Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

i'm not sure what you are doing, but it works fine for me.

using a reference tool and touching off the reference point , in the tool library i use F1 Zref to set the referecne position with the reference tool and the Z ref displayed position perfectly matches the Machine Coordinate position when being measured in the tool library.

Tip: press Alt D while in the tool library to switch the DRO to machine coordinate system.

what kind of machine is this? looks like a router?

do you have a reliable home position? if so, then you don't have to use a reference tool

if you must use a reference tool then where on the machine are you defining the reference position? when the laser TT trips?

describe your work flow step by step

reference tool method use explained (25 years ago

The laser is permanently installed on the table. A reference is needed because I don't want a fictitious measurement value, but rather a verifiable one. Each of the possible methods starts from an origin. In my case the origin is the empty tool spindle. Each tool is longer than the empty tool spindle and can be checked with a depth gauge.

not sure what you mean by fictitious

does this machine have reliable Z homing method? if so,

using Z home as the Z reference position (point to measure tool lengths from) is what i would recommend for this type of machine. no reference tool needed. all tool lengths are simply the distance from home to the laser fork trip point.

P3=6

Theory and practice are two different things. I work with reference tool. I can check my measured length of the tool. This also gives me the opportunity to measure my tools using a tool presetter. Then the errors in the software (and PLC) remain as they are. It's a bit sad when you have to use an external app to measure tools and workpieces. It's not what I wanted, but I can live with that.

Houseman303 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2024 10:39 am Theory and practice are two different things. I work with reference tool. I can check my measured length of the tool. This also gives me the opportunity to measure my tools using a tool presetter. Then the errors in the software (and PLC) remain as they are. It's a bit sad when you have to use an external app to measure tools and workpieces. It's not what I wanted, but I can live with that.

IMG20240120151439.jpg

Screenshot_2024-01-20-15-15-16-27_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg

you dont' have to use probe app to make up for any errors in the plc and cnc12. probe app is holds your hand thru the various methods and sets the cnc12 parameter for that method. yes cnc12 could be easier to configure in this regard. cnc12 can satisfy a large number of combinations, probe app presents you with those combinations and holds your hand through it. however it is completely unnecessary to use with cnc12.

tool measure for mills / routers for cnc12 has been working just fine for many many years. if you can clearly show a "error" or bug we will fix it asap. i still think you just don't have cnc12 configure properly or your work flow is mixed up because you are mixing together two different methods.


so now that we established that you want to use a reference tool (even though it is unnecessary with your machine type)

what is the problem? can you clearly outline the steps of your workflow and describe your reasoning for each step? and when and where your problem appears? then we might be able to help you.

today i drafted a discussion paper on tool height offset methods, i got the first three pages done see draft doc below.
the goal here is to explain the three main Methods of tool height offset definition and measurement to give our users guidance in this regard.

I've got a couple more pages in my head about further discussions such as pros and cons of each, absolute encoders, manually measuring with a granite block and caliper, macros, etc.. comments and suggestions are welcome.

and when its done it would be a good story board for a long winded video for those that like to watch vs read.


[attachment=0]centroid tool height measurement.pdf[/attachment]

External toolsetting especialy with a cheap depth caliper is slow and prone to make typing/calculation errors.
You will not get better than 0,02 mm this way.

Using a good TTO is fast and better than 0,005 mm with simply one button to press.

IMHO the only benefit of external toolsetting vs. automatic in machine is if you use CAM with machine simulation.
So you can set up tools for a new simulation while the machine is producing parts.

Uwe

suntravel wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:07 am External toolsetting especialy with a cheap depth caliper is slow and prone to make typing/calculation errors.
You will not get better than 0,02 mm this way.

Using a good TTO is fast and better than 0,005 mm with simply one button to press.

IMHO the only benefit of external toolsetting vs. automatic in machine is if you use CAM with machine simulation.
So you can set up tools for a new simulation while the machine is producing parts.

Uwe

i agree, i'll be adding a section in the tool offset doc about this as well thanks for your input.