Originally Posted by
Fortune7
Hi,
I can't get my head around X and Z axis tool offsets in conversational mode when the work offset is changed; this with the Rapid Turn's QCTP.
In the RT manual (section 4.1.5 onwards) the procedure is as follows:
1. Start with an empty tool table (click 'Reset Tool') then using an empty tool holder touch-off the workpiece and enter the appropriate values for X and Z in the DRO section of the screen.
2. Mount the first tool (say tool 1, a RH turning tool_ and touch-off for X and Z, but using the 'Touch X' and 'Touch Z' buttons on the offset screen for tool 1. This sets the tool-length offset for tool 1 (compared to the empty holder)
3. Mount subsequent tools and enter their X and Z offsets to add each record to the tool table.
So, this is fine for the workpiece as originally set. My problem is what happens when the work offset is changed, say when the workpiece is removed from the chuck, turned around and you need to machine the other end? There's always a 'live' tool shown (i.e. the last one used) so if I swap the tool-holder for the empty one and touch-off the workpiece to set a new work offset (zero), it affects the offset for the tool currently shown in PathPilot.
Do I have to number the empty toolholder (say) 99 and enter it before setting a new work offset? If so, how do the other tools in the table relate to this one? The only way I've found around this is to touch-off all tools again for the new work offset.
Clearly, I'm doing something wrong but I've been thro' the manual, and Youtube vids for the Tormach lathe, and still can't see it! Any pointers as to where I'm going wrong will be very gratefully received......
Cheers, Andy