"What is M06 M-code (Tool Change Command) In CNC Programming"

M-Code M06 Automatic Tool Changer code

M06 (Tool Change Command) and Pre Tool:

M06 is the M-code Used in the CNC Program to activate the automatic tool change along which T number called on the program. As soon as the controller reads the T number with M06 it will search the Tool magazine for the T number specified and rotates and brings the tool into the spindle.

Example:  

T02 M06, this Command activate the controller to change the tool to T02, so the controller searches the Tool magazine for tool number 2 and it rotates to the tool change position and then it takes up the Tool number 2 into the spindle.

Pre-tool:  

In Modern CNC Tool machines to save the time pre-tool can be called and kept ready for next tool change in the magazine. As soon as the controlled reads the next block of Tool change, the T number given in program will be detected by the controller and reads the tool number on the magazine to prepare the tool and kept in position of tool change while the current tool is in cutting progress.

Examples:

N170 T02 M06      (Automatic Tool change to Number 2)

N171 T03               (Pre-tool to keep ready in magazine for next)

N172 G54 G90 G00 X10 Y10 Z50 (Origins and safety planes Approach)

Note: Since M06 is the Automatic Tool changer, In the older machine which does not have Tool magazines to store the Tool and the tool has to be manually changed by the operator the M06 will be ineffective in those machine controllers.

Note:  When the program calls for the M06 tool change command, the coolant and the spindle will automatically stopped but the controller if they are active.