Defining Tool Change Position

You can define priorities for axes during the definition of a tool change point. This helps to achieve realistic simulation of the machine for tool change activities. This definition of priorities is available for both Turrets and Milling Machines. In real NC machine, the axes involved in the tool change activity can high priorities for motion. An axis or a set of axes having a given priority participate simultaneously in the motion while the remaining axes are stationary. An example would be an indexing turret. Where, during a tool change, the linear axes move together to retract and then the indexing axis moves to change the tool.

Before you begin: Define Tool mount point on a NC resource.
Related Topics
Assembling Components to Build a Machine
About Defining Machine Kinematics
Defining Mount Points

  1. Click Tool Change Position on the Machine Building toolbar.

    The Tool Change Position Editor dialog box is displayed.

  2. Modify the axis as required in Axis Value frame.

  3. Select Activated or Deactivated for specific parts, in Activation frame.


    • Activated: If you select Activated, the axis become activated and participates in simulation.
    • Deactivated: If you select Deactivated, the axis become deactivated and does not participates in simulation.

  4. Move the slider bars, on the right side of dialog box, to set the priority for the corresponding axis.

    Moving the slider bar to the right lowers the axis priority and moving the slider bar to the left increases the priority. The value of the priority appears just above the slider bar. You can set priority values for deactivated axes as well. The priority of an axis is applicable for activated axis during simulation.

  5. Click OK.