Getting Started

It is very important to note there are two ways Tool Life Monitoring operates:

• Auto Mode: Takes the counts and presets from the CNC's p-codes or macro variables
• Manual Mode: MachineMetrics counts and tracks tool usage. This requires operators to reset the life on the OpDash.

Quick Links:

• Display Tool Life on the OpDash
• Tool LIfe Dashboard

Auto Mode

First you must pull the Tool Life Monitoring (TLM) data you require from the CNC. This is typically done in the machine connection (Fanuc) JSON script. Here are two examples for Macro B and P-Codes.

Citizen

Enable tool life monitoring in the Citizen (Mitsubishi) M700 adapter script

{
 "tool-life": {
   "enabled": 1
 }
}

Macro B (Fanuc / Haas)

{
"macros": {
"TLM_1_COUNT": 811,
"TLM_1_PRESET": 980,
"TLM_3_COUNT": 821,
"TLM_3_PRESET": 981,
"TLM_5_COUNT": 831,
"TLM_5_PRESET": 982
}
}

P-Code (Fanuc only)

{
"pcodes": {
"TLM_1_PRESET": 12101,
"TLM_1_COUNT": 12201,
"TLM_2_PRESET": 12102,
"TLM_2_COUNT": 12202,
"TLM_3_PRESET": 12103,
"TLM_3_COUNT": 12203
}
}

Where do I find these addresses?

If the customer has written their own counters, then it will be in Macro and they can provide you this information.

If the machine has a TLM system created by the machine tool builder (most common) then the data will be in p-codes on Fanuc machines. The way to locate and identify the p-code addresses:

 

1. Turn on Parameter Write Enable (instructions here)
2. Set parameter 9000#1 (NDP) = 1
3. Press offset hardkey
4. Macro screen key
5. EXEC screen key
6. Output these variables to USB via the OPRT menu. (You will need the IO channel set to 17 for USB or 4 for MEM Card)
7. Set param 9000#1 back to 0.
8. Turn off PWE.
9. Take a photo of the TLM screen on the CNC.
10. On you PC / Mac, search for the values in the photo just taken. You should see all values close together.

For other controls, such as Siemens, we can capture from OPC-UA. We can also use DPRNT.

Naming Convention

TLM_x_PRESET > The preset value

TLM_x_COUNT > The count value

x > Tool or Offset number

For both P-codes and macros, ensure you follow the TLM_x_PRESET and TLM_x_COUNT format for consistent tool monitoring. The display names in your mappings are how it names the tool in the display.

Manual Mode

This is for MTConnect machines and machines that do not output tool life information.

Demonstration Video

You must have a job active in MachineMetrics for this to work. This is how it learns which tools have been used. 

By default all machines are set to auto mode. In order to change to manual mode, you will need to:

1. Open Tool Life Lab in Labs
2. Click the gear icon
3. Select the machine
4. Check MachineMetrics tracks tool life
5. Save

In the main view you will notice you can click on three items:

1. Preset Value - click this to change the preset life of each tool
2. Red reset icon - click this to reset the tool to zero.
3. Progress bar - click this to see change history and other analytics. This can be exported in PDF

Note: The offset count value is incase the operator forgets to reset the count on the OpDash at the same it was reset in the machine. For example, if the tool was physically reset 5 parts ago, then the offset mount is 5 and the OpDash life will start from 5.

Display as a Tab on the OpDash

You can pass in the machine id on the URL in parameter machineId (capital i) or via IncludeMachineInfo param so it automatically selects the machine:

https://tool-life-monitoring.svc.machinemetrics.com/machine?includeMachineInfo=true

or

https://tool-life-monitoring.svc.machinemetrics.com/machine?machineId=12345678-2900-4f2c-ba26-01c81f429126

When this is enabled the machine selector dropdown is hidden. The second option is best for large screens to lock the display to that machine.

Please see this guide on how to add custom tabs to the OpDash.

Display as a Dashboard in your toolroom

Navigate to Labs > Tool Monitoring Dashboard or click HERE for full screen display.

Add to a Custom Dashboard

Under dashboards, you can either create a new custom dashboard or edit an existing. Add widget > custom url and paste in https://custom-dashboards.johnson.machinemetrics.com/tool-monitoring