Setting up tools.. advice needed

[compunerdy]

I am setting up my tools for the first time and I want to make sure I understand how to do it correctly.

I have the Tormach tool setter and the TTS Touch Tool w/Digital Indicator besides my cutters.

If I understand this correctly you set up one tool as the main tool and you can use that to set the zero of your work piece and then since the other tools measurements are set based off the first tool the machine knows the zero for them?? Is that basically it?

I would assume it then makes sense to use the digital indicator as my main tool and for setting z0. So would I run it down onto the tool setter and then set it to 0? Not sure I have wrapped my head around this concept correctly or not. Just need a push in the right direction.

Thanks, Tim

[Scott_M]

Hi Tim

As long as you have entered all your tool heights in the tool table the the machine can reference them.

I usually just set Z zero to the work with the first tool in a multiple tool job.

Make sure the Machine has the right tool number showing for what ever you are going to zero with, And then be sure to use G43 H(Tool number) for the next tool change and the machine will apply the difference.

Scott

[dsdmax]

congratulations on your purchase - i am still stuck between the IHCNC mill and the tormach but it will be another 6months at least before i can make a purchase...

as for the tool table. not sure if you are aware but there is a video available on the tormach website that walks you through the entire process. probably more information there than you will get in via the forum.

if you are unsure about the whole think - maybe add an inch to all of your tool heights then try a touch off... should give you a good margin for error and you can check how close you are with a gage block.

Good Luck!!! - that thread about re-tramming your machine is scary - i know i will be checking everything 20 times before i run my first program!!!

[compunerdy]

While they do have a video for setting the tools up it uses a manual setup measurement and I wasnt sure if I need to do it differently using the Tool Setter or what.. Maybe I need to just give it a try and see how it works out


Edit: Well that was easy.. The only issue I had at first was trying to measure the tool setter height using the digital inidcator as I have 0 set to the middle of the travel. I got it figured out though..

Thanks guys.

[R.DesJardin]

I used an electronic edge finder to set T0 in all three axis' on the part, then I set all of the tool heights from there on the same part. I always use the same tool #'s so it's stored. When I change work pieces I re-zero T0 and then all of the rest of the tools know where to go. Any questions?