How to connect a TouchProbe and a ToolSetter at the same time

[Muzzer]

Fredsan - the problem seems to relate to the "probe detect" logic. So your system implementation is fine (you don't use probe detect IIRC?) - I have ever doubted that. But for those of us who don't have a hard fixed / permanently connected plate / probe, we need to be able to rely on the probe detect logic to prevent the machine from trying to probe without the correct device plugged in - and stop the spindle turning if it is. That's why the probe detect logic is provided. If you were to add the "probe detect" lines to your setup, a whole new world of pain would be revealed to you.

One solution would be for me to permanently fix the tool setter on the table and do away with the probe detect input. That would work but not for most people and is not what is sold.

As I said, fitting a tool setter and a probe together on an Acorn with probe detect is fairly simple (3 wires and only a few parameters). I'd really like somebody to tell me that they have done it successfully and what parameters they ended up with. They'd be a better man than me!

I'm human and don't mind being told I've made a simple, dumb mistake. Not seeing that so far. Possibly still in denial of a problem?

Murray

[Centroid_Tech]

The ProbeDetect signal is exactly what it means. It is a detect signal that is set once a probe is connected. The Centroid control can also use a detect signal for the tool touch-off device. It should also be set when the tool touch-off device is connected. The Centroid control allows different inputs to be used for either of those devices. The input that the Centroid control looks at is based on the value of parameter 18 for the probe and 257 for the tool touch-off device. If you wish to use the same input for both devices, that is perfectly fine but the state of that input has to be the same whether the probe or the tool touch-off device is connected. The reason for that is because both the Centroid software as well as the PLC program look at that input. Each has its own logic for those inputs. The way you have it set up tells the control that the tool touch-off device is always connected unless the probe is connected, which is not what you want as you will get the error messages that you are seeing. That means that if you wish to use the same detect input for both the probe and the tool touch-off, you need to wire it so that input is set when either the probe or the tool touch-off device is connected.

Your other issue is that you state that you are getting the "Probe Not Found" message when trying to measure Z Ref. The reason for that is because you have parameter 43 set to 0 which tells the control to use the probe input to measure your Z Ref and because of the way that you have your detect signal wired, it doesn't see that the probe is connected. If you wish to use the tool touch-off device to set your Z Ref, parameter 43 should be set 2.

[Bob Huntbach]

Here is the report I tried to send on Sunday
After much endeavour I managed to have the Tool length setting working fine on input 7 but not when the wildhorse probe is plugged into input 6.
While this probe works great on the part position it fails when I try to test the tool length of this or other tools when the probe is plugged in I get the message that both are connected but as soon as I remove the probe plug I get the tool tester working perfectly again.
I realise I am going to have to put this bone down as everything else is working fine.
Perhaps it is something that will sort itself out with a wizard upgrade I'll have to wait and see.
Regards Bob.

[Fredsan]

@Muzzer, I changed the connection of my probe, to also use probe detect, but leave the tool setter permanently connected.

Whatever settings I make, I cannot make it work. I used the settings provided by centroid-tech, but every time I think it works... it does not.

I give up using probe detect for the moment, until the wizard is changed to include probe and touchplate settings.

I will reconnect the probe permanently again, and disconnect the probe detect.

I think we need some nice youtube video showing us how to do the setup

[Muzzer]

I changed parameter #43 to 2 and this allowed Zref to be set with the TT, which is a step forward.

But as for parameter #257, if I change it from +6 to -6, I get "TT1 not found", as ever. So I put it back to +6 again. This means that tool length probing with the TT works again as before - but if you leave the TT unplugged, it doesn't know and you could crash the tool. I think this #257 is close to where the issue lies....

The touch probe still works (I have only changed #43) but I could easily crash the tool if I left the TT unplugged.

I can only assume nobody at Centroid has actually tried to plug both the TT and probe into an Acorn yet. Hopefully when the wizard is updated, some level of testing will be done and at that point the problem may get fixed?

[Muzzer]

Quick update on this. I received a Chinesium touch tool setter from ebay today and I've set it up successfully on my machine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CNC-Automati ... 2749.l2649

I've fixed it to the table and hard wired it in, to avoid trying to touch off with the probe unplugged. As noted, the Acorn tool detection doesn't work with both a probe and a tool setter fitted.

Seems to work fairly consistently (typically +/- 2.5um), probably better than my machine at least. Main difference is that this device has normally closed contacts, rather than relying on a path to ground through the spindle. And yes, the Renishaw probe still works. And the Acorn complains if you try to probe without it plugged in.

Quick update on my blog at murraye.com

[Fredsan]

Hi Muzzer,

Very interesting blog!

At this moment: is your renishaw probe also hard wired conneceted?

I had both the tool setter and the probe hardwired working, but I think it is far handier to have the probe to be removable.

I tried so many different settings to have the probe detect working, but I failed. Now I can't get the probe and toolsetter working reliable anymore.

I want to have my touchplate/toolsetter hardwired, but the probe to be removable. I assume this is also how you have it working. Can you share your parameter settings, and wizard settings. Somehow the NC and NO settings for probe and toolsetter in the wizard is not always behaving like I would expect.

[Muzzer]

The Renishaw probe is unpluggable, since it is on an ISO40 holder. If you unplug it, Acorn knows, you get an error message and the probing won't work. The tool setter is hard wired in.

I'm in a rush to leave for the weekend but the key settings seem to be:

#43 is 2 (set Zref with TT, use #44 for input)
#44 is 7 (Renishaw input, open on contact)
#11 is -4 (TT input, open on contact)
#17 is 3 (go to position G30 P3 for fixed TT)
#18 is 6 (Renishaw probe detect, spindle inhibit)
#257 is -6 (check for TT present, spindle and tool measurement inhibit)

I think those are the ones that matter. As noted, this is a normally closed tool setter that opens when tripped, so the signal on input 4 is now "NC". The variables 18 and 257 are different signs but this is what works(!). I'm pretty sure there's something not right around #257 anyway....

[Fredsan]

One more question: in the wizard which input type did you choose as ProbeTripped, the renishaw or the TT, and what input type did you choose for the other?

[Muzzer]

I'm away now but pretty certain the TT (trigger) input #4 was selected as "unused"(?) in the wizard (that was your discovery), while the input #7 was selected as "probe trigger". As you know, it's not possible to specify trigger / tripped for 2 different inputs using the wizard but that's what you end up doing behind the scenes.

Sorry, my use of detect and trigger etc was a bit inconsistent. Despite being unallocated by the wizard, I/P 4 still connects up OK as long as you go in and set up the various parameters correctly. After all, that's all the wizard is trying to do for you, even if it isn't able to complete the job.