Small tools on the pre-setter

[Mic6]

I'm planning on using a .03, and .02 carbide endmills on my table tool setter in my VF-2 and the feed rate seems awfully high for that small of a tool. Seems like it may chip at that initial feed rate at first touch. What do you guys do? and how small of a tool have you successfully touched off on the probe.? Thanks

[shawnc74361]

I have chipped .125 end mills and have not .047 end mills. It really depends on how clean the tool setter is. I have ran some .015 end mills in a HAAS before but I did not use the tool setter. I personaly would use brass shim stock and do it manually.

[extanker59]

I use the tool setter for 1/32" endmills frequently. At first I manually reduced the feed rate but then forgot to later. No chiped tools yet. So I don't bother to reduce the feed rate on those anymore (short and relatively stiff). I still reduce the feed for .05 and smaller drills however.

[WallyL7]

Using the toolsetter with the tool rotating slows the feed down also. You just put a rough height in, and it stops above, turns the spindle on reverse, and eases down onto the setter. Not sure if that speed would chip the tool.

P9853 (I believe)

[MikeOD]

I never recommend going below 1/32 on a contact tool setter...have I gone smaller successfully? Yes, would I trust it every day? No.

For what it's worth, your HFO can retrofit a non-contact tool setter into your probing package on the machine...it's expensive, but I have a customer setting a 0.002" tool every day with it (the particular model they have will go as small as 0.001"), as well as lots of other customers using them for various other reasons...they're a LOT faster than the contact probes are too...VERY VERY fast for broken tool detection too, make a rapid move into the beam by the tolerance specified, if it see's any light, it's broken, if it sees no light, it's good and makes a rapid move out...it's amazing how fast it is.