On Wednesday 19 March 2014 13:05:29 Jon Elson did opine: > On 03/19/2014 03:50 AM, Ed Simmons wrote: > > Is there any meet-in-the-middle between the touch off Z > > every time approach and having tool changer with > > repeatable tool length? > > First, you NEED repeatable tool length. So, there is the > Tormach tool system > (expensive) and using end mill holders (also a bit > expensive, but you can > get used holders if you have a common spindle taper). So, > the whole > idea is that collets don't repeat the tool position, but > several tool holder > systems do. > > Once you have some system where you can put a tool back in > repeatably, then you just need a way to measure the tool length. > There are a couple schemes. I built a replica R-8 taper on > the lathe > so I could measure tools. > http://pico-systems.com/preset.html > This allows me to measure a "reference tool" and then > measure every > tool's length difference from that reference tool. You can > then enter > the length of the reference tool as zero in the tool table, > and all > others you enter the length DIFFERENCE from the reference tool. > Then, when setting up, you touch-off the reference tool as zero, > and all other tools will have the right length when they are > used. > > But, I don't use this scheme much, in fact I haven't used it in > years. Because I find it MUCH simpler to swap the workpiece > and do all work with the first tool on every piece first, then > change tools and set the Z, and do all work with that tool. > > Jon
Great minds and all that rot Jon. zactly how I do pcb's if more than 1. Cheers, Gene -- "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Learn Graph Databases - Download FREE O'Reilly Book "Graph Databases" is the definitive new guide to graph databases and their applications. Written by three acclaimed leaders in the field, this first edition is now available. Download your free book today! http://p.sf.net/sfu/13534_NeoTech _______________________________________________ Emc-developers mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-developers
