But in a way.... it's the same when you run the mill. The difference is that you adjust with things like stock to leave, wear offsets and such.
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Hey Cliff,
Would it be possible to apply a mathematical "variable" say one for aluminum and one for 304 stainless steel as an tool offset adjustment? Would require some testing to set up the recipes but I think it's doable. Example: Let's say I have a 1" diameter test rod mounted in the chuck. I come down in X+ and touch off on the rod stock. My offset to enter into the tool setting tab would be X +1.0". Now that does not take into account the tools bite or part/table/other flexes. So we do a test cut at 0.090" and it actually measures .095". We now have a .005" variable to apply to our original 1.0" offset. So in the future, for this material I would use my 1" test rod, come down and touch off on the rod and enter 1.005" into my tool offset tab. To be clear, I've not proofed out this theory so I may be way off base. But I use a similar method on the mill.
The general idea is to get the tools rapidly setup to within say .001" to .002" and then dial them in with the wear offset tab. I have to do the same with my mills if I'm trying to hit a super tight tolerance.
The nice thing with the lathe is that your X position for your work is always in the same spot (or at least it should be). Once your tools are shimmed, your Y position is set and does not apply to your work piece. That leaves the Z position to set for your work piece.
Hi Awall - I love your enthusiasm!
But if you use a precision probing and that mathmatical variable, and still need to tweak the last thou or two via the wear offsets anyway, then why not set it approximately, get it to within 0.001" to 0.004" and then tweak it via wear or tool touch offsets?
Also for machining a wide variety of parts, especially if you are doing ID work, I find about 20 - 30 tools/projection lengths are needed and the Turret 8 and gang 2 just cant supply that, so time consuming setting is still required each time for several special tools from scratch. This might not apply if you are making similiar parts in 'family' shapes and materials that suit the 10 available tools.
Cheers Cliff