It'd be great to see how to do this on an 8L. As someone who is new to machining and teaching myself I'm struggling with wrapping my head around the machine. X+ should be towards me and X- should be away. So using this method when I touch off for G54 I enter a positive number instead of a negative. Everything seems good. Then I go to touch tools off and repeat the process but the machine flat out tells me X needs to be touched off in a negative number (it uses the word should, seems to stay as a value but I'm not 100% sure). If I do what it says and touch off my tool in X as a negative it will change my G54 and put 0 somewhere between myself and the spindle. I don't think that's right. I think it needs to be positive. I've managed to cut by using one tool and touching to 0,0 (and copying the tool touch value). But now that I'm working up to multiple tools I need to properly touch off G54 and both tools being used. It's driving me nuts! And the 8L doesn't seem to be very popular and there's not a lot of videos out for it.
I'm here in 2024 trying to figure out answers to this very question. What I've figured out so far as it pertains to the 8L - You can follow this video but don't use any negative values. The 8L seems to have a different setup than the 15L. Positive X values on the 8L will move the cross slide toward you.
@@PithyBikes I left the industry unfortunately but good luck to you. Def had fun machining, but at the end of the day my brain doesn't work the way a machinists brain should.
what do you enter when using the master tool? tool zero? Or does putting the blank holder in and typing in numbers in the dro not apply to the tool that is selected but the work offset? meaning unless you type in the offsets menu you are setting work offset?
We had a giveaway for a PCNC 440 last year, and a giveaway for the xsTECH this year, but we don't currently have plans on 15L Slant-PRO Lathe in the near future. We do offer PathPilot HUB, which is a virtual instance of PathPIlot that you can use for teaching. hub.pathpilot.com/
I would think you'd actually want to use the empty tool holder for *each* tool first, then set the tool offset with that tool after it gets populated with the tool. The way Mike did it seems to me to depend a lot on dimensional consistency from tool holder to tool holder. I've never put a mic on Tormach's tool holders, but in general I would never assume two of them are exactly equal in size. Maybe I'm missing something though.
Why are the work offsets in the offsets table read only on the slant pro but editable on the 1100 Mill? I would really like this same functionality on the lathe. It is vary handy when you can incrementally adjust the offsets if you part varies.
Nice! an interesting method too. I wouldn't have thought about using the blank holder as the reference. Myself I prefer setting tools to the chuck body or jaw, then using work offset Z to shift outward. I don't use work offset for diameters at all. Lots of way to do it; Mike should make a video showing some of the other possibilities, with the good and bad points of each!
Both ways will work, what you mention is essentially opposite of the approach we demonstrate here. But you still arrive at the same result. Perhaps we will show other methods in the future as well; the method Mike is showing here is the same as we describe in the lathe manual.
So then you're saying that the tool holders are so dimensionally consistent that you can use an empty one as the "master," but use your tools in other tool holders? I mean, Mike went through the trouble of including the thickness of the paper in these settings--0.003". So that implies that you're saying these tool holders are within 0.003" of one another...otherwise you really wouldn't know whether or not the number you're entering in for a tool offset is accurate. Make sense? I'm not trying to be a smart arse here--I'm actually ordering a 15 SPL this summer, right after I get an 1100 mill. So I'm genuinely interested in how you guys want us to set up these things. I also love these videos, and find them extremely helpful. Thanks for making them!
Thanks for the video. Question about the piece in the chuck, does it have to meet certain specific dimensions for setting the offsets correctly ? (I assume not, since what you´re trying to determine is the offset between the holder and the cutting tool so the reference piece should be irrelevant, right ?)
+Cristian Cvitanic You are essentially right. You can take an OD Cut, use calipers to get the dimensions and then use that number as your zero (or not move the tool after a face operation and use that number as your zero.
Hi Mike Great Video. I would assume you must reference the Lathe before setting the Master and your other Tool Offsets? Would this be possible to show in a future Video? Thanks for making these Videos available. Cheers Willy
Touching off is essential for relating the position of the tool to the position of the workpiece. Otherwise, the CNC machine has no idea where the tool and workpiece are in relation to each other.
That would be cool to calculate right in the field not in mind or calculator. like in spreadsheet. For example I enter =0.254+0.006 And it calculate result for me. Means if I start with = then it calculates. then all I need is to enter = paper width + cuter width / 2 And that is it. I do not need to calculate. In general I like your new PathPilot. Although I would like to see tough friendly interface so I can work without keyboard or even knob controller. Just slide knob on the screen. And when focus in number field popup numpad under it to enter digits quickly. I have other suggestions but unfortunately I personally not yet used it. Only so reviews.
PathPilot already has that feature. There's no need to type in "=". Just type out the equation and PathPilot will calculate the answer. PathPilot also has the touch screen feature, but as of right now (March 2015) we don't have an approved model available. That should change very soon. If you do have a touch screen already you can test it out. PathPilot is based on Linux so you may have the drivers already - though in our testing several touch screens won't work.
It'd be great to see how to do this on an 8L.
As someone who is new to machining and teaching myself I'm struggling with wrapping my head around the machine. X+ should be towards me and X- should be away. So using this method when I touch off for G54 I enter a positive number instead of a negative. Everything seems good. Then I go to touch tools off and repeat the process but the machine flat out tells me X needs to be touched off in a negative number (it uses the word should, seems to stay as a value but I'm not 100% sure). If I do what it says and touch off my tool in X as a negative it will change my G54 and put 0 somewhere between myself and the spindle. I don't think that's right. I think it needs to be positive.
