## Set Tool Length - Program Control

The Update Tool Length - Program Control form is used as to define the tool length in an interactive session that will be part of a program control.

See also Update Tool Length - Immediate for instructions on one-shot, independent updating of the tool length.

1. Once a feature has been measured, select the Measure soft key from the Main screen.

2. Press the Forward soft key until you get to the third page of soft keys.

3. Select the Set Tool Length soft key to display the Set Tool Length screen.

Make sure that the appropriate A, B or C Tool Offset preference has been made on the Fanuc controller prior to proceeding with the Update Tool Length.

Note: The Update Tool Length function is based on the part feature with the target value having been cut by the tool you input. In this situation, the difference between the target value and the measured value is the tool length wear error. It is critical to understand this as the update will permanently change the value of the tool length.

The following steps are used to have the program update the tool length:

1. Navigate to the third page of the Measure screen.

2. Click on the Set Tool Length soft key to access the Update Tool Length screen.

3. NC Gage will try to pick a Feature Frame and Feature for you that can be used from those available in the Feature Frames and Features section of the screen. Features that can be used are ones that measure a Z value, most likely a point. Make the appropriate selections from the lists. After the selections have been made, the nominal value will be displayed in the Feature Location section. If the feature has been measured, then the Measured value and the Deviation of this feature will be displayed here also. The tool length will be refreshed based on the deviation.

4. In the Tool section, enter the Tool Number of the tool used to cut the feature to be used in the calculation. The current whole tool length (Geometry + Wear) is displayed. When a valid tool number is entered, the screen will update with the following:

- The tool length from the NC machine will be retrieved.

- The current length is shown and the new length is computed.

- The difference between these two numbers is shown. This difference should be the same as the deviation of the feature location. This is because NC Gage computes the tool length that would have cut a "perfect" feature had it been set when the part was cut.

Note: If NC Gage determines that the tool number value you input is the same value as the active probe number in the program, it will display a warning. This, in effect, is requesting the system to updated the probe length which isn't allowed - the tool number and active probe number values cannot be the same. Correct this then proceed.

5. Click on the Confirm soft key to save the new values and finalize the tool update which will be written into the program. The update work will be done the next time the program is run. Press the Return soft key to return to the previous screen without saving.

Note: The wear for the currently identified tool will be modified by the value that NC Gage calculates as the difference between the target and measured locations. The tool wear will be adjusted by this difference each time the Confirm soft key is selected. Thus, the user is advised to execute this routine only once for each instance that a tool cuts a surface.

Available Navigation Bar Soft Keys on this Screen: