Tool size and designation questions. (08 VF2 w/SMTC)

[l u k e]

Question #1
I have two tools that measure 3.100" at their widest points. The manual says I designate these with an "L" to keep the pockets on either side empty. They are not heavy, one is a Haimer 3D taster and the other is an insert face mill.

This seems like a waste tool changer space, it looks like a small tool like a ER-16 collet with a small tool say 3/16" would be fine beside either one. Is there is some way around keeping the side pockets empty? I'm just asking in case I missed something in the manual. It seems like there should be a small tool designation to fit a parameter to sit beside a large tool. (?)

Question #2
Would I use a "0" designation for my 3D taster?

[ToyMaker94566]

You really only need to tag one pocket as oversize so the two large diameter tools never get parked side by side in the carousel cause they could hit each other and that's a bad thing. As long as your sure there are no other tools that are oversize. So I guess if you're only gonna tag one as "Large" you might as well make that one your " 3D taster" and always keep it there. I would put mine at the end of the carousel so the next open pot is "Tool 1" "Pot 1". So if you have a 25 tool carousel, mark 23 as large so pot 24 and 22 are always empty. Also, I think you can mark the pot as large but not heavy by using a small "l" instead of a capital "L".... I think...

[l u k e]

So you can assign a large tool to a specific pocket?

[ToyMaker94566]

I take it, you never tried this before...? Sure you can mark any pot as "Large or Heavy" and call that pot whatever tool number you want. Just be prepared, when you tool change to a "Large" tool and then put it back, the machine is gonna tool change twice. That second tool change can catch you off guard if you're not looking for it. Remember, designating a tool as "large" means the machine is always going to put that tool back in the isolated pocket. That said, every time you mark a tool as large, you lose two tool stations in the process. So if you had 25 tools, you now only have 23 and so on. Just remember, the purpose of the "large tool" call out is to keep over sized tools from hitting other tools.

Do you know how to reset your tool order when setting up a new program? You wanna mark the large "pot" where you plan on placing the large tool first so when you "origin" pots, the machine will leave adjacent pots empty by calling them "tool 0".

Also, in case you didn't understand the "heavy" call out, it slows the speed of the tool change so you don't damage the machine with a heavy tool. I will also use this designation when using delicate tools or tools sensitive to jarring like a boring head.

To be honest with you, I don't think a 3.1 inch dia tool needs to be marked as large unless you have two of them and even then, they still might not be a problem. I have one job that uses both a 4" shell mill and a 4" slitting saw that I don't need to mark as large because the slitting saw tool holder is 2" longer than my shell mill and will overlap each other without interference when sitting side by side in the carousel. That's really all you need to worry about; is there any combination of tools that might hit each other when side by side.

[l u k e]

Yea, this is my first machine, I have ZERO experience in CNC.
What you explained makes sense, thanks.

Question #2, should I call out my 3D taster with a "0" tool number?

[ToyMaker94566]

Originally Posted by l u k e Yea, this is my first machine, I have ZERO experience in CNC. What you explained makes sense, thanks. Question #2, should I call out my 3D taster with a "0" tool number?

I don't think you can call up "tool 0". You will need to give it a tool #.

[l u k e]

OK, I miss understood what the manual was saying, thanks.

[ToyMaker94566]

Originally Posted by l u k e OK, I miss understood what the manual was saying, thanks.

So are you a machinist? You musta got a good deal if it's only an 08 mill.

Would you like me to program something simple for you just to get your feet wet? kinda like a sample program...

[l u k e]

I'm real careful about calling myself a machinist, I've made thousands of parts on my knee mill but I'm nowhere near the skill level of some of the grey beards out there. I'm 100% self taught with the knee mill, just learned by the seat of my pants. I've been researching cnc really since I purchased my manual about 8 years ago. The mill is new and I got a really great deal on it, not all the options I was after but couldn't pass it up.

I have OneCNC that I’ve got a pretty good grasp on, just trying to get the last info on how to get this up and going. Hope to make some chips in the next day or two. Just have to get my tool and work offsets in, fill my coolant tank, load a program, and hope I didn’t over look something.

Thanks for the offer on a program but I have a few simple ones I can run, thanks.

[DruMor]

Originally Posted by ToyMaker94566 Also, I think you can mark the pot as large but not heavy by using a small "l" instead of a capital "L".... I think...

The machine designates a pocket "l" (lowercase L) when the pocket is reserved for a oversize tool, but has a small tool in it.

For example, I keep my facemill in pocket 23. When the facemill is in the pocket of the toolchanger, the pocket is marked "L", but when I change to my facemill, and the TC swaps the tools to put the FM in the spindle, pocket 23 becomes "l", because even though it is saved for an oversize tool, the tool currently in the pocket is not oversize. When you change tools to a small tool, the machine changes "l" back to "L" when it puts the oversize tool back in its pocket.

[ToyMaker94566]

Originally Posted by DruMor The machine designates a pocket "l" (lowercase L) when the pocket is reserved for a oversize tool, but has a small tool in it. For example, I keep my facemill in pocket 23. When the facemill is in the pocket of the toolchanger, the pocket is marked "L", but when I change to my facemill, and the TC swaps the tools to put the FM in the spindle, pocket 23 becomes "l", because even though it is saved for an oversize tool, the tool currently in the pocket is not oversize. When you change tools to a small tool, the machine changes "l" back to "L" when it puts the oversize tool back in its pocket.

So the machine changes the "L" to a lower case automatically...? What’s the purpose in that I wonder...

I sold my VF2 last year so I'm going by memory but thanks for your feedback.

[l u k e]

OK, so I started inputting the tools and the tool offsets, no problem until I got to my "L" tool. I have pocket number 23 designated for tool (L)23. I currently am only loading 5 tools and plan on keeping my 3D Taster in pocket 23.

My question is how do I bring tool 23 up to the "in spindle position" (while I'm in the Tool Pocket Table) then put it in pocket 23 so the control knows it's the large tool and where it lives?

I know how to move tools from one pocket to another, I just don't understand how to tell the control I'm loading the L(arge) tool into the spindle so it can track it.