does any one know how to set up the tool change after using one tool.on a contour and then going to the next .how does the cam program know what the z hight will be on the next tool to be used ,when you change it on the machine. i am using level two cad /cam

Hi Woffler,
If you raise the Z to say 2.0 at the tool change then when you change the tool you can use a 1-2-3 block to make sure the tool is set to the same Z zero position with the 2" side of the block. If you use the Goto command (button with arrow below tool change in CAM) there are several otions one is the Retract which allows you ti input the Z height to retract the Z axis to. There is also the GoHome option and the GoTo option in that GoTo popup. I usually retract my Z to 2" and it allows for easy tool change and checking to zero the tool before restarting the program. I'm sure there are other methods to do this but this is what I have been doing. Hope this helps in some way until someone post another method.
Regards,

thanks wess that is what i needed to be sure of . did not want to crash a new cobalt end mill

you can use the tool offset in define tool ,measure the longest first then set at zero
then just input the different length for your other tools