It looks like there's more than one way to get Z0. For what it's worth, here is how I do it on our Haas mill. It is also how I plan on doing touch off and tool pre-setting on my EMC2 mill: First, to use this method you must measure tool length using a tool holder mounting fixture and height gage. An actual tool pre-setter would also work. Both will result in positive numbers. Next mount a coolant proof dial indicator in a tool holder. This is the type with a locking bezel pointer. Put this on your pre-setter and make your new tool measure some round number, say 7.0000 inches. Lock your pointer at that reading. Put that tool in your ATC carousel just like you did with your edge finder.
Now when you are setting up a job do these 3 steps: 1 - Jog the indicator down to the part surface so the pointer lines up with the bezel mark. 2 - Press "Part Zero Set". Your gage line is now 7.0000 inches from your part surface. 3 - Add negative 7.0000 to your G54 Z register. This eliminates the need for swatches of paper or wood because your new tool is already compliant yet very accurate. I hope this helps. Jim -----Original Message----- From: John Thornton [mailto:bjt...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:31 AM To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) Subject: Re: [Emc-users] setting tool lengths Chris Radek wrote: > I've thought about this too. I currently have G59.3 system on my mill > set so the reference/zero length tool (probe length for me, gage line > for you) is touching the table at Z=0. That way I can switch to > G59.3, put a 123 or 246 block anywhere on the table, roll a .5 dowel > pin between the tool and the block, and touch off the tool to 6.5 (if > using an upright 246 block). Then I switch back to G54 or whatever. > > I think this procedure would do what you want too, if you just set the > coordinate system right. It would be nice if you did not have to > remember to switch systems though. It is easy to mess up. > I can vouch for that, for some reason I still get confused from time to time touching off tools and G54. I usually use G55 to touch off tools. BTW, the DRO screen in master is very valuable when touching off tools. I use the dowel method as well on the CHNC and it works well for those tools that can be touched off that way. I have developed the habit of loading a new tool and double checking that my Z0 is where I expect it to be and I can tell well before the tool crashes (from experience) that the path is not correct as the tool flies toward the material in the chuck LOL. John ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Beautiful is writing same markup. Internet Explorer 9 supports standards for HTML5, CSS3, SVG 1.1, ECMAScript5, and DOM L2 & L3. Spend less time writing and rewriting code and more time creating great experiences on the web. Be a part of the beta today. http://p.sf.net/sfu/beautyoftheweb _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users This communication is for the use of the intended recipient only. It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, the disclosure, copying, distribution or use hereof is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please advise me by return e-mail or by telephone and then delete it immediately. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Beautiful is writing same markup. Internet Explorer 9 supports standards for HTML5, CSS3, SVG 1.1, ECMAScript5, and DOM L2 & L3. Spend less time writing and rewriting code and more time creating great experiences on the web. Be a part of the beta today. http://p.sf.net/sfu/beautyoftheweb _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
