A tool length and width and shape probe is needed for some types of tooling. For some a camera can be used but beware of camera optical axis and resolution accuracy etc
For best quality you need to detect the run out so you know the effective diameter too. Dave Caroline On 19/03/2014, Ed Simmons <e...@estechnical.co.uk> wrote: > On 19/03/14 00:57, jeremy youngs wrote: >> also modifying the >> work offset affects EVERY tool , (further bad juju) , however >> understanding >> the limits of many of us on the list without toolchangers and holders i >> use >> the touch off method, while not perfect it has sufficed for anything i do >> at the house , i would NEVER allow that in a production environment , in >> fact i only allow 2 methods in the shop 1 touch off a block , 2 use a >> toolsetter , anything else is just asking for the inevitable crash , >> especially when changing shifts ( dont ask how i know ) :) > > Is there any meet-in-the-middle between the touch off Z every time > approach and having tool changer with repeatable tool length? > > I fully agree about dangers of changing work offsets, but as we see it, > we have very little option with collets and tiny tools. > > Our situation here is that the machine is used mostly to cut flexible > plastic panels - these need adjusting when being set in the machine for > optimal flatness (stupid bendy stuff!) and always end up at different > heights - sometimes approaching 0.2mm variation between the height of > successive panels placed into the same work offset. The depth of the > engraving is very sensitive to this, so our routine is to fit the > panels, then one by one check each for flatness and touch off Z for each > panel's work offset to the correct height by probing onto a plate placed > on the panel. > > The gcode for engraving the text is a subroutine that is called at each > of the work offsets in turn. > > The tool is changed after the engraving is completed for a 2mm single > flute straight cutter to make the connector cut outs. Here we cheat a > bit, since the depth is much less important (as long as the cut is right > through the panel) we just touch off the height to the first offset. In > this case, the pattern of connector cut outs is replicated for each > panel laid out on the grid of our mounting plate. The whole grid is in > G55 offset to avoid the need to individually adjust the heights for all > the work offsets for this step. However, since changing the tool > invalidates the height in all the work offsets, this isn't so important > anyhow. > > Would a tool length probing station help in any way? I still think we'd > end up probing the Z for all the work offsets each time we fit panels... > > >From time to time I accidentally touch off the wrong axis when setting > up these panels, much cursing ensues. The grid of panels is at least > regular and easy to recover from this by going to XY 0,0 in an OK work > offset, then touching off X or Y to the correct value for the messed up > work offset. Every time I do this, I wonder if there's a good way to > avoid this mistake. > > Any bright ideas would be gratefully received! > > Thanks, > Ed > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Learn Graph Databases - Download FREE O'Reilly Book > "Graph Databases" is the definitive new guide to graph databases and their > applications. Written by three acclaimed leaders in the field, > this first edition is now available. Download your free book today! > http://p.sf.net/sfu/13534_NeoTech > _______________________________________________ > Emc-developers mailing list > Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Learn Graph Databases - Download FREE O'Reilly Book "Graph Databases" is the definitive new guide to graph databases and their applications. Written by three acclaimed leaders in the field, this first edition is now available. Download your free book today! http://p.sf.net/sfu/13534_NeoTech _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list Emc-developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
