M-Series Operator’s Manual 4/9/15
Parameter 160 – Enhanced ATC
This parameter controls enhanced automatic tool changer (ATC) options. A value of 1 indicates a nonrandom type of
ATC (carousel ATC) and a value of 2 indicates a random type ATC. A value of 0 disables enhanced ATC features. A
warning is displayed when attempting to enable enhanced ATC features as these features work in conjunction with
specific PLC programs. The enhanced ATC option has the following characteristics:
The beginning of an M6, whether it be a customized mfunc6.mac routine or not, flags the job file, setting the ATC
error flag field to 1.
The end of an M6, whether customized or not, performs the following:
(a) The ATC error flag is set to zero.
(b) The tool number displayed on the screen is updated and this value is saved in the cncm.job file.
(c) The tool library bin fields are updated in this manner:
If there was a valid tool in the spindle at the start of the M6, then the tool library bin field for this tool will be updated
with either the “putback” field for that tool (if nonrandom type) or the current ATC carousel position (for random
type). For both random and nonrandom types, the “putback” field is set to 0. The “putback” field is an internal field
for each tool in the tool library. It can be displayed by using the cnccfgutil utility with the –dt option to display the
tool library.
For nonrandom types, the new tool now in the spindle will have its “putback” field updated to the current ATC
carousel position.
For both random and nonrandom types, the new tool now in the spindle has the bin field set to 0.
The current ATC carousel position is constantly monitored. When there is a change, the ATC bin field in the cncm.job
file is updated and the file is saved. The ATC carousel position is read from the PLC system variable
SV_ATC_CAROUSEL_POSITION, which should be written by the PLC program.
At the start of running a job, to include MDI mode, the ATC error field is checked. If this field is 1, then a warning
message is displayed with a prompt to either clear the fault by entering a ‘Y’ or canceling the job by pressing some
other key.
A tool change is not performed if the requested tool is already in the spindle.
An M107 command sends the bin number for the specified tool number, not the tool number.
For random types, tool changes in Intercon are posted as a tool change (Tnn M6) followed by a pre-fetch command for
the next tool in the program (Tn2 M107). This allows the PLC program to rotate the tool carousel to the next tool
while a job continues with the current tool.
For random types, a job search for a tool number will look for lines of the form Tnn M6, i.e., the search bypasses lines
of the form Tnn M107, which are just pre-fetch commands.
The tool library allows editing of the bin fields to specify which carousel bin number the tools are stored in.
Parameter 161 –ATC Maximum Tool Bins
This parameter sets the number of tool changer bins (carousel positions) used with the enhanced ATC option described
above. PLC programs are responsible for reading this value. The tool library interface uses this parameter to validate
bin fields and perform initialization of the bin fields.
Parameters 162 – Intercon M6 Initial M-Code
This parameter affects how Intercon programs post M&G codes for a tool change operation. When set to a non-zero
value, Intercon will post out an M-code at the start of a tool change and an M5 command after the Txx M6 command.
This parameter should be set to 17 so that Intercon will post an M17 code at the start of a tool change. The M17
command turns off spindle and coolant and starts the spindle orientation process.
Parameters 164 – ATC Feature Bit
This parameter controls specific features of the ATC system. It should be set to 1.0 to enable the ATC Reset feature,
which will appear as the F6 - ATC Reset function key in the tool library menu. This parameter only works with ATC3
plc programs.
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