If you make a tool you will use it.

**Bob La Londe** · 02-08-2021, 04:55 PM

I made this little tool to quickly align stock to the exact edge of the work envelope on the machine. The very next job I needed to use it again.

Okay "exactly" is being kind of liberal with the word. Within a couple thousands I'm sure. Backlash of the machine and the accuracy of my tool notwithstanding.

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**Mooser** · 02-08-2021, 05:58 PM

I completely understand why that would come in handy. Not often but more than once I've put material down, clamped, shimmed, aligned and then found out it was outside the travel slightly....
(On my old bridgeport I milled a small scribe line with an engraving bit right onto the table (sacrilege) at both ends of the usable travel for much the same reason )
M

**kstrauss** · 02-08-2021, 06:27 PM

That tool looks like a good idea; I should make one. I've previously used a very crude but quick approach by drawing limit lines on my table using a felt tip marker.

**mountaindew** · 02-08-2021, 06:46 PM

Simple solutions that work, get used often !
I made a simple tool for setting cnc lathe tool offsets and adjusting the height of tool post holders. inspired by keens video on this forum. I was amazed it worked so good for something so dam simple.
I used it to setup 30 lathe tool offsets in PP. I even did a number of them over and over because at the time I had little faith I was doing them correctly! Worked so well I went on to make 4 sizes

for common 5c collets and a rack. And accuracy is all about doing the exact same thing for each tool offset over and over. Then they all run off the master

If you make a tool you will use it.-lathetoolsetterv1-jpg

**Bob La Londe** · 02-08-2021, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Mooser

I completely understand why that would come in handy. Not often but more than once I've put material down, clamped, shimmed, aligned and then found out it was outside the travel slightly....
(On my old bridgeport I milled a small scribe line with an engraving bit right onto the table (sacrilege) at both ends of the usable travel for much the same reason )
M

Originally Posted by kstrauss

That tool looks like a good idea; I should make one. I've previously used a very crude but quick approach by drawing limit lines on my table using a felt tip marker.

You know its funny. Some previous owner had milled a scribe line on the table of my KMB1. The thing is the head can swing left or right and telescope in and out making those lines virtually worthless. Then on top of that when I retrofit the machine to Mach 3 I tested the actual travel of the machine, adjusted the prox switches, and increased its X travel from 24 to a little over 26 inches further making those lines a left over relic of somebody else's no longer valid solution. On the Tormach (or other bed mills) this might be less issue than on a knee mill, but if you have to replace a limit switch its entirely possible your limits locations may change slightly. With all that in mind a marker makes a better solution (in my opinion) than a scribe line if for no other reason than its temporary.