Electronic Tool Height Setting

I have decide to buy a power drawbar for my CNC mill, but am dithering about buying an electronic tool height setter. If I understand correctly this should allow me to semi-automatically fill the tool table in Mach3 thus eliminating the tedious resetting of the Z axis to zero every time I change a tool.

Does anyone have experience of CNC tool setters, especially electronic ones? Bear in mind that I tend to do a lot of onsies and twosies on my CNC mill so I'll probably be setting tool heights for most jobs rather than having a set number of tools that are re-used on multiple jobs.

Regards,

Andrew

Hi There

The following is a simple tool setting method I used in a production environment. It is simple once you get your head round the idea.

Set Z zero at the top of the Z travel.
Therefore all tools have the same Z zero.

Set the Z offset of all tools to the electronic or manual setting gauge on the machine table.

Set the G54 offset from zero on the tool setting gauge to the 0 position on the job.

You can use many different setups and programs as you like at the same time by using G54, G55, G56 etc, one for each program.

If this is not clear please post again.

It really does work, it is easy and quick.

All tools are permantly set and ready for use.

A simple and cheap tool setting gauge can be as simple as a plunger type dial test indicator mounted with the plunger pointing upwards and a flat disk on the plunger for the tool to touch on.

Just bring the tool down to Zero and put the offset into the tool table.

regards David

Hi.

Does your control do g27 ?

Does it do macro B?

and do the parameters /offsets live in the usal places ?

If so you could make fit simple tool probe. and use a macro to probe tool and auto set offsets ( at least for hobbi use). pm me if intrested and will dig out the guts of the macro.

David: Thanks for the explanation, and yes, it is clear. It's pretty much what I had in mind. I could use a dial indicator to set zero, as you say. But as I see it the advantage of using an electronic setter is that it interacts with the mill to directly enter tool offsets into the tool table, thus eliminating transcription errors. Also there is some 'give' in the tool setter so with a bit of luck I won't chip so many carbide tools!

Jason: Thanks for the offer, but sadly, as far as I can see, my mill does not support G27. I have no idea what 'macro B' is, so I guess it doesn't support that either.

Regards,

Andrew

Sorry to hear that." G27...linear interpolate until SKIP"

without those you cant simply add Reni*****shaw like tool offset and geometry setting macros to your machine...shame

How does your toolsetter communicate?

have seen RFID chips in toolholders with tool data stored but that's more for your 30 plus caroucels

Jason: Now I'm confused! I looked up G27 in my CNC reference book and it says 'Machine zero reference position return check'? My mill will obey G28 (return to primary machine reference zero) but not G27. I'm not sure how either fits in with setting tool length offsets? I can see how they would be used with an ATC, but then again I can't afford an ATC.

Regards,

Andrew

Sorry my mistake.

G31 is g-code

X27.1 is i/o bit the high speed input it is mapped to [FANUC]

basicaly a switch is operated when TOOL TIP reaches predifined ref point

the motion of axes stops (early) and postion can be read and used to calculate offset for tool which is written into offset data directly.

again sorry for causing any confusion. and tardy reply..been AFK

In a fit of shopping mania on Sunday morning I ordered the power drawbar and electronic tool setter from the US. I got an email today to say it's been shipped. The next task is to go and buy a compressor to run the drawbar!

Regards,

Andrew

Power drawbar and tool setter have finally arrived, compressor bought, delivered and tested, in the comfort of the hall; just need to move it into the workshop. Pneumatic fittings, filter/regulator/lubricator and piping bought, mostly from J&L, but I used Ebay for the 1/4" NPT fitting for the drawbar itself. Extra electrical sockets and cable bought so I can add some more mains sockets on the CNC mill where needed. Just need to get a UK mains to US mains adaptor to fit the PSU that came with the drawbar.

I've done a quick test with the tool height setter to make sure it works. Now I need the time to sit down and use it properly, with a master tool, and try filling a tool table. Need to find time to fit the drawbar too!

Regards,

Andrew