Tormach PCNC 770 - Automated Measurement with an Electronic Tool Setter; Offline Measurement with Height Gauge

Chapter 6
69
UM10350_PCNC770_Manual_0916A
PathPilot Interface
For a given machining operaon the X and Y posion of the workpiece are xed. When using mulple
tools, however, the tools are dierent lengths, necessitang changing the Z oset for each parcular
tool. The PathPilot operang system allows you to switch tools quickly, without the need to set up
the mill every me a tool is mounted. Each tool and holder only needs to be measured once, either
oine or in the mill.
Dierent methods of measuring tools may be employed, but the three most common methods are:
• Oine measurement using a height gauge
• Automated measurement with an electronic tool seer
• Measurement by touching o tool to a reference surface
6.6.1.1 Offline Measurement with Height Gauge
Setup: The Tormach Tool Assistant Set (PN 31988) includes an
8” digital height gauge and a USB interface cable with touch
trigger (see Figure 6.19). When this device is plugged into one
of the controller’s USB ports, the Zero Height Gauge buon
appears on the Osets screen (see Figure 6.18).
Move the height gauge to the granite block, zero it using the
Zero buon on the gauge, then zero the PathPilot interface
using the Zero Height Gauge buon on the Osets screen. To
measure tool height, rst mount the tool in a TTS tool holder
and place the tool holder on a block as shown in Figure 6.19.
Prior to taking measurements, zero the height gauge using the
physical buon on the gauge and zero the USB interface using
the Zero Height Gauge Z buon on the Osets tab when the
gauge is resng on the top surface of the block. The tool height
measurement will be the distance from the surface to the end
of the tool. Click on the appropriate line in the tool table to
highlight it (see Figure 6.18). Press buon on the height gauge
USB cable to transfer measurement informaon to the height
eld in the tool table.
6.6.1.2 Automated Measurement with an Electronic Tool Setter
Setup: Before using an electronic tool seer, set the work oset such that the surface upon which
the electronic tool seer sits is Z zero. A quick way to do this is to use the Move And Set Work Oset
buon on the Osets screen’s Work tab, with either a tool of known length in the spindle or with
no tool in the spindle (and Tool Zero in the tool DRO). By doing this setup step, you are measuring
true tool lengths, and can interchange tools measured in the height gauge with tools measured with
the electronic tool seer. Setup makes measuring a tool with the electronic tool seer easy: Put the
tool in the spindle, type the tool number in the tool DRO, and then, with the tool centered over the
electronic tool seer, click the Move And Set Tool Length buon on the Osets screen’s Tool tab.
Figure 6.19