CNC Tool And Data Management System

CNCDataMan

CNC Tool & Data Management System

Overview

Our CNC Tool & Data Management System (CNC DataMan) offers increase performance, production, and reliability for your Machine Tools by managing the NC Data and Programs required by the CNC Control. CNC DataMan incorporates state of the art Tool Identification technology to maintain and manage your Tooling data in the Tool Crib and on the Shop floor. The system is ideal for companies that manage large inventories of tooling, demand short setup times on their Machine Tools, and require Tool Verification when a tool is brought into a Machine’s spindle.

CNC DataMan is a Windows based application running on a standalone PC. CNC-DataMan works with GE Fanuc and other CNC Controls. Below describes the functions and features of the CNC Tool Management System.

v User Level Security

v Inch Metric Support

v Tool Identification By Code Tag

v Random Tool Chain Loading

v Tool Life Control

v Spindle Tool Verification

v Geometry Offset Verification

v Spindle Check Tool Function

v Tool Length Checking

v Broken Tool Detection

v Work Zero Offset Management (Option)

v NC Program Manager

v 8-Digit T Codes

v Write Program To NC Memory

v Read Program From NC Memory

v Drip Feed Program To NC Control

v M198 Sub Program Storage (Option)

v T8 Digit NC Program Post Processor (Option)

v Remote Machine Status Monitoring (Option)

v Tool Data Listing

v Event History Reporting

v Program History Reporting

v Presetter Support

v Network Support

User level Security

CNC DataMan implements User level security to gain access to sensitive areas of the system. CNC DataMan’s User Manager provides administrative tools to add, delete, and change users in the system. The User Manager also provides the ability to assign access permissions to each user in the system.

Inch Metric Support

CNC DataMan can handle data in either Inch or Metric units.

Tool Identification

CNC DataMan uses state of the art Tool Identification (Tool-ID) technology to maintains and manages Tooling information for each tool loaded into the system. Tool-ID provides quick and reliable NC Tool Offset data registration, Spindle Tool Verification, random Tool Chain loading, and NC Program Pot # independence. These features reduce setup time and eliminate tool crashes do to data entry and Tool Chain loading errors.

The following data is maintained for each tool in the system:

v ATC Pocket location

v Tool # (Up to 8 Digits)

v Length Offset & Wear

v Radius Offset & Wear

v Date & Time Last Used

v Times Used In Spindle

v Tool Group & Life Values (Used for Tool Life Management)

v Point Dimension (Used for Tool Breakage Detection)

v Status (Active, Expired, Broken, Requires Check)

CNC DataMan identifies tools by reading a Code Tag (Read-Only or Read/Write type) mounted on the tool‘s holder. Read heads are located at the Tool Changer load station(s) to identify tools going in and out of the Tool Chain.

An optional read head can be installed at the spindle loading position to support the Tool Verify function.

Random Tool Chain Loading

CNC DataMan allows for quick Tool loading by allowing the operator to load tools in any open Pot in the Tool Chain.

Tool Life Management

The Tool Life Management option allows CNC DataMan to monitor a tool’s cutting time, and automatically replace an expired tool with a fresh backup without interrupting the NC Program.

Any Tool can be assigned a Tool Life Group number. These tool groups define a list of identical tool assemblies whose tool life will be monitored. Each Tool Group is assigned a maximum life value (up to 9999 minutes). When a tool in the group is used for cutting, its tool life is counted down. When a Tool’s life is used up, it is marked as “|Expired”. When this tool is called for again, CNC DataMan will automatically select the next tool (backup tool) in the group.

All Tools in a given Group must have the same 8 digit Tool Number.

Tool length Checking

This feature is used to ensure all tool’s length offsets are greater than the minimum Tool Length Check value. CNC DataMan can be setup to monitor a minimum tool length. If a tool’s length offset is less than this value, CNC DataMan will generate an alarm. This helps prevent some tool crashes in the event an improper tool length offset is assigned to a tool. This check is performed when…

v A tool is loaded into the ATC.

v A tool’s offset value is edited in CNC DataMan.

v A tool is verified.

Work Zero Offset Management (Option)

CNC DataMan has the ability to read Work Zero Offsets from the NC Control and store them for the currently selected NC Program number. The Work-Zero->Read From NC menu item, or M146 can be used to perform this operation.

