Newbie- There's got to be a better way...

[masonbcaldwell4]

I'm new to FADALs, and CNC in general. I'm familiar with the accu-rite heads on some smaller bridgeport NC mills, but they are entirely conversational. they are, on the otherhand, exceptionally easy to set the offsets on... bring your cutter down till it touches the work, and hit "Z=0". is there some easy way to do this on a 4020? Ive tried using the "set length" feature, but that usually seems to drive my tool into the part... at least I'm only practicing on scrap aluminum... is there at least some way to set all my tools on the same plane, so all I have to do is tell the machine where the part is in relation to this plane?
Thanks ahead of time,
Mason

[carbidecraters]

Yes there is!!

Get into jog mode after picking a tool. Jog the tool just above the part. Next take a small piece of scrap paper and using the jog handle in .001 move the paper and the jog handle until the paper is tight, note the Z height when the paper is tight this is the # you will put in your offsets. Then hit manual and go into your tool offset page (the first one) hit #1 and then choose the diameter and hit enter or just hit enter and then put in the negative Z number you had on your screen then the control will ask you if this is corerct and show you the old values and the new values you just put in. If it looks good hit enter or #1. Hit manual and hit next tool and it will grab the next tool. You will have to jog it from there but at least you dont have to hit m6t?? It will go to the next tool so if you already setup T1 and you hit next tool it will go to T2 and always up just one tool #. If you have a tool setting probe then you can let the machine set the tool. You will crash 100% of the time using the auto feature if you do not have the probe. The paper method is quick and dirty but you can use a precision block or a small light up probe (ebay) just remember to add the value to your Z that you see. Paper is usually .002 so if you Z says -4.5000 in the jog mode when the paper is tight you put -4.502 in the tool height table.

Hope this helps

[masonbcaldwell4]

Originally Posted by carbidecraters Yes there is!! Then hit manual and go into your tool offset page (the first one) hit #1 and then choose the diameter and hit enter or just hit enter and then put in the negative Z number you had on your screen then the control will ask you if this is corerct and show you the old values and the new values you just put in. If it looks good hit enter or #1. Hit manual and hit next tool and it will grab the next tool. You will have to jog it from there but at least you dont have to hit m6t?? It will go to the next tool so if you already setup T1 and you hit next tool it will go to T2 and always up just one tool #. If you have a tool setting probe then you can let the machine set the tool. You will crash 100% of the time using the auto feature if you do not have the probe. Hope this helps

Thanks, I'll give this a shot in the a.m. I've been using a 1-2-3, which has worked well thus far, same as the paper, i reckon. Once I've gotten all my lengths put in, how do I translate them to a fixture? right now, once I call up a fixture offset, E??, I have to manually edit the tool lengths by touching off with each tool and editing the values in the table. I know the fixture offsets contain a Z reference, but I'm unsure of how to coordinate that data to the tool offsets, the H words. What am I setting the lengths from, the table, or the work?
Once again, I appreciate your help!
Mason

[carbidecraters]

Oh heck you simply touch off a tool on E1 or E2 and calculate the difference in height from the other E (E0 is default in a fadal) then you add this difference to your Z height in the fixture offset page. If the fixture is lower by .125 you type -.125 (example)

[Runner4404spd]

i've got an 8" tall post mounted on my table behind my 3 vises. i take a dial indicator and touch off the top of the post then move over and zero the indicator on top of the work. the difference between the two numbers is your work offset.