On 03/19/2014 03:50 AM, Ed Simmons wrote: > Is there any meet-in-the-middle between the touch off Z > every time approach and having tool changer with > repeatable tool length? First, you NEED repeatable tool length. So, there is the Tormach tool system (expensive) and using end mill holders (also a bit expensive, but you can get used holders if you have a common spindle taper). So, the whole idea is that collets don't repeat the tool position, but several tool holder systems do.
Once you have some system where you can put a tool back in repeatably, then you just need a way to measure the tool length. There are a couple schemes. I built a replica R-8 taper on the lathe so I could measure tools. http://pico-systems.com/preset.html This allows me to measure a "reference tool" and then measure every tool's length difference from that reference tool. You can then enter the length of the reference tool as zero in the tool table, and all others you enter the length DIFFERENCE from the reference tool. Then, when setting up, you touch-off the reference tool as zero, and all other tools will have the right length when they are used. But, I don't use this scheme much, in fact I haven't used it in years. Because I find it MUCH simpler to swap the workpiece and do all work with the first tool on every piece first, then change tools and set the Z, and do all work with that tool. Jon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
