easy question

[outcaststudios]

hi!

so i am running a program(on my new prs 48x96,sb3 etc) that has two tools in it. first time. does the shopbot know when to prompt a tool change? or did i need to tell it to stop and do that? i just exported it to the tool and am running it but just realized i havent actually ever done a tool change! anything i need to know? thanks in advance!
-gregor

[Gary Campbell]

It should perform as you expect if you have used the "ShopBot TC Inch" post processor.

[outcaststudios]

i used vcarve and exported the file to SB3 to run it, does that count?

[Gary Campbell]

Same answer

[outcaststudios]

ok that isnt very helpful as i have no idea what youre talking about now. does any one else know if the shopbot will prompt a tool change on its own? i saved four cutting profiles as one file with two different tools specified. will i need to stop it at that point in the toolpathing when its switched form say profile 1 to pocket two, to change the bit? or will it stop and tell me to change the bit? i dont understand garys answers above about the shopbot post processor i didnt see anything in the manual about that, i figured Vcarve would do it,or that the SB3 control software would do it. can some one else explain better please thank you!
-gregor

[outcaststudios]

im looking for a yes or no answer here, very easy... thanks.

[Greencarvings]

im looking for a yes or no answer here, very easy... thanks.

It Depends on which post processor you use. If you use the Shop Bot Automatic tool change processor ATC, then it should pause for a tool change depending on the variables you have set up in the shop bot control computer.

If you do not use the ATC post processor then it will not prompt for a tool change, in fact I don't think Aspire or V carve will let you save it as one file if you have not selected the ATC processor.

So it comes down to what you have it set as in the shop bot software, pause on tool change or if you have an automatic tool changer if you have an automatic tool changer enabled but don't actually have one.

So it comes down to what do you have?

[outcaststudios]

got it. thank you that was helpful, i will have to check what the setting is in the shopbot control software, i didnt know which of the two programs were responsible for that command, or if i had to put it in manually somehow? etc thanks i will check, where in the shopbot control software woudl i find that? thanks!
gregor

[jerry_stanek]

It is not in the Shopbot software you would have to check your Vcarve software to see what post processor you used whe you saved the vcarve file.

[Tim Lucas]

further clarity, using the "ShopBot TC Inch" post processor in Vcarve will prompt for tool change if needed.

The Shopbot software saves the last "known" tool so if it is the same tool you now need it will not prompt for a tool change.

Hope this helps
Tim

[outcaststudios]

tim,
appreciate the clarity ,turns out it's ok.and for anyone reading this thread down the road looking for the short answer...the machine stopped and prompted me to change and re-zero the appropriate bit. as i stated in my first post i am running a PRS standard with Vcarve pro shopbot edition and SB3 that is from 2016. thank you all who helped!