[yugami]

So the process in the manual (work off the material top) never sat right with me. And I saw the older forum post where someone made custom M Codes to zero out more like a different control. However talking to a couple guys at work today they showed me a 3rd option.

Using the tool setup menu under run and a tool setter on the table or vise ways (whatever you can reach) Go through the process of selecting each tool and wheeling down and zero out each tool (They use cheap $60 ones at work and they seem to work fine for non .0001" critical applications).

From there you can then G54 (or other) your coordinates as normal and use the tool setter to set your G54 Z wherever your CAM is setup.

Just ran through it and it worked great. Couldn't tell the difference between the part I ran last night and the one I ran today using the process in the manual and this new tool offset setup.

I figured I would share because I thought I was resigned to setting tools each program and hopefully someone else thinking the same thing will now run into this.

[wfr8577]

Thanks for the info. Going to try it out.

[Brian L]

There are about as many ways to set tool heights as there are machinists. I usually use the set my tools to the top of the part routine because it's rare that I'm not changing a tool in a holder for a job. I have a fair amount of holders, probably close to 35-40, but there always seems to be one or two tools that need to be swapped in a holder for extra clearance, or a different drill size. So setting tools and creating a library like you are talking about is rarely going to work unless you can never disturb your tools in the holders... At least that is what I have found.

[sportybob]

Hi Yugami, The "run, tool set" program is a very over looked option. I show all my customers . generally the response is wow, The one down side is that you need to know the difference between the tool touch off and the top of the part. the ONE big plus is if you "fat finger" a number, it will usually cut up, not down.
The "new" fangled way is to use probing ( OK, not so new but usually out of reach for a lot of "small" guys. But WAY cool. It can / will save time and money but it "aint" cheep"
You are learning at a pretty good rate. :-)

spportybob

[yugami]

Probing is a dream, we have that on a hass machine at work

I have an unfair advantage over a lot of the home cnc guys. I'm a manufacturing engineer with lots of educational support from machinists.

[Brian L]

Being that probing has come up, there are cheap probes out there, under $200, and I was wondering if the Milltronics software would support adding one into the machine. I see parameters in my machine related to probing, so would/could it be a matter of attaching a probe, turning on some parameters and have the ability to probe edges, corners and bores? I'm tired of wigglers and electronic edge finders and can't bring myself to spending $400 on a Haimer 3D taster.

[sportybob]

The probing that Yugami is talking about runs about $6K. You can add the Renishaw probing to most any Milltronics. And like Haas it is an option.
When set up properly the probing can and will pay for it self in short order. With the right macros t run it, it can not only help with part setups but can be used for part inspection as well. saving the "test data to a down loadable file/ if you are a busy shop. these files help meet certain ISO specs. well worth the money.

Not sure what kind of "probe" you can get for $200.

sportybob

[Brian L]

I know what Renishaw style probes are and that's way out of the price range, my old mill is too shot to hold those types of tolerances anyway. I'm just thinking to replace a wiggler and have some automatic possibility of setting G54. As for probes, this one is something I have seen:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-3AXIS-D...YAAOSwbtNaEzTD

[sportybob]

Maybe if they have one that has normally open contacts, you could wire it to an input and write some macros to do that.

sportybob