LOST [1/2] KEY
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:06 pm
Does anyone else out there miss the 1/2 key? Its found on older high end Swiss CNC mills, and seems to have been
lost in time. What does it do? Quite simply, divides the present part value for a specific axis half way back to part zero, and
re-sets part zero for that axis. Anyone who has ever used an edge finder to set zero on the center of a part would appreciate
not having to stop, and divide the distance between the first touch (set zero) and the second side touch by 1/2. Then to
have to move there to set the part center zero (in that axis). Then do it ALL OVER AGAIN for the next axis.....
Think about it ,.1. edge touch first side, push two hard keys .... [X], then [ZERO] ..2. edge touch
opposite side and push [X], then [1/2]. You did not have to move back to center to set zero, and the control divided a value by 2, and
re-set zero on center, instead of you, looking for a calculator, while your spindle is wearing out your edgefinder!..... Don't laugh,
we have all been there so many times we are conditioned to tolerate the lost time, and worse yet the ERROR, this practice leads to....
The auxiliary keys could read 1, [X]....2, [Y]....3, [Z]... 4, [ZERO]...(set specific axis to part zero)... 5, [1/2] (divide specific axis
location by 1/2 and set value)...... The keystrokes are [x] then [zero], (just two keystrokes) or [x] then [1/2].
When your spindle is running, your head is in the machine,your hands are full of cutting oil, and you are only making one part,
that someone is waiting for, you want to minimize working with a K.E.Y.B.O.A.R.D. These are some of a very few commands that deserve their
own place on a pendant close to the point of operation. You don't want to have to look away from that edgefinder, indicator,or probe
any more than necessary when setting up. I suppose the probe is already doing this in some fashion somewhere in a program, but
if you ever used a [1/2] and a [O] (zero) key you would not want to give them up easily.
lost in time. What does it do? Quite simply, divides the present part value for a specific axis half way back to part zero, and
re-sets part zero for that axis. Anyone who has ever used an edge finder to set zero on the center of a part would appreciate
not having to stop, and divide the distance between the first touch (set zero) and the second side touch by 1/2. Then to
have to move there to set the part center zero (in that axis). Then do it ALL OVER AGAIN for the next axis.....
Think about it ,.1. edge touch first side, push two hard keys .... [X], then [ZERO] ..2. edge touch
opposite side and push [X], then [1/2]. You did not have to move back to center to set zero, and the control divided a value by 2, and
re-set zero on center, instead of you, looking for a calculator, while your spindle is wearing out your edgefinder!..... Don't laugh,
we have all been there so many times we are conditioned to tolerate the lost time, and worse yet the ERROR, this practice leads to....
The auxiliary keys could read 1, [X]....2, [Y]....3, [Z]... 4, [ZERO]...(set specific axis to part zero)... 5, [1/2] (divide specific axis
location by 1/2 and set value)...... The keystrokes are [x] then [zero], (just two keystrokes) or [x] then [1/2].
When your spindle is running, your head is in the machine,your hands are full of cutting oil, and you are only making one part,
that someone is waiting for, you want to minimize working with a K.E.Y.B.O.A.R.D. These are some of a very few commands that deserve their
own place on a pendant close to the point of operation. You don't want to have to look away from that edgefinder, indicator,or probe
any more than necessary when setting up. I suppose the probe is already doing this in some fashion somewhere in a program, but
if you ever used a [1/2] and a [O] (zero) key you would not want to give them up easily.