Tool Length offsets supported?

[HomeCNC]

Does TurboCNC support tool length offsets (G43)?

[JFettig]

Have you downloaded turbocnc? check the docs. I know you can set up to 20 tool offsets, if what your looking for is to change offset within the program for two different height materials or something similar, you could use multiple tool offsets per tool and just not change tools.

Jon

[Bubba]

Jeff,
From what I see in the TCNC documentation, NO; it does not support G43 exactly, but V4 does support tool length offset. I use it all the time.

Let me know if I can help.

Bubba

[HomeCNC]

I just downloaded V4 and could not find refererance to G43 as well. How do you access the tool offset inside the Gcode if it does not understand G43??

[JFettig]

Set the tools in the jog and use M6 T# havent you done that before?

I have been using 2-5 tools per program without resetting the tool height, just set all the tool offsets.
Go into jog(f8) and you will see the tool number and look at the z coordinate, make sure your on the tool number you want with T and R buttons to change, zero your tool, put your next one in, tool number zero it,

when you need to change tools, move your Z height to a save height and M6 T# in your G-code. and then go.

Jon

[HomeCNC]

Originally Posted by JFettig Set the tools in the jog and use M6 T# havent you done that before? I have been using 2-5 tools per program without resetting the tool height, just set all the tool offsets. Go into jog(f8) and you will see the tool number and look at the z coordinate, make sure your on the tool number you want with T and R buttons to change, zero your tool, put your next one in, tool number zero it, when you need to change tools, move your Z height to a save height and M6 T# in your G-code. and then go. Jon

Are you saying that you have to set your zero on your next tool when you change! If so then this is not what I want. I have fixed tooling. I know how long each of my cutters are in the holders. I can't re-zero my next tool because the top of stock has been cut away from the previous tool. If tool lenght offsets are being used then you don't need to set zero after each tool change.

[JFettig]

Have you ever set up your tools and everything before you started running and did a tool change on the fly and just hit go and let it go? It sounds like you change your tools and re-zero them or something similar during the program or write multiple programs like I did before I got ahold of fixed tooling.

If your looking for really nice fixed tooling, check out the tormach tooling system http://www.tormach.com
It is what I run and I love it, it only needs about 2" of clearance or a little more to make it easier.(or whats needed for the next tool if longer)

Maybe Im just following this incorrectly, Im just describing a rather simple way of setting all this up similar to how you describe.
I know your using the quill and R8 end mill holders, that must be quite difficult to change tools with the little travel there is there.

Jon

[ger21]

Jon, I think he's talking about his router, with his own custom fixed tooling.

Jeff, from the TurboCNC manual.

A means of setting tool offsets is provided under this menu item. Before any of the tooling offsets can be set, a reference location to zero must be set. Once the reference is set to a zero location, all other tools are to be moved to this location. You may use either a tool as the reference, or may make a special tool setting gauge. Once the reference location has been set, load the actual tools and move them to the reference location, using the jogging controls. TurboCNC will then record the offset locations for each axis.

I haven't used it, but from what Jon's saying, I don't think you need the G43. You setup the offsets for each tool, relative to either a single tool or a reference value. Then, when you do an M6 and call the tool, the offsets are automatically applied. Our commercial machine at work works sorta like that. Set up all the tool lengths, and then whatever tool your using, the machine knows how long it is, so, for instance if you move to Z-1.35, no matter what tool you're using, it will always move to that depth. Hopefully I'm right here. Jon?

[ger21]

Originally Posted by JFettig move your Z height to a save height Jon

You meant SAFE height, right? That may be part of the confusion.

And Jeff, before using v4, you should downlopad the latest hotfix from the Yahoo group files section. Just copy the hotfix executable over the existing one.

[HomeCNC]

Thanks guys.

Learning a new controller software is not something I wanted to do. I'm just having real problems with Mach 2 and the 4th axis. I wanted to have a second option to see if a different controller would help me.

[RotarySMP]

TurboCNC does not currently support cutter radius compensation (G4x) but it does support Tool length offsets.

V3 used a compromise were tool offsets and fixture offsets used the same register.
V4 has separated the fixture and tool offsets.

You define your tool length offsets in a file (there is a wizard in TurboCNC fr doing this) and can then run your program just calling out the Tool changes and turboCNC willautomatically apply the offsets.

Jerry, Dave and Tony are currently working on Cutter radius compensation and constant velocity contouring, aimed at the next major release.

The official TurboCNC support site, where you can get the latest BUG fixes and ask your questions directly to the programmers is :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/turbocnc/

[HomeCNC]

Thanks Mark,

I will have a look at the Yahoo group. My CAM software generates a G43 H(tool) in the code for tool length offsets. I suppose if TurboCNC does not understand this, it will not cause any problems to leave it in the code.