Tormach 1500MX - About Tool Offsets; Touch off the Tool Length Offsets; Set a Known Reference Height

5. Depending on your workflow, you can measure your tools
using any of the following methods:
l
Use a Tool Height Setter For information, see "Use
a Tool Height Setter to Measure Tools" (page168).
l
Use an Electronic Tool Setter For information, see
"Use an ElectronicTool Setter (ETS) to Measure
Tools" (on the next page).
l
Touch Off of a Known Reference Height For
information, see Touch Off the Tool Length Offsets.
8.7.1 About Tool Offsets
Tool offsets allow you to use various tools while still
programming with respect to the workpiece. Tools can have
different lengths (and, while using cutter radius compensation,
different diameters).
The most common tool offset is the tool length offset: when
you change tools, PathPilot must account for the difference in
tool length. In CNCmachines, the tool length offset is applied
using a G43 command.
The tool length offset is the distance from the cutting edge of
the tool to the shoulder of the tool holder.
Before you begin a G-code program, you must verify the
lengths of the tools in the program, and make sure that the
lengths agree with the tool length offsets set in PathPilot:
l Each time you change tools, you must apply a new tool
length offset in PathPilot.
l Each time you replace a tool, you must remeasure its
length, and apply a new tool length offset in PathPilot.
NOTICE! You must always verify that the physical
length of a tool agrees with the tool length offset
value set in PathPilot. If you don't, there's a risk
that the tool length offset misrepresents the
currently active tool in the spindle, which may
result in a machine crash or damaged tooling,
workpieces, or fixtures.
8.7.2 Touch Off the Tool Length Offsets
Touch off the tool length offsets by using a reference surface
with a known height, which gives you a basis to measure any
other tool lengths. Use any surface that is parallel (within 0.02
mm) to the machine table. For example:
l A 1-2-3 Block Set (PN 31950)
l Box parallel
There are two steps to touch off the tool offsets. Complete the
following steps in the order listed:
Set a Known Reference Height 166
Measure Tools Using a Known Reference Height 167
Set a Known Reference Height
This procedure sets a new Z zero position for the currently
selected work offset.
To set a known reference height:
1. Identify a precision surface to use as a reference surface
(like a 1-2-3 Block Set), and put it below the spindle on
the machine table. Verify that there's a clear path from
the spindle to the machine table.
2. Set a new, unused work offset (like G55).From the
PathPilot interface, on the Main tab, in the MDI Line
DROfield, type a work offset. Then select the Enter key.
For information, see "Set Work Offsets" (page169).
3. If there's already a tool in the spindle, remove it.
4. From the PathPilot interface, in the Tool DROfield, type
0. Then select the Enter key.
5. Slowly jog the Z-axis down (-Z) until it's 0.04 in. (1 mm)
from the reference surface.
6. Measure the thickness of a piece of paper, and put the
paper on the reference surface. Note the thickness of the
paper for later.
7. While moving the paper back-and-forth across the
reference surface, slowly step the Z-axis down (-Z) until
you feel a light pull on the piece of paper. This indicates
that the paper is contacting the spindle.
Note: It's easier to use step jogging for this
task. For information on step jogging, see
"About Step Jogging" (page163).
©Tormach® 2024
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Page 166 UM10811: 1500MX Operator's Manual (Version 0424A)
For the most recent version, see tormach.com/support
8: BASIC OPERATIONS