On 7 September 2010 16:50, Igor Chudov <ichu...@gmail.com> wrote: > So say I touch off with one tool from tool table, then switch tool to > my desired cutting tool, and the cutting tool would automagically be > adjusted vertically to compensate for difference in offsets between > the cutting tool and the tool I used to touch off Z.
My understanding is that you can set the tool lengths in the tool-table from any convenient reference on the tooholders, as long as that is consistent. Best of all might be to measure the tool in-situ to the spindle face, because that compensates for taper diameter variations leading to the holders settling in different positions. Of course, one way to then measure the tools is using the axis screw, ie by using the touch-off option. With a tool loaded, and assuming an accurate tool table, you should be able to then touch-off the work or fixture into a coordinate system using any tool, as the tool offset from the table is part of the calculation. (At least i very much hope it is, otherwise that way lies madness :-) Rather than use a spare holder with a dowel in, I think you could use a solid face of a specific holder to zero your height gauge, and still use that holder for tools. A measuring fixture (a dummy spindle nose) sounds like something well worth having. Ideally this needs to contact the holder where the spindle does, not on a flange (though that would be a lot easier) -- atp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.net Dev2Dev email is sponsored by: Show off your parallel programming skills. Enter the Intel(R) Threading Challenge 2010. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-thread-sfd _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