I've managed to cut by using one tool and touching to 0,0 (and copying the tool touch value). But now that I'm working up to multiple tools I need to properly touch off G54 and both tools being used. It's driving me nuts! And the 8L doesn't seem to be very popular and there's not a lot of videos out for it.
I'm here in 2024 trying to figure out answers to this very question. What I've figured out so far as it pertains to the 8L - You can follow this video but don't use any negative values. The 8L seems to have a different setup than the 15L. Positive X values on the 8L will move the cross slide toward you.
@@PithyBikes I left the industry unfortunately but good luck to you. Def had fun machining, but at the end of the day my brain doesn't work the way a machinists brain should.
what do you enter when using the master tool? tool zero? Or does putting the blank holder in and typing in numbers in the dro not apply to the tool that is selected but the work offset? meaning unless you type in the offsets menu you are setting work offset?
Do Tormach have any giveaways. I want this lathe for learning and teaching. 😍
We had a giveaway for a PCNC 440 last year, and a giveaway for the xsTECH this year, but we don't currently have plans on 15L Slant-PRO Lathe in the near future. We do offer PathPilot HUB, which is a virtual instance of PathPIlot that you can use for teaching. hub.pathpilot.com/
Thanks for the video.
Any reason not to just do your initial touch off with tool 1 (and enter zero for the T1 offsets)?
I would think you'd actually want to use the empty tool holder for *each* tool first, then set the tool offset with that tool after it gets populated with the tool. The way Mike did it seems to me to depend a lot on dimensional consistency from tool holder to tool holder. I've never put a mic on Tormach's tool holders, but in general I would never assume two of them are exactly equal in size.
Maybe I'm missing something though.
Why are the work offsets in the offsets table read only on the slant pro but editable on the 1100 Mill? I would really like this same functionality on the lathe. It is vary handy when you can incrementally adjust the offsets if you part varies.
Nice! an interesting method too. I wouldn't have thought about using the blank holder as the reference.
Myself I prefer setting tools to the chuck body or jaw, then using work offset Z to shift outward. I don't use work offset for diameters at all.
Lots of way to do it; Mike should make a video showing some of the other possibilities, with the good and bad points of each!
Both ways will work, what you mention is essentially opposite of the approach we demonstrate here. But you still arrive at the same result. Perhaps we will show other methods in the future as well; the method Mike is showing here is the same as we describe in the lathe manual.
So then you're saying that the tool holders are so dimensionally consistent that you can use an empty one as the "master," but use your tools in other tool holders? I mean, Mike went through the trouble of including the thickness of the paper in these settings--0.003". So that implies that you're saying these tool holders are within 0.003" of one another...otherwise you really wouldn't know whether or not the number you're entering in for a tool offset is accurate. Make sense?
I'm not trying to be a smart arse here--I'm actually ordering a 15 SPL this summer, right after I get an 1100 mill. So I'm genuinely interested in how you guys want us to set up these things. I also love these videos, and find them extremely helpful.
Thanks for making them!
so how do you touch off for a left-hand tool for Z using a tool changer? what about boring bars and drills?
Thanks for the video. Question about the piece in the chuck, does it have to meet certain specific dimensions for setting the offsets correctly ? (I assume not, since what you´re trying to determine is the offset between the holder and the cutting tool so the reference piece should be irrelevant, right ?)
+Cristian Cvitanic You are essentially right. You can take an OD Cut, use calipers to get the dimensions and then use that number as your zero (or not move the tool after a face operation and use that number as your zero.
Thanks !
Hi Mike
Great Video. I would assume you must reference the Lathe before setting the Master and your other Tool Offsets? Would this be possible to show in a future Video? Thanks for making these Videos available.
Cheers
Willy
Thats right. The lathe needs to be referenced prior to establishing any offsets.
Tormach, LLC
Thanks Mike
can you explain "finish stock" and where to determine what this will be or what it changes if its more or less?
thanks
How about boring bars?
could you give me a clear information what the beneficial of touch off ?, thanks !
Touching off is essential for relating the position of the tool to the position of the workpiece. Otherwise, the CNC machine has no idea where the tool and workpiece are in relation to each other.
That would be cool to calculate right in the field not in mind or calculator. like in spreadsheet. For example I enter
=0.254+0.006
And it calculate result for me. Means if I start with = then it calculates. then all I need is to enter
= paper width + cuter width / 2
And that is it. I do not need to calculate.
In general I like your new PathPilot. Although I would like to see tough friendly interface so I can work without keyboard or even knob controller. Just slide knob on the screen. And when focus in number field popup numpad under it to enter digits quickly. I have other suggestions but unfortunately I personally not yet used it. Only so reviews.
PathPilot already has that feature. There's no need to type in "=". Just type out the equation and PathPilot will calculate the answer.
PathPilot also has the touch screen feature, but as of right now (March 2015) we don't have an approved model available. That should change very soon. If you do have a touch screen already you can test it out. PathPilot is based on Linux so you may have the drivers already - though in our testing several touch screens won't work.
That is cool. Cannot wait to get my hands around PathPilot. Thank you for answer.
What software were you using ?
Mike is using the Tormach PathPilot software.
Thanks you for the video