[big_mak]

Only takes a couple of minutes. There are options for setting. You can set tools in sequential order, or random order. Then you can check facemills, with the spindle rotating in reverse so that it accounts for any inserts hanging low!

I also use it for tool breakage detection too. This way if you've got your back turned to the machine, it will stop if you break a drill. Handy, especially if you are supposed to tap that hole. Tough work for a tap to run througn a solid carbide drill.

I know if you got a laser tool setter, you can even check form tool profiles.

Next job, I set up, I'll time it to run a few tools, and report back the results. My main thing is that it allows me to do something else while it's probing the tools.

Price out these options from Renishaw, and see where it comes in at.Haas sells the package with a new machine for around $5K. I know I sound like a sales guy, but it works slick. there are a few other guys around who would say pretty much the same thing.
Stang, is it a renishaw tool setter? Maybe you need a different tech guy. Seems to me that the education of the tech guys is not even close to equal.

When we had our machine installed, I spent my training day quizing the guy about what I could do with my probe. He was new to Haas, but he was lucky that he had some prior Renishaw experience.