Mazatrol M2 Tool settings help

[nlh]

What is the proper procedure for setting tool heights on the CAM-M2 control? Here is how I tried it, bring up my tool using a toolchange in MDI, brought tool from Z home limit switch down to touch my part using a piece of paper to judge when it was "there", went to "TOOL DATA" page and pressed the "TEACH" softkey for the apropriate tool. This recorded a a positive value. I then tried to run my program with single block and dry run on and rather than drop to .1 above my part when the G43 H5 Z.1 line was commanded, it tried to move in the + direction. I tried this several times to no avail.

This was the procedure that was outlined in my manual. It appears that the number recorded with teach is based on a parameter number that tells how far the spindle nose is from the top of the table, am I correct on this? Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

BTW, the program I am using is an EIA program, not Mazatrol

Thanks

[psychomill]

The parameter for your teach function seems ok but it sounds like your work offset isn't set or the Z workoffset value is not correct. You should have a Z minus number in your work offset. For positive tool offsetting, this Z value is sum of the tool length plus Z motion. The teach function should do the math. However, your tool offset may not be correct either. It may have calculated the tool length from you default offset (which is usually G54 at reset).

The tool length offset should be the distance from the tool tip to the gage line of the spindle (although many people will simply use the spindle taper face as the gage reference).

If you want to use negative tool offsetting, then re-zero the tool length and touch off the tool again. This time, don't use the TEACH button and note the machine Z position instead. Use that as your tool length. With your work offset Z set to 0, it should move properly now.

[nlh]

Thanks Psychomill!

I think my problem lies in the workoffset as you mentioned. I set the offset of X and Y from my part, however I didn't know whether the G54 Z value should have a number or if that was taken care of with the Tool Data and Offset pages. Let me say that this is all very new to me as I have been programming mills with Z- offsets, never used a + offset machine before in my life, so I will need to know more on how to properly set my Z workoffset. Do I need to pre-measure all my tools, then touch them off my part and hit teach?

Thanks

[PrecisionD]

I have the M2 and use the teach comand as you described and it works fine. Are you running G - Code Programs or mazatrol? I f you are running G-Code make sure your H Codes match the tool numbers or it will give you a different height offset.