# US 9,753,451 B2 · System for managing tool life on CNC machines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,451 B2 - Document ID: US9753451B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/559,008 - Filed: 2014-12-03 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-03 - Assignees: Thermwood Corporation - Applicants: Thermwood Corporation - Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753451B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/4065: Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition - G05B 2219/37251: Selfcorrecting, counter for tool life adapts correction - G05B 2219/37252: Life of tool, service life, decay, wear estimation - G05B 2219/50206: Tool monitoring integrated in nc control - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A system for managing the longevity of tools of a programmable CNC machine including means for inputting into the machine control a designation of a tool for use therein, means for recording the time of usage of such tool, means for computing the cumulative time of usage of such tool over a lifetime of usage thereof, means for computing the average time of usage of such tool and means for signaling the usage of such tool for a selected percentage of such average time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to determine tool life of a tool of a CNC machine, the method comprising: removably coupling a first tool to the CNC machine; monitoring a usage time of the first tool; and determining a percentage of use of the first tool, wherein the percentage of use is determined based on the monitored usage time of the first tool as a function of a usage time of at least one other tool different than the first tool, wherein the at least one other tool was uncoupled from the CNC machine prior to removably coupling the first tool to the CNC machine so that the first tool and the at least one other tool are configured to interchangeably couple to the CNC machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising uncoupling the first tool from the CNC machine and removably coupling a second tool, wherein the first tool is different than the second tool. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a percentage of use of the second tool, wherein the percentage of use of the second tool is determined based on a monitored usage time of the second tool as a function of the usage time of the first tool and the usage time of the at least one other tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein each of the first tool, the second tool, and the at least one other tool are configured to perform a common function. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including uncoupling the first tool from the CNC machine when the percentage of use reaches or exceeds a selected percentage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including determining if the percentage of use of the first tool exceeds a threshold percentage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the threshold percentage is 85%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the threshold percentage is 95%. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first tool and the at least one other tool are configured to perform a common function. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first tool and the at least one other tool are configured to perform a different function. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other tool includes a plurality of tools different than the first tool, and wherein the usage time of the at least one other tool different than the first tool, includes averaging a usage time of each of the plurality of tools different than the first tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other tool was uncoupled from the CNC machine prior to removably coupling the first tool to the CNC machine due to at least one of excessive wear or failure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring and determining are performed via a processor on a controller of the CNC machine. ### Claim 14 A method to determine tool life of a tool of a CNC machine, the method comprising: removably coupling a first tool to the CNC machine; monitoring a usage time of the first tool; determining a percentage of use of the first tool, wherein the percentage of use is determined based on the monitored usage time of the first tool as a function of a usage time of at least one other tool different than the first tool, wherein the at least one other tool was uncoupled from the CNC machine prior to removably coupling the first tool to the CNC machine so that the first tool and the at least one other tool are configured to interchangeably couple to the CNC machine; signaling whether the percentage of use of the first tool reaches or exceeds a threshold percentage; and uncoupling the first tool from the CNC machine and removably coupling a second tool, wherein the first tool is different than the second tool. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a reason for uncoupling the first tool. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a percentage of use of the second tool, wherein the percentage of use of the second tool is determined based on a monitored usage time of the second tool as a function of the usage time of the first tool and the usage time of the at least one other tool. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein each of the first tool, the second tool, and the at least one other tool are configured to perform a common function. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the threshold percentage is 85%. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the threshold percentage is 95%. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one other tool includes a plurality of tools different than the first tool, and wherein the usage time of the at least one other tool different than the first tool, includes averaging a usage time of each of the plurality of tools.