Facing to a dimension with Intercon

[johnnw]

Just starting with CNC12 and Intercon and I'm wondering the best way to do the following:

Say I have stock that is approximately .800 to .820 thick and I want to face it down to .750.
I say approximately since I don't want to have to measure it exactly and then subtract the final dimension to get a depth to remove.

Presently, with a DRO only setup, I can zero the Z axis to the parallels that the stock rests on thus effectively zero to the stock bottom.

Then raise the cutter until it clears the stock and begin to face until the DRO Z reads .750 thus avoiding having to take very careful measurements and then make possible math errors.

Intercon wants a Surface Height input and then a Depth input both of which involve what I'm trying to avoid.

So, is there a way to tell Intercon to just keep facing until it gets down to the required dimension regardless of where it started?

Or, some other suggestions?

John

[cnckeith]

1.) set wcs Z0 at top of parallels.
2.) program face canned cycle in intercon with the following
- Surface Height = maximum thickness of saw cut stock (.82")
- Depth = (surface height - desired thickness of stock) .82 - .75 = .07"
- step increment = the amount to step over in X Y moves

this way the pieces can vary in thickness and you never have to measure any of them but CNC12 will always face them to .750"
just lock them down in the vise and press cycle start....

note: if you have any other moves in the program..(like rapid to a position) be sure the xy moves are at .82" in Z and higher to avoid crashing the tool.

typically most users will set part (wcs) Z0 at the top of the work piece. but you can set Z0 (wcs) anywhere.. you just have to be careful.. working from the "bottom up" (Z0 on the table or on a set of parallels) is completely valid, you just got to keep track of where the tool is and proof programs carefully to make sure you don't have any un expected contacts!

[johnnw]

Thanks Keith,

I get what you're saying.

I'll work on it.

John