The best thing I ever did was modify the screen set to utilize probing for the following:
- Find lathe center or part location.
- Probe tools and populate the tool table
- Allow for probing and adjustment of tools ie; drills / reamers / etc.
Additionaly probing can be done to get locations or copy a part and create a dxf file manualy or automaticaly depending on the probe used.
The screen was modified to open, save, export / import, reset or bring in a master tool list.
The screen is done to how "I want it to work" ( don't use home switches here as I have no need for them) and use soft limits ( no switches ) to get a warning if the tool called will exceed the travel of the carriage.Also don't use any work offsets initialy. Work affsets are used for multiple parts to be done using the same gcode and can be easily changed.
The tool setter is simply a 1" diameter standard accurately mounted so it can be placed in the chuck and probing can be done on 4 different
surfaces.
For tool touch off:
Just zero out the tool setter, probe with master tool and probe all the
others or just any tool and the probing routine automativcaly takes care of populating the tool table. The probing is very accurate.
To set up a job:
Just probe the tool setter with master tool, insert stock, probe the stock end ( or some location ). Home is used as the tool change postion and all code is based on the lathe center and end of the stock. All done with a few button clicks and NO MEASURING!.
Additionaly:
Now if you want to copy or measure a profile I use the probing to get points along the profile. This is done auto or manualy depending on the
probe used. For quick and dirty a visual indication probe is used
along with MPG's to get a few selected points and a dxf file can be created or the points put right into Acad and drawn.Don't use this much but sure does come in handy at times.
Just some things you can consider as you continue to have fun,
BTW, there is a write on how someone used gang tooling and avoided the issues with front and back tool posts.
Do a search.
RICH