Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] tool change

At 12:54 AM 8/31/02 -0500, Jon Elson quoted:

>> tool to the part then move to 0,0,0. A 2nd tool change is different
>> because the new tool may be longer, shorter, etc.

and noted:

>This is what tool length compensation (G43) is for. Most CNC programs
>have a "tool table" which holds the length and diameter of the tools
>loaded (or used with) the machine. I have a system which I have gotten
>used to, but it is quirky. My first tool is often a center drill. I made a
>simulated spindle taper for measuring all my tools, see
> http://pico-systems.com/preset.html for a look at that.

Most systems allow you to touch off the respective tools on a ref surface,
and at same time keep not only the hgt offset but the XY offset too. I
wrote in a bit of code that compares the offset values to the original home
position, so it displays coords relative to each tool. That is, each tool
when brought to the ref point, no matter what length or even if to a
different ref point in XY, shows 0,0,0 on display. Very handy. Why measure,
when the machine will do it for you?

>the quill will get returned pretty close to full up position. I have to

change

>tools manually, so that is convenient.

]
Right, each time you call for a tool, machine should go back to home, which
of course needs to be farther away from ref plane than longest tool.

>

Regards, Hoyt McKagen


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