Vince,
1. I have set up my lathe tool table using tool 1 as reference.
How can I make an adjustment to tool 1 without having to reset all the other tools?
You are correct in knowing that if you change tool number #1 offfsets it will affect all the other tool use."All" the tools were originaly touched off to same reference point / surface. One can change all the other tool offsets appropriately based on tool#1 adjustment or physicaly position tool#1 back to where it should be relative to the other tools.
So the easiest way would be to touch off to the the X and Z reference points using one
of the other tools ( their relationships have not changed). Then select tool #1, and move the correct distance, to the same X and Z reference points and reposition tool#1 in the holder. Now repositioning the master tool can be a PITA and that's why I use the equivilent of a cut off tool for the master tool since it has flat sides and a perpendicular front.
I assume you danaged tool#1 which was the master tool. Frankly the master tool should not be used for machining and and it should not have any tool offsets!
2. I put a 1/2" precision pin gage in the headstock and set all the tool offsets from that. Now, each time I am working on a project, I set tool 1 based on the length and width of the stock and the rest of the tools are good to go, correct?
Most programs produce code that is precompensated for lathe tool geometry.
Most generated code will be based on the stock being at some X and Z=0 where the stock centerline is on the lathes center line and the stock face is Z =0. If the tool table is correct, touch off with the master tool#1 to define a work offset (G54 is Mach lathe default) and all should be good to go. From a defined tool change / home postion you can touch off with any of the tools.
I suggest the following if using Mach3 Lathe:
- Use a different screen set than the default Lathe Screen set.
- Use probing for work set up and tool setting.
- Create a custom screen set to satisfy how you work.
FWIW,
I use a simple homemade four surface tool setter which takes care of "ANY" type of lathe tool. A pin is just a PITA and you will make mistakes.The probing and a custom page to set tools just makes ease for the whole process.
RICH