Upon successful completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
One of the most confusing things about CNC's is how to set tool length offsets and how they relate to machine fixture offsets. Chapters 4 (Coordinate System) and 6 (CNC Operation) detailed one method of using Tool and Length offsets. While this is one of the most flexible and useful methods it is not easy for beginners to understand and has other disadvantages.
This chapter shows three other methods of setting tool lengths. To summarize, here is a table that lists all four methods described in this course:
Method |
Description |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
1 |
Use scrap of notebook paper. |
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2 |
Use 1-2-3 Block on finished face of part. |
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3 |
Use 1-2-3 Block and dial indicator (Method described in Chapters 4 and 6). |
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4 |
Use tool probe. |
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