[stevo1]

You should have nothing else to worry about. A few of the reasons the “gridshift” is the easier adjustment.

1. This is used so don’t have to go and change all of those positions/tool offsets.

2. If your machine is set up to use gauge line tool length(actual tool length) then now that you have adjusted your tool lengths to match what the machine has shifted now you are not using actual tool length. You are adjusting your tools around your machine. Ex all of your tools will be .093” longer according to your tool offset but in reality they are not. If you ever decide to use a tool touch off probe this will have to be taken into account and adjustments will have to be made if this happens again. Also if you decide to do tool lengths on a tool presetter offline of the machine you will have to make sure that you add .093”. (easier just to shift the whole grid)

You should check to see if in fact that your tool change is using the 2nd reference position. Your 2nd reference position is the distance from home (1st reference position) to your 2nd. This was probably adjusted in the past to line up the tool change position because it deviated slightly from 1st reference position. If you were to do a gridshift then your 1st reference position would be correct and in turn your 2nd (tool change position) would change along with it.

I can use more practice on assigning G43 (H__) values to my tools.

I like to use the G43H() in the tool change program that way you never have to worry about setting this throughout your program. All you need is a tool call and its set automatically. I never liked setting the G43 in the program as I have made the mistake when I first started programming of calling a tool ex. T5M6 but then set by mistake and fat fingers G43H7Z3

Stevo

[roadking]

HOORAY! You guys are awesome! Long story made short, I measured the gauge line on the too changer arm from the table, and the gauge line on the tool holder in the spindle at the home position. I needed the spindle to come down about 1/8 of an inch to be aligned withe the tool changer arm. However, parameter 737 was set to +2.8 mm (.1102 inches). After several trials and some creative measurement, I adjusted parameter 737 to -3.5mm (.1378 inches). I didn't know tool changes could be this quiet! Inspection of the tool changer arm during measurement revealed wear that was related to spindle misalignment. Now, this machine doesn't "pop" when it extracts a tool from the spindle.
I do not know how much the Z axis shifted after the impact, but I moved the tool change location down almost 1/4 inch. I guess that tomorrow I'll spend some time checking tools against my current G54, the only stored reference point I have.
Tim, Ahn, and Stevo1, thank you for taking time to offer help with my machine problem.