Best Practices: Fusion CAM Libraries, Workflows & Post Mods for our new HAAS Machines!

I was thinking that one way to do the manual tool change would be to keep one pocket empty (p18 for example). Then tell it to go to p18 and pause. Then tell it to use T75 H75 D75 and manually put the tool in the spindle. Then if you want a safety check, command it to check for a broken tool to verify you put in the correct tool. Once the broken tool check passes, then it proceeds to automatic operations. I’m not familiar with writing macros, but you could do a lot of this with a pass through operation that could be saved as a template.

Lack of a master library is definitely a source of irritation. Even as a single user with a single machine, I have 2 computers I program from and there is no function to sync libraries between the 2 computers - say if I make changes or add a tool from my office PC, then go down to the garage. Those changes aren't there unless you create a "snapshot" of the library, manually export it from PC1, then import it onto PC2. Or if you're lucky, a recent file you worked from has all of the latest tools in it that you can draw from. I can imagine how this becomes an even bigger headache when you have multiple PC's, multiple users, multiple machines, etc.

everything else is cloud based in fusion, why can't the tool library live and update itself with changes like any other file? Is there a functional reason it was set up that way?

It would slow things down but to ensure your spindle is empty, you could run a tool length detection to verify it fails.

Noob question here. How do put your fixture on the machine in fusion? Do you draw your work holding and save it as a model or is there a way to up load one from the manufacturer? Maybe there is a video on this you can point me to? Appreciate it

That macro for hand loading tools is a great idea! may have to borrow that concept to get more tools available on my 12 tool X7. Have you considered adding automatic tool touch off to every manual load tool operation? That would give you the dual benefit of verifying that spindle is empty AND re-verify tool length. Longer cycle, but way more process reliability.

Look at those sexy fixtures. I really like the flowing/filleted changers on the edges

Working out them manual tool changes will be a massive help for anyone running older Mini Mills with only 9 tools available In ATC.

If it wasn’t for your adventure John, I wouldn’t have my shop. Thank you for that!

I have my tools in a cloud library which I can access from any computer, in any part that I want to machine. Am I missing something? I don’t get it. Isn’t this a “master library”?

I also use a lot of cam templates which are accessible from any file and include the tool data.

I don't know about automatically changing the tool through-out other programs without opening and manually changing.

But its 100% possible to have a 'master' tool library that runs of Microsoft's OneDrive, we have done this for our business. I believe it can actually run off any cloud based server.


I use it as i sometimes program from home and it was a pain transferring tools between the laptop and desktop etc.

If i remember correctly i used either Chatgpt or google gemini to do it, but you can find content through google on how to set it up.

Use T19 for all manual loading. Use the offsets H and D via the post. Don't risk it with your macro... there is no need. T19 is safe on an 18 ATC.

John, you could use G167 Modify Setting to toggle Setting 10 Limit Rapids to 50% on and off from anywhere within the program. This doesn't completely solve your tool change speed issue, but it'd certainly give you the option to slow it down somewhat programmatically. We use G167 on our lathe to change the tailstock rapid position setting mid program so we can have multiple tailstock hold positions within the same program. Or we use use it to change the tailstock rapid position programmatically instead of requiring the user to set it manually for each program/part. G167 has ALOT of uses beyond that on a Haas machine. I'm sure if you dig there is a setting that could be toggled by changing a macro variable to adjust the current rapid speed. Then alias that code into a "slow" tool change custom M code.

Should have found a different scrap company.

The Library thing in Fusion is definitely a drawback from the teaching side. Of course, this does give me a chance to teach 'How to make a tool in the Fusion Tool Library'. That does create hundreds of potential points of failure in a full class. If we could just afford all the cool Harvey stuff, we could just use their supplied library! But public schools just don't have that kind of budget. I'm doing a Zoom training with Haas and Autodesk about their new curriculum and am absolutely going to bring it up to them. Wish me luck!

Hi John, I've heard you talk about the master tool library issue for some time. Fusion has a good API. It is all Python. You can have a script run automatically every time you run CAM, which compares your current tool library for that program to a "master" CSV or JSON, and then warn/update as appropriate.

Just get ChatGPT on the case if you have a small amount of Python knowledge, or Upwork etc if not.

Generating a form for updating the tool library spreadsheet (and if could even go into updating your fusion library but would be even more work). Then have cheep tablets at all the machines so that any changes can quickly be made through the forum at time of change.

Getting rid of the chips is such a pain. Ive had guys say the tooling are dropping steel in the scrap and then wont take it or basically takes it with no compensation.

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