Need Help!- Tool Touch Off alternative?

[palx80]

We are having issues with operators attempting to touch off the tools on our CNC lathes and crashing them in to the part. Has anyone developed a way to reduce touching off the tool for every new job. Maybe a simple calculation or touching off a known object????

[LeeWay]

I use Mach 3 and I am able to adjust my jog rate down very low. Like 2% of rapid feed rate on my lathe and 5% on my mill.
I hold the shift key down for full rapid, then just the arrow key creeps it into the spot.
This is of course manual touch offs.

[Geof]

One way that may work is you get a piece of material such as a 1/2" square HSS toolbit and measure it accurately. Then jog the toll to slightly less than 1/2" away from the touch of point and jog away while you try to slide the toolbit between the work and tool like a thickness gauge. If you overshoot take the 'thickness gauge away, jog close and try again.

[ctate2000]

Make the face of the chuck Z0. Then use G52 to shift the coordinate system so that programmed values are same as print. The G52 would be equal to the part length and the jaw length. I do not like this method as it creates the possibility of introducing the turret to chuck. Turret to chuck crashes are always worse than tool to part crashes. You may be able to control turret travel through parameter settings.

[g-codeguy]

Tate, I don't see how this helps the OP keep his operators from crashing tools when touching off.

Don't these operators know how to use the RAPID override? Jeez!! Isn't there a handwheel? Geof's way is probably best, but I'd give them a 3.000 inch block. Sounds like 1/2 inch is too close for these guys.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by g-codeguy ... but I'd give them a 3.000 inch block. Sounds like 1/2 inch is too close for these guys.

Pessimist.

Or realist?

That is a good question.

[Eurisko]

Our Okuma LB25 has an electronic touchsetter.

Simply bring the tool within .100 of the contact point and press a button.
Sounds easy, right?

If you press the CORRECT button, it is easy. If you press the Z- RAPID button, you've just destroyed a $1000 touchsetter.

We've probably gone through a dozen of those in ten years.

No, you can't make everything idiot-proof.

[afink]

Well, given the skill level of the people "we" employ, 12 in 10 years isn't bad. Don't know how your machines hold up, but we like old mori's, they can take a beating.

[g-codeguy]

Euriskp, you only get one where I work. The one that came with the machine. Destroy that one, and You set tools the old way.

[g-codeguy]

Originally Posted by Geof Pessimist. Or realist? That is a good question.

Realist!

[Geof]

Two of our lathes have pristine toolsetters on them. Totally undamaged during the almost ten years since the machines were purchased; also totally unused.

My philosophy was that once they were destroyed I would not replace them; therefore it seemed logical to teach my guys how to touch tools off manually because then there would be only one learning curve.

[Eurisko]

Make sure that the operators know the "proper" way to touch off.
Don't let untrained, unqualified people setup the machines.
You'll have fewer crashes.

The experienced lathe operators weren't crashing the touchsetters.

It was usually a vertical or horizontal guy. With limited lathe experience and no instruction in the proper way of doing things on the lathe. Just a "body" to "keep the machine running".

I'll never understand management.