000 same as group ID number)

G83 Z-25. F150. R3. Q3.

X111.5 Y275.

X336.5 Y287.5

G00 G80 Z50.

T2000 M06 (use tool group 2000)

G00 G90 G56 X56.5 Y187.5 S2500 M03

G43 H2000 Z50. (H-code 2000 same as group ID number)

G83 Z20. F150. R3. Q3.

X111.5 Y275.

X336.5 Y287.5

G00 G80 Z50.

M30

Tools are measured by their life, based on feed time, total time, usage, number of holes, tool load, or vibration etc. as determined by the operator. When the specified limit as been reached, the control will automatically use another tool from the same group. When all the tools from a group are used up, the control will alarm and cease production.

The Advanced Tool Management page is located within the Current Commands mode and can be found by pressing CURNT COMDS and using the page up and down keys. However ATM requires software version 13.04 or later and Parameter 315 TOOL MGMT bit to be set to 1.