[Monomer]

I have a few simple questions.

2011 Haas VF4, programming via machine.

-I'm using irregular pocket to make the outside of the part. The stock is one inch, finished part is 5/8 wide. How should I compensate for the extra material?

-Offsets (I'm searching and reading now) I have a touch probe edge finder tool. So far I've set all Tool Height offsets using a 123 block on the table. Then I grabbed the edges of the part with the tool probe (now with a height offset for itself) DO I still need to subtract the height?

-My chamfer tool, should it be considered an endmill?

It's a lot to grasp from manual machines, for me atleast. So different.

[txcncman]

LOL. Follow the instructions.

No idea why you are using irregular pocket or how to compensate.

The part work zero (G54 etc.) is the incremental distance from your tool setting zero point to the zero point on your part, positive or negative.

Yes. Tool definition of a chamfering tool will be that of an end mill in Haas tool table. No idea why they do not have other options available.

[Donkey Hotey]

Do you have the tool presetter on the machine as well?

Did you go through the probe and presetter calibration routines?

Do you plan to continue using the presetter and probing to find your work coordinates and tool lengths?

If you don't do all the calibration stuff, the only thing the probe will do for you is locate X and/or Y. Z will be whatever reference method you choose to use.

If you use all the calibration stuff and preset your tools using the presetter, tool lengths and Z offsets are easy.

[Monomer]

I've figured it all out.


-The probe is just a touch style edge finder, not a CMM style probe.

-Work zeros are still a bit odd to me. I'll just do it how others have posted.

- On programming the part: the pocket programmer in the machine can indeed do bosses and features like that. I'd rather not program it by hand.