Work Zero Offsets can also be retrieved from the CNC DataMan system (based on Program #), and registered on the NC Control. Work-Zero->Write To NC menu item, or M145 is used to perform this operation.

Spindle Tool Verification

This option guarantees the tool called into the spindle by the NC Program is the proper one, and that its offsets are correct. If the verify fails, the Machine is put into single block and Alarms, and CNC DataMan identifies the error.

Geometry Offset Verification

As the NC program calls for a tool from the ATC, CNC DataMan reads that tool’s Geometry offsets (from Code Tag) and compares them to the geometry offsets registered on the NC Control. If a difference is detected, the NC Control Alarms (single block), and CNC DataMan identify the error.

Spindle Check Tool Function

When a tool is preset, the user can set the Tool’s Status field to “Check” indicating the tool requires checking by the operator when it is brought into the spindle.

When a tool is brought into the spindle by a tool change, and CNC DataMan detects the Tool Status field is set to "Check", CNC DataMan will put the NC Control into Single Block and Alarm so that the operator can make any necessary adjustments. The NC Control and CNC DataMan will both indicate the nature of the Alarm. When the Tool is brought back to the ATC by a tool change, this field will be reset to “Active”.

Broken Tool Detection

This Tool Verify level requires the Machine Tool manufacture’s Broken Tool Detection system to be installed.

CNC DataMan can identify and mark a tool as broken when loaded into the spindle.

NC Program Manager

CNC DataMan’s NC Program Manager (NPM) provides comprehensive tools to aid users in handling their NC Programs. NPM provides NC Program editing, high-speed upload and download to NC memory. Program Drip Feed, and M198 sub program storage.

Below details these functions.

8-Digit T Codes

NC Programs call Tools by their 8-digit Tool #. As a Tool is called for in the NC Program, CNC DataMan tells the NC Control what Pot# that tool is in.

This feature eliminates Pot# dependencies for NC Programs. It also aids the operator in identifying the type of tool being called since the 8-digit Tool# can now represent tool type, size, etc.

Write Program To NC Memory

NC Programs can be sent (written) to NC Memory. Any NC Program on the CNC DataMan system, network drive, or floppy disk can be sent to NC Memory.

Multiple NC programs can be contained within the file. The file should have the following format:

O0001

(Program Body)

M30, M02, or M99

O0002

(Program Body)

M30, M02, or M99

Read Program From NC Memory

NC Programs can be received (read) from NC Memory and stored on the CNC DataMan system. Any Program or sub-program in NC Memory can be read and stored on the CNC DataMan System. If the T8 Digit posting option is enabled, the NC Program is Reverse Posted automatically when stored on the CNC DataMan System.

NC Program Drip Feed

NC Programs can be Drip Feed into the NC Control. This feature allows the NC Control to have the minimum NC Memory configuration.

T8 Digit NC Program Post Processing (Option)

CNC DataMan can automatically Post-Processes NC Programs when written to NC Memory. The Post-Processor converts Tool numbers (up to 8 digits long) into its corresponding ATC pocket location. This allows the operator to load tools into any ATC location for a given job. Also, the NC program need not be ATC location dependent.

M198 Sub Program Storage (Option)

CNC DataMan’s PC can be used as an external Sub Program source. Sub programs can be placed in a source directory (Example: c:\DataMan\m198subs) where they are picked up on a M198 Sub Program call.

(This CNC DataMan option requires Fanuc’s DNC-2 option installed)

Remote Machine Status Monitoring

If the CNC-DataMan PC is accessible over the company LAN, any person in the company can monitor the Status of that Machine.

Tool Data Listings

A comprehensive variety of tool data listings are provided giving the operator a quick view of what tools are on the machine, and what their status is. The data can be viewed, sorted, edited, and printed

Event History Reporting

A complete history of CNC DataMan Events and NC Control Alarms are maintained. The event history can be viewed, sorted, deleted, and printed.

Program History Reporting

CNC DataMan maintains a history for every NC Program run on the NC Control. Program run time, Tools called, and time tool was in spindle and maintained. This program history can be viewed, sorted, deleted, and printed.

Presetter Support

CNC Tool<am supports several different proestter interfaces to collect Offset data during Tool Presetting.

Network Support

The system can be connected to a LAN to access files from a Remote Host.

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