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General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach 3 Lathe setting up tools and offsets. hair already gone...teeth next...
« on: December 12, 2012, 03:28:32 AM »
I never use work offsets (other than the G54 ) as I have never seen a need.
My lathe screen is totally different from the standard lathe screen but here is what I do.
I home the machine then call Tool 1
I then move tool 1 in to take a light cut and just before the cut I zero the X DRO or set it to close to what I think the Dia will be. This is so I can MDI the cut, move out on X then clear on Z and back in to X again. I then measure the Dia and on then enter that number in the (What the standard screen calls) Part Zero Coords DRO. I then press Touch X button and you should see the X DRO reflect that your tool is at that Dia. It is best to then open the tool table press apply then exit, (my Touch X and Z buttons automatically open the table for me)
Next do the same with the Z, ie move to just negative of the end of stock and zero the Z Dro then take a light cut, no need to touch off Z for this one.
Now jog away and call Tool 2, repeat as above for X or alternatively just use a feeler to touch off on Dia, enter the Dia in the X part zero coords DRO (remembering to add feeler thickness to Dia, 2x feeler thickness if in Dia mode) Then as above press Touch X, open Tool table and save. Next move Z to touch end of stock, enter zero in the Z Part Zero DRO (or if using a feeler enter the thickness of it) and then press Touch Z, open table and apply.
Repeat for the rest of your tools, remembering to call a new tool before you set it up.
The above assumes you have accurate home switches if you are wanting to start your machine and know the tools wil be the same position as the previous day.
For doing the actual touch offs I have made up a tool for the chuck that I can take a light skim cut of with tool 1 then any other tools I want to set I just move to touch off dia and end and a LED tells me when I am there and I can then set the tools as above. Its just a bit easier than the feeler method, especially as my tools are at the rear of the work and the lathe is big so I cant really see where the tools are in relation to the work.
Hood
My lathe screen is totally different from the standard lathe screen but here is what I do.
I home the machine then call Tool 1
I then move tool 1 in to take a light cut and just before the cut I zero the X DRO or set it to close to what I think the Dia will be. This is so I can MDI the cut, move out on X then clear on Z and back in to X again. I then measure the Dia and on then enter that number in the (What the standard screen calls) Part Zero Coords DRO. I then press Touch X button and you should see the X DRO reflect that your tool is at that Dia. It is best to then open the tool table press apply then exit, (my Touch X and Z buttons automatically open the table for me)
Next do the same with the Z, ie move to just negative of the end of stock and zero the Z Dro then take a light cut, no need to touch off Z for this one.
Now jog away and call Tool 2, repeat as above for X or alternatively just use a feeler to touch off on Dia, enter the Dia in the X part zero coords DRO (remembering to add feeler thickness to Dia, 2x feeler thickness if in Dia mode) Then as above press Touch X, open Tool table and save. Next move Z to touch end of stock, enter zero in the Z Part Zero DRO (or if using a feeler enter the thickness of it) and then press Touch Z, open table and apply.
Repeat for the rest of your tools, remembering to call a new tool before you set it up.
The above assumes you have accurate home switches if you are wanting to start your machine and know the tools wil be the same position as the previous day.
For doing the actual touch offs I have made up a tool for the chuck that I can take a light skim cut of with tool 1 then any other tools I want to set I just move to touch off dia and end and a LED tells me when I am there and I can then set the tools as above. Its just a bit easier than the feeler method, especially as my tools are at the rear of the work and the lathe is big so I cant really see where the tools are in relation to the work.
Hood