I am an agressive amateur. I have broken about 10 tools in the first year. Have done the following to reduce it:
1. I document the program like Andre said. I even put the definitions of odd G & M codes in a short table in the program.
2. I copy the tool offsets into the program so I can see them when modifying and running the program.
3. I cut a part 2 inches above the plane first.
4. I bought sheets of foam, glued them together to approximate the size of the beginning stock, and make a part in foam. When ou screw something up this way, you get a flurry of foam pieces as you are scrambling for the pause button.
5. I always make Z=0 at the surface. |