Tooling Variables

There is a built-in limit of 200 tools and 100 heads that can be recorded, after which processing will fail if new tools or heads are attempted to be defined or loaded.

$CUTTER

CUTTER definition Type: Sequence, Read-only

This sequence variable contains the ISO standard 7 or 10 parameters of the last CUTTER command processed (see “The CUTTER Command”). The diameter and corner radius are the first two values of the sequence; the height is the last value of the sequence.

$FH	First head number Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the first head number.

$FT	First tool number Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the first tool number used in the program, or 0 if a tool has not been loaded yet. When set to zero, the First Startup/Shutdown tool change procedures are used (if they are defined). When non-zero, the normal Startup/Shutdown tool change procedures are used.

$H	Current head number Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the current head number.

$HI	Current head index Type: Numeric, Read-only

This variable can be used as a row number index into the $HLDTAB table. It will be set to 1 if a head is not loaded (i.e., the $HLDTAB row number of the dummy head). Otherwise, it will be set to the $HLDTAB row for the currently loaded head.

$HP	Current head pocket number Type: Numeric, Read-only

This variable contains the pocket number for the current head.

$HLDSIZ

Size of $HLDTAB table Type: Numeric, Read-only

This variable indicates the number of head entries in the $HLDTAB table.

$HLDTAB

Head table Type: Numeric/String, Read/Write

This table contains head information for all heads defined in the program (using the TOOLNO/ HEAD or LOAD/HEAD commands). The table is organized as $HLDTAB(column,row), where each row contains information for a specific head and each column contains a specific type of head information, as follows:

$HLDTAB(1,n)	Head number
$HLDTAB(2,n)	0:Fixed, 1:Rotary, 2:Dual
$HLDTAB(3-5,n	SETOOL xyz offset to secondary rotary
$HLDTAB(6-8,n)	SETOOL xyz offset to primary rotary
$HLDTAB(9-11,n)	SETOOL xyz offset to head face
$HLDTAB(12,n)	Select/Putaway rotation: $NULL:NA 1:CLW/CLW, 2:CCLW/CCLW, 3:CLW/CCLW, 4:CCLW/CLW
$HLDTAB(13,n)	ATANGL for secondary rotary
$HLDTAB(14,n)	ATANGL for primary rotary
$HLDTAB(15,n)	ATANGL for head face
$HLDTAB(16,n)	SETANG for secondary rotary
$HLDTAB(17,n)	SETANG for primary rotary
$HLDTAB(18,n)	SETANG for head face
$HLDTAB(19,n)	1:Manual, 2:Automatic
$HLDTAB(20,n)	1:START specified, $NULL:NA
$HLDTAB(21,n)	Head ID (or head pocket if no ID)
$HLDTAB(22,n	TIMES value
$HLDTAB(23,n)	Head definition (1:RAM, 2:ROTATE)
$HLDTAB(24,n)	Head name (string)
$HLDTAB(25-27,n)	SETTCP xyz offset to RTCP control point
$HLDTAB(28-50,n)	Available for use

Row 1 is reserved for the dummy head. Other heads appear at rows 2 and later in the order in which they were defined in the program. The number of rows is defined by $HLDSIZ. Use the $HI variable as a row index to access information for the current head. There is a built-in limit of 100 rows (i.e. heads) that can be recorded, including the dummy head, after which further new head definitions will be ignored with an error.

The head table is normally constructed as the NC program executes, but it can be predefined with all head attachment information in the program using a PPFUN/25 tooling look-ahead command. The table is writable. Columns 28 through 50 are currently not used for any built-in purpose and therefore are available to store information of any type (including SEQUENCE).

$HS	Preselected head number (<1:?) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the number of the last head selected. If the value is less than one (1), no head has been preselected.

$LH	Last head loaded (<1:?) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the head number of the last (i.e., previous) head loaded.

$LT	Last tool loaded (<1:?) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

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

$NH	Next head number (<1:?) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the head number for the next head to be loaded.

$NT	Next tool to be loaded (<1:?) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the tool ID or pocket number for the next tool to be loaded.

$STOOL{XYZ}

Current SETOOL component Type: Numeric, Read-only

These variables contain the SETOOL component for the X, Y and Z axes. The SETOOL values are defined on the TOOLNO and related tooling post-processor commands. If the SETOOL parameter is omitted, these variables will be $NULL.

$T	Current tool loaded (<1:?) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This 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. ICAM recommends the LOAD/TOOL,tool,START command be used to reset the number of the tool that is currently loaded.

$TD	Current tool tip diameter Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the current tool tip diameter as specified with a CUTTER/diameter statement from the CL file. If this statement was not specified then the value will be zero (0).

$TI	Current tool index Type: Numeric, Read-only

This 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).

$TLMAX	Maximum tool travel table Type: Numeric, Read/Write
$TLMIN	Minimum tool travel table Type: Numeric, Read/Write

These 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 $TLMAX and $TLMIN tables are settable. The PPFUN/23,row command can be used to reset minimum and maximum travel information for an entire row to $NULL.

$TLMERGE

Tool table organization setting Type: Logical, Read/Write

This variable controls when new rows are added to the tool tables. A new row is always added when a tool is first loaded or defined. By default a new row is also added at the second and subsequent loads of the same tool. Set $TLMERGE to $TRUE to inhibit the creation of new rows when tools are loaded more than once.

$TLNAME

Current tool name Type: String, Read/Write

The name of the tool as defined on the last TLNAME command processed. The $TLNAME variable will be automatically cleared after a tool change, but the tool name will be retained in the $TLTAB table.

$TLSIZ

Size of tooling tables Type: Numeric, Read-only

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

$TLSORT

$TLTAB sort column Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This 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 via a TOOLNO or LOAD/TOOL command in the CL file. Changing the sort order of the tooling tables also affects the order in which they are listed in the GENER 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|.

$TLSUM

Tool summary table Type: Numeric, Read-only

This 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.

$TLTAB

Tool table Type: Numeric/String, Read/Write

This 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,n)	Adjust 1:Now, 2:Next
$TLTAB(3,n)	1:Manual, 2:Auto
$TLTAB(4,n)	Select/Putaway rotation: $NULL:NA 1:CLW/CLW, 2:CCLW/CCLW, 3:CLW/CCLW, 4:CCLW/CLW
$TLTAB(5,n)	OSETNO value, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(6,n)	Tool length
$TLTAB(7,n)	Gripper 1:Small, 2:Large, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(8,n)	1:START specified, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(9,n)	Tool ID (or tool pocket if no ID)
$TLTAB(10,n)	1:RETAIN specified, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(11,n)	DIAMET or CUTTER/ value, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(12,n)	TIMES value
$TLTAB(13-15,n)	SETOOL xyz offset, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(16,n)	ATANGL value, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(17,n)	SETANG value, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(18,n)	1:MAIN, 2:SIDE, $NULL:NA
$TLTAB(19,n)	1:TURN, 2:MILL, $NULL:NA
$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 tooling table is normally constructed as the NC program executes, but it can be predefined with all tooling information in the program using a PPFUN/25 tooling look-ahead command.

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).

$TOZ	Tool offset in the Z direction (length) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

This variable contains the tool offset in Z (i.e., the tool length).

$TP	Current tool pocket number Type: Numeric, Read-only

This variable contains the pocket number for the tool that is currently loaded.

$TS	Preselected tool number (<1:?) Type: Numeric, Read/Write

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