I've seen some vertical milling setups that have a touch block for automatically setting the tool length. I assume the surface of the block is insulated from the machine and has a wire to a controller input to sense when it's grounded by the tool.
Easy, hands off tool length setting, no need for a measuring fixture and tedious manual entry of lengths and keeping them updated when changing tools in their holders. For a lathe you'd want a block set perpendicular to the spindle with its face a measured distance out towards the operator, mounted somewhere fixed and always accessible. Having it dead on center would get in the way of turning between centers, unless mounted to a removable base machined to fit the V ways. Select the auto center function, slide retracts fully, carriage zips over to the touch block, slide advances until making contact and the control knows exactly where the tip of the cutter is. With a removable center block, just place it next to the saddle (it'd need to be wide enough to extend over the cross slide), hit the auto center command and the cross slide advances until it grounds the touch block or hits its limit and displays a "No calibration device found." error. This could also be used to set a Z axis offset, would need to measure from a known point such as the center of the cross slide screw. That touch block would need to be in a fixed location. With the cutter tip point's location in the work envelope known exactly* in X and Z, setting parameters like diameter to cut to would be very easy. *Assuming vertical mill axis convention where Z is in line with the spindle, X is crosswise to the spindle/head support, Y perpendicular to the spindle/head support. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Own the Future-Intel(R) Level Up Game Demo Contest 2013 Rise to greatness in Intel's independent game demo contest. Compete for recognition, cash, and the chance to get your game on Steam. $5K grand prize plus 10 genre and skill prizes. Submit your demo by 6/6/13. http://altfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/12124-176961-30367-2 _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
