Adding a dial test indicator to tool library

[amcfarlen]

I'm just setting up my tool library, and the first thing I wanted to do was add my Haimer test indicator to my tool library, but there doesn't seem to be any option. All the available options are cutters of one sort or another.

I would have presumed that indicating off a workpiece as part of the initial setup of a job would be standard fair, but perhaps I'm missunderstanding something.

As well, I tried to add it just as a milling cutter that would use a manual tool change and when it comes to assigning it a lenght offset (mine is 162.21mm) the dialoge box won't accept this number. Seems it doesn't like the decimal points.

So I'm open to suggestions from the more experienced. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Sure, indicating off the work piece to establish your initial zero position is something you need to do first, but that is done before you hit Cycle Start and your program runs.

I have no experience on a machine with a probe that can auto touch-off, but even then I don't know if that is part of your CAM program.

As far as the length offset in the Post Processor tab, Fusion is looking for an integer value (usually the same as your tool number) that it will use with the G43 call's H parameter.  It's not the actual length offset value, it's the index into your machine controller's tool table.  -- hopefully I'm explaining that well enough?

Dave

[Steinwerks]

So I have to ask: how would you program a setup using a tool that does nothing in the cnc control?

[jeff.walters]

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@atomkinder67 wrote:
So I have to ask: how would you program a setup using a tool that does nothing in the cnc control?

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and how would you program to a point you dont know yet? 

[griffew]

Hi amcfarlen,

The dial test indicator is normally used when setting up the Fixture Offset Register (WCS) in your machine. You would attach the indicator to your spindle and manually jog the head (or table) to touch a datum position on your part or fixture. You will then save the touch location values into the Fixture Offset Table.  This will become your 'Zero' position, (often G53 location) where your CNC program will access later during runtime.

Here is a good website to help explain the Fisture Offset Register: http://www.hsmworks.com/docs/cncbook/en/#Ch06_MachineAndToolOffsets

So, it is not necessary for you to add the indicator into your tool library in CAM because it is not to be used in a CNC program.

I hope this helps!

[Steinwerks]

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@griffew wrote:

This will become your 'Zero' position, (often G53 location) where your CNC program will access later during runtime.

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I hope you meant G54, as G53 is machine offset. 

[griffew]

Yes! G54.

Thank you for the correction! 

[amcfarlen · Accepted solution]

After having a sleep on this, I see that adding the dial test indicator to the Fusion 360 tool tables was a dumb idea. 

Yes, it goes into the tool tables on the machine, and working out offsets to other tools from there.