probing problem

[kendo]

All of a sudden the renishaw is putting out bad numbers when I do a single surface Z measure cycle

It worked fine five times this morning, then the sixth time, it output a number that was about 5" off from the actual.
This is only in Z, its working right measuring X and Y

Im watching the machine position as it moves and about the time the probe is triggered, I see the number is around -5.0, the probe touches twice, beeps three times, backs off, then the offset page shows a value of -10.0

The length offset for the probe itself is still there, I'm using VQC, and I tried IPS to do this, and both times I get a Z offest that is around -10.0
When I manually crank the probe tip to the surface and hit Part Zero Set, it output the correct -5.0

I restarted the machine, no help
The XYZ in G52 is all zero
I WAS looking through settings and parameters this morning,
I enabled 9000 prog edit, took a look, changed nothing, then disabled it agian
Is there some setting I might have unknowingly bumped that would subtract an extra 5 inches every time the probe measures a Z surface?

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi kendo,

Have you retouched off the probe on the tool setter?

It may have lost it memory setting. Also, when was the last time you replaced the battery in the probe. Mine only lasted about 6 months.

I am a newbie but those are a couple of things that may be of help.

John

[cadman@teluspla]

We just went through this today with our TS-27
when was the last time the tool setter probe was calibrated?
As well like John said, try touching off probe again.
also make sure there are no #'s in the wear column next to tool length for the probe.

[kendo]

well, I can't tell you how glad I am that I got a manual that tells me one method of programming this thing, and a VQC interface that uses a different method

When I crashed the stylus this morning and watched it shatter I was just overjoyed at how "intuitive" the "programming system" is

The manual says to calibrate probe length, just jog over to a reference surface and the macro touches off and updates the length for ya

So I grab the "probe length calibration" macro out of VQC, feeling confident that I just read all about this thing last night, jog over to a reference surface, and crash. After a second look at VQC, it wanted me to jog over to the tool setter, not a reference surface. See, I'm told the VQC doesn't NEED a manual because its all VISUAL
Well I guess it wasn't VISUAL enough for me this morning

I've had this thing for two weeks. The only thing the installer would show me was probing the inside of his ring guage, he told me he wouldn't show me anything else because he might break it.
So great, this guy leaves me with this expensive probe to learn, and a "manual" about 1/8 inch thick

Now I got a broken stylus and no idea how to install a new one and get it working

[WOLOG]

The important thing to remember about the probe is that handle jog and rapids will kill a probe quick!!! As long as the probe is activated(blinking lights), it will not crash or smash the stylus. If the probe touches something before it is supposed to, it will alarm. Reset the alarm, type M53 in MDI and hit cyle start to turn the probe off!

To change the stylus, screw the new one in the probe body. Use a test indicator to true up the ruby ball dead nuts. There are 4 or 6 set screws used to true it up. Then do a calibration on the TS27R for length and then do your bore calibration cycle. It is not hard to do, just takes a little time.

[kendo]

Thanks WOLOG
Ill be doing that whenever the new stylus arrives

In the meantime, how do I go back to setting TLOs and Z offsets manually?
Im confused by the TLOs being positive numbers measured from the spindle face and my heads spinning so much from the mornings events I don't think I can think straight

[Mic6]

Hang in there Kendo. I accidently released my probe from the spindle and watched the stylus explode. Not fun. When I got the new stylus, I just did what the tech did. I indicated the lower half of the probe body(the silver part) with a .0005 indicator to get it real close, then used that same indicator to "rough" in the stylus tip. Then switched to a .0001 indicator and got it within .0002. Just be sure to only loosen the bottom 4 screws. The 2 top screws 180 deg. apart hold the lower half of the body on. No need to touch those. Once all that's done, re-calibrate the length of of the tool setter thru VQC, and run your ring guage calibration and you'll be good to go.

Oh, and sometimes the stylus tips come a little tweaked from the factory. The ceramic part looks like a banana. The renishaw people say this is fine, as long as the ruby tip in concentric.

[Mic6]

Originally Posted by kendo Thanks WOLOG Ill be doing that whenever the new stylus arrives In the meantime, how do I go back to setting TLOs and Z offsets manually? Im confused by the TLOs being positive numbers measured from the spindle face and my heads spinning so much from the mornings events I don't think I can think straight

Either use the Spindle probe/tool setter together or not at all. Just jog each tool down to you to your work. When you get close, change to .001 resolution, slide a .1 guage pin(some people use paper for this but I like to stay farther away and have an exact number I can use) back and forth until you can feel it barely hang up trying to go between the tool and the work.(dont force it) Hit "Tool Offset Measure", then "Next Tool"(assuming your tools are sequential. Once all thats done, just subtract .1 from every tool.

Doing it this manual way, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY Z OFFSET. Unless you want to bring all your tools down together to dial in a part dimension or something.

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi Kendo,

If you check my website you will see a couple of videos on using the Renishaw wireless probe and tool setter.

http://www.helicopterjohn.com/gallery/

I am a newbie and new to the Renishaw Wireless Probing system.

You might want to read some of the other threads here about the Renishaw Wireless Probe.

WOLOG Said:

The important thing to remember about the probe is that handle jog and rapids will kill a probe quick!!! As long as the probe is activated(blinking lights), it will not crash or smash the stylus. If the probe touches something before it is supposed to, it will alarm.

This is true as long as the probe tip hits something prior to the body of the probe hitting something. It cost me $1100.00 to find that out, not $100.00 for a tip. I was doing a Y web on a very small part that was very close to the vise. I inadvertently put in a depth of -4. instead of -.4 and the probe went right by the part. I reached for the emergency stop button but the probe body (not the tip) hit the vise before I got to the emergency stop button.

One thing I did with the help of a Renishaw tech was to change the speed at which the probe moves during probing operations. It is set at the factory at 200 IPM and I changed it to 50 IPM. At 62 years of age the probe was just a little too fast for me. I know everybody wants everything to work super fast, but for me I am satisfied to wait a few more seconds and hopefully keep from having another senior moment.

Hope this was of some help.

John

[extanker59]

John, can you tell us how/where to change the speed of the probe during probing operations?

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi extanker59,

I sent you a personal message.

John

[omy005]

Originally Posted by WOLOG Use a test indicator to true up the ruby ball dead nuts. There are 4 or 6 set screws used to true it up.

This is not required, as the XY calibration cycle takes into account the ruby ball offset from the spindle.

Andrew.