Originally Posted by
bspear
Fanuc 0i MD
My first time on a Fanuc mill after Heidenhain, spent a couple of hours trying to get my head 'round the work shift and tool length setting and need to get a definitive on what trumps what and what needs to be initially zero'ed or reset to avoid offsets on offsets etc.
initially, the machine must be zeroed. but I think an Oi D is absolute, right? Powers up referenced?
Once a code is run and g43's and g54 etc are called I presume the last one called remains active if I switch to any manual movement?
Usually. Unless you press reset. Usually
Are there any codes I need to watch for at the end of progs which clear work/tool offsets?
No, you dont have to cancel tool length at the end of an operation. Ref return to home has always worked for me. Robodrills are the only machine I have ever seen that require something close to that. They require a G49 immediately prior to a tool change, Even if they are on Z ref position.
Before I set a work shift, how do I ensure no other workshifts are active, should I call that workshift first in MDI? will reffing all axis clear the workshifts? G53 or a manual ref?
Just make sure you are using the Machine position registers as the source for your values. If the machine supports a measurement function, it will most likely be using the proper values
Before I set a work shift, I presume I need to activate a zero tool length?
Or again can I clear the active tool H?
You dont necessarily HAVE to use a Z value in you work offsets. It depends on how you want to run it.(work shift is an inaccurate term, as other Fanuc controls have a actual work shift)
If you are doing a simple one tool job, there is no need to go through any more work that just touching-off your tool on top of you part, with a slip of paper. Leaving you work offset Z at zero.
If you have an entire magazine of tools that you use on multiple different jobs, Then you should be setting them either to the table and using the Z offset to move the ref surf UP to the part Z origin
Or
Setting them off of the gage line or some thing like that and using the Z offset to move the Z ref surface DOWN to the part origin
To distill that a little. The Z work offset register is the DELTA from where the TOOL is referenced to where the PART is referenced.
Any suggested workflows gratefully received.
BTW, I'm manually setting - no electronic gizmos. Because of the safeties and switches on the machine side the workflow is a bit long winded so was going to make up my own BT40 tool gauge for measuring tool lengths but couldn't see any ref to DIY gauges on line, see any reason why not?
Cheers, bspear