CNCMaryland wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:17 am
Regarding Parameter 3 - I'm not sure you're understanding how the Bits work. A "1" value means it will Reset upon job Completion. Probably not what you want. I have mine set to "0" - this will keep the tool heights until you remeasure them.
Trying to clear up the confusion that the two statements above could cause. Hjavaher is talking about setting BIT 1 of parameter 3 while CNCMaryland is talking about the actual value of Parameter 3 which is NOT the same thing.
Here's the help text from the ProbeApp about this parameter which is just a copy from the CNC12 Mill User Guide:
As you can see to set BIT 1 of Parameter 3 you have to add 2 to the VALUE of Parameter 3 and this will make the Z-Home position the Fixed Reference Height from which all Tool Height Offsets will be measured.
What CNCMaryland is talking about the VALUE of Parameter 3 being 0 or 1 is actually setting the BIT 0 of Parameter 3 On or Off. Now if BIT 0 is On or Off doesn't really matter much in my opinion as every job file that requires Tool Height Offset compensation will take care of turning the compensation On or Off when needed with a G43/G49 command. So even when you set Bit 0 to 1 and the Tool Height Compensation resets after the job has finished, when you run the job again, the tool height compensation should be turned On again.
Hjavaher wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:48 am
I know the height of the stationary tool touch off is 72mm, but I don't know the exact trigger height (presumably 0.001in) but am not sure how to measure it to make sure.
As CNCMaryland said, the pre-travel distance along the Z-axis for both, the Touch Probe and the Tool Setter is almost nothing and is usually negligible. You can test the pre-travel of the Tool Setter by placing a dial indicator on the side of the touch off plate and zero it out. Then use a tool to touch off on the tool setter. The dial indicator will show you how much the touch plate went down before it triggered. Based on my tests, this is usually just a couple of 1/1000 of a millimeter and if you think this matters on your machine you most likely kidding yourself
To find the exact height of your tool setter, just place it on the machine table and use the Touch Probe to set WCS Z0 on top of the tool setter. Then measure the height of your machine table with the Touch Probe and the DRO Z value will tell you the exact height you should enter.
If you use the Touch Probe to touch off the top of the Tool Setter, it will be the device that has the lower spring force that will create the trip signal but it doesn't really matter which device creates the trip signal as long as you have both devices connected. For those who can only connect one probing device at a time, you need to find out which of the two devices has less spring force and then connect that device when you use the TP to touch off on the TT. You can test that by placing the TP on top of the TT by hand and slightly press down. The device that moves must be the device connected.
Hjavaher wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:48 am
Right now I'm using the tool touch off to measure the probe and set the offset, I then use a precision 123 block to establish how far away from 1 in the probe measures and then adjust the height offset of the probe until it registers as close to 1in I can get it.
What the heck are you doing???
You are a supporter and you do have the ProbeApp that should do all of this for you. Are you not using the ProbeApp or do you not know how to use it? If it's the latter, please post your questions in the
ProbeApp thread so I can answer it for the benefit of all ProbeApp users.
Just to circle back to the answer that CNCMaryland provided regarding the setting of the Tool Height Offsets. His answer is not wrong but it is only correct if your machine fulfills certain conditions. The subject of setting Tool Height Offsets correctly can be very confusing as it depends on the type of machine and tool holding you have. That's why I have written the ToolOffsetter Module in the ProbeApp to make that much easier.
You did never mention what type of machine and tool holding you have so giving instructions on how to setup tool height offsets without this knowledge is just not possible and could be misleading.
The Version 2 of the ProbeApp has now a ToolOffsetter Module which has a Guides Setup that automagically configured all settings needed based on the answers given to the setup questionnaire. At the end of the Guided Setup an instruction sheet is being provided showing which Probing Cycle should be used based on machine type and tool holding.
As I said above, run the Guided Setup of the ToolOffsetter in the ProbeApp and if you have any questions, post them
HERE
-swissi
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