Renishaw Tool Setter Mounting Position

[HelicopterJohn]

I have just received my new HAAS TM-1P that is equipped with the Renishaw Wireless Probing and Wireless Tool Setting option.

The HAAS technician has not be here to do the startup yet.

In looking at the table the tool setter platform is mounted approximately 12 inches inward from the right end of the table. I have attached some photos for your review. Also note where the optical sensor is mounted on the back of the cabinet that communicates with the probe and tool setter.

One thing that came to my mind in looking at the position the tool setter is mounted is having “maximum use” of the table for mounting vises, plates for fixtures (in case they extend beyond the end of the vise) and still have adequate room for setting tools. I know you only have 30 inches of X travel, so maybe the tool setter is already mounted as close to the end of the table as possible and allow adequate movement of the table during tool setting operations. The cycle time is not that big of deal for me as I am not in high production mode.

I was wondering if the tool setter could be moved closer to the end of the table to make more room available for mounting vises, fixtures etc.

Anyone else out there have this option on the TM or other series HAAS machine, and if so I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions on placement of the tool setter.

Thanks in advance for your help.

John

[Cory]

We have a 2007 VF-1 with the probe.

It's not wireless though. It came with the tool probe mounted perhaps 4-5" inset from the left side of the table, and maybe 3" from the back of the table?

I'd say wait till power-up, see how far you can move it out with your table at maximum travel in the x axis, and still have enough room to measure your largest tools.

You're going to love the probe. We haven't done anything fancy with ours using macros (just setting tools, and x,y,z on the part), but it's already an amazing time saver. The first time you need to set a bore as your zero, you'll love how much quicker it is than indicating.

I'd say on average I can set all my tools and work offsets for a given part in 2-5 minutes.

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi Cory,

Thanks for taking the time to offer your valued input.

Yes, 4 to 5 inches sounds a lot better than 12 inches from the edge.

I'd say wait till power-up, see how far you can move it out with your table at maximum travel in the x axis, and still have enough room to measure your largest tools.

Question #1: When you set the tool height on a shell mill does the machine move the X or the Y axis to center the cutting inserts over the tool setting probe during the setting process?

Question #2: It is my understanding that you can probe the height of the tool and also check the diameter. Is that where you need the extra offset from the end of the table to make sure the tool setter can circle the tool and take measurements on all 4 sides? I think it looked at all 4 sides maybe just 3 sides? Guess I should have paid better attention during the demo.

I guess the issue I have is that I am new to CNC and as of yet don't have a lot of tooling and don't know what would be a good offset measurement from the end of the X travel to use. Keep in mind this is a TM-1P and I am not sure what the tooling size limits of the machine are at this time.

Thanks,

John

[Cory]

Originally Posted by HelicopterJohn Question #1: When you set the tool height on a shell mill does the machine move the X or the Y axis to center the cutting inserts over the tool setting probe during the setting process? Question #2: It is my understanding that you can probe the height of the tool and also check the diameter. Is that where you need the extra offset from the end of the table to make sure the tool setter can circle the tool and take measurements on all 4 sides? I think it looked at all 4 sides maybe just 3 sides? Guess I should have paid better attention during the demo.

1: When setting the height of a shell mill, you manually jog one of the inserts over the anvil of the toolsetter. The only movement the machine makes during this probing cycle is the Z axis. You cannot use the toolsetter to measure diameter on a shell mill for obvious reasons.

2: When measuring diameter, the machine moves in the Y axis. What it will do is come down, touch off on the top of the anvil to measure your Z offset, then offset itself in the negative Y direction by the rough diameter value you inputted, plus some safety factor (it may move to positive Y first... I don't remember). After it touches off on the first side, it then comes up to clear the toolsetter, moves to the positive Y direction, and does the same thing. It does not do it on both the X and Y axes.

You want to make sure you leave at least I'd say 1.5x the diameter of your largest tool you may use in space in the Y axis between the toolsetter and any vises/fixtures you may be using. On our VF-1, with two vises on the table, it'd be a tight fit to measure the OD of any cutter larger than ~1" due to how close the vise is to the presetter.

Hope this was what you were looking for. If you have any other questions about probing, fire away. I'm by no means an expert, but I'm pretty good with the basic probing cycles provided through quick code. I know there's a couple other Haas owners on here who use the probe extensively.

-Cory

[Matt@RFR]

On my '07 VF-2ss, the table probe is roughly 3" in from max X- travel, and it just kills me. With two vices on that little table, I run out of room quickly. I would ask the tech to fire up the machine, run the table to max X- travel, back it up maybe .125" and center the probe under the spindle right there. That's all you will need because like Cory said, diameter measurement is done in Y.

The tech will be indicating and calibrating your probes, so ask him to move the table probe before he does that and it should create very little additional work for him/her.

[pit202]

to messure the tool in diameter it requires 2 points ( Y+ and Y- when I remebmer right ) but for the calibration of the tool probe it requires 4 points X+ and X- to calculate the center of drop in X axis , so I don`t think you can move it out of X range. The calibration tool have about an inch diameter.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by pit202 to messure the tool in diameter it requires 2 points ( Y+ and Y- when I remebmer right ) but for the calibration of the tool probe it requires 4 points X+ and X- to calculate the center of drop in X axis , so I don`t think you can move it out of X range. The calibration tool have about an inch diameter.

This is correct. I forgot about calibration.

The standard that came with our probe was more like 0.185", so you don't need that much travel to the side of it.

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi Cory, Matt & pit202,

Thank you guys for your valued input.

It is nice to hear that only + and - Y movements are required to check for the diameter of tools when utilizing the tool setter.

That should mean that I only have to allow room for the appropriate tool setter calibration probe (depending on the diameter) to work during the setup process by the HAAS Tech.

I will ask him to move the probe a close to the end of the X travel as possible during the calibration process as I am going to mount (2) Kurt D688 6" vises on the table.

John

[pit202]

John, can you take a closer photo of that place where the Y axis cover gets out of mill ? I still fight with coolant leaking in that place. thanks.

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi pit202,

Originally Posted by pit202 John, can you take a closer photo of that place where the Y axis cover gets out of mill ? I still fight with coolant leaking in that place. thanks.

I am sorry but I don't understand what picture you would like. I haven't had my coffee yet, so I may not be totally awake.

I would be glad to take any pictures for you. Just need a little guidance.

John

[pit202]

:-) I had 4 coffees and this don`t help me writing better english either

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi pit202,

Here are a couple pictures after coffee.

Let me know if this is what you wanted.

John