Probing and Tool Length Offset

Probing and Tool Length Offset

Figure-1: Probing and Tool Length Offset

Probing with G38.3

probe towards the workpiece, stop on contact

Application supports only one probing mode with Z-Axis ie G398.3, any additional probing requirements can be full filled via custom buttons or from console window

  • Feed rate Feed rate at which Z axis will move towards the workpiece.
  • Plate thickness Thickness of the probing plate. (It should be given in your current machine units, you can see the current status in machine status panel G21 - Inches G20 - Millimeters)
  • Distance to probe Max probing distance before Z axis returns to its initial position. (It should be given based on your machine current distance mode, you can see the current status in machine status panel G90 - absolute distance mode G91 - incremental distance mode)
  • Last probe position The last successful probe position of Z axis.
  • Current TLO Amount of current Z axis tool length offset value.
  • Auto adjust Z axis If turned on and probe is success, application will set the Z axis position to zero in current coordinates. (Also known as auto zero)
  • Probe Starts the probing cycle.
  • Probe + TLO Starts the probing cycle and applies TLO if probe is success.
  • TLO Cancel current TLO if any.

Manual tool change with G43.1

procedure for using tool change with tool length offset on Z axis

  1. Move the machine to a safe position.
  2. Do your probe set up. ( placing the touch plate below the tool and attaching probe clip to tool etc.. )
  3. Do a successful probe with your first tool with Auto adjust Z axis is set to off
  4. Now change the tool.
  5. Do your probe set up for second tool at the same place. ( placing the touch plate below the tool and attaching probe clip to tool etc.. )
  6. Now do a probe with Probe + TLO
  7. After a successful probe, TLO is applied to Z Axis with a difference of current probe position and last probe position.
  8. Verify everything to be okay before continuing.