Re: How to get my tool length sensor to work in Mach3?
Alexcrafts
Here is what I do with Heiz S-1000T for tool height meaurement.
This is with the Kinetic NC software and Heiz tool height switch.
I have the tool test switch at the 0,0 point in X,Y
I put the tool into the spindle and run this short programme
%
T1 M66
G79
M30
M66 is the manual tool change macro
G79 is the tool length measurement.
After running this the tool length for T1 will be updated.
Now take the tool tip to the workpiece point where you want Z zero to be (often on the top of the material), touch the workpiece with the tool and Z zero again, in Kinetic NC it will automatically be in G54 when doing this.
Now load your programme which should look like this
%
G90
G28
G64
T1 M66
G79
M3
Your code for part here
M30
This tests the tool again and then starts work.
Every time you have a tool change the programme should look like this.
T2 M66
G79
I regulary run jobs with 6 or 7 tool changes.
With this process you can just put a new piece of material in after the first job and if it is the same thickness there is no need to update the tool height, everything just works.
I expect Mach 3 will be similar.
Regards
Barrie
Barrie @ Composite Specialities Ltd. using BobCAD V29 Mill 3 axis Pro, Geomagic Design, Bricscad V16 and MOI V3