Originally Posted by
bthomas7408
I have a tool holder tightening fixture I machined to match the CAT40 taper. My holders sit on the taper in the fixture on a surface plate and I use a digital height stand and set the height stand to a -20.00" on top of the fixture and touch off each of my tools this way.
You can ZERO the height stand on the fixture or pick any number you like as a reference point. I picked -20.00" cause my mill has a 20" Z travel and I still get a - Z value.
For me, this makes set ups and replacing tools go faster vs. jogging the Z down and touching it off on something, I get damn near perfect blends from tool to tool as well. I also know where a few reference points are in my machine, table, vise bed, etc. So I rarely have to even pick up a Z height.
In my HAAS if I was to have to set a Z height, I would jog down to the top of the part touch off and use the HAAS Part Zero Set button and then take whatever tool I used to set the Z, I would ADD that tools offset to the home offset.
I'll post some pictures when I get home.