I love that I can come on TH-cam and find a video showing a process I never knew existed. I have some manual machines but no cnc yet. Obviously they need some sort of calibration but after watching thousands of machining videos, this is the first time ever seeing a ballbar. Who knew...
So glad to see Larry still out spreading the benefits of machine tool calibration. I trained Larry about 10 years ago when we was first thinking of starting his machine tool calibration business and it's always wonderful to see when individuals I've taught take the reins and become experts themselves. Great explanations from a great guy!
I have a ball bar (with the wires) and using it mostly to level mills and just as kind of preventive maintenance (keeping track from year to year). I usually use the .0005 scale just to be consistent, but at .0001 almost anything would not look good. Like that Y-Z semi circle, never tried that! Nice video.
What a cool guy to do that. No doubt this is where the playing field is at, precision! Even for a hobbyist, it's nice to know what technologies are being deployed in the name of accuracy!
It’s definitely a handy tool to at least see what that machines capabilities are. Like how accurate can it be and schedule jobs on it according to tolerances needed.
It would be great if the machine would keep track of where the table has been, particularly under machining load. Then you could distribute your jobs to even it out.
Forget destroying an edgefinder with PRM, ever turn on the spindle with an indicol and test indicator clamped on? Lost my first Mitu ind that way. Ouch.
I almost got killed by an edge finder releasing at 7krpm. It shot across the shop past my head and went right thru the 5/8 Sheetrock firewall. Scary moment!
Yes yes. Had an obnoxious friend over wanting free work. I got distracted by his inane commentary, flung my indicator off the spindle nose. Insufferable prick though he was, he knew he was part of that mishap.
I know my brother's old slopped out lathe is just this side of total junk, so I know its not remotely accurate. Also, it is missing parts of the angle plate mechanism, so I need to some day find those, so I can cut Morse tapers with it.
Thing is, these tests are done with zero loading. Relatively useless information. I'm sure any Mazak will outshine that Haas in precision on a heavier cut.
You can rent ball bar test sets. Most shops wouldn't need to own a set full time. A ball bar is good to check wear and verify function after repairs are done. Always a good idea to move your fixtures to spread out wear zones.
@@sprky777 probably expensive :P . I would find it useful for machine building and for checking your servo tuning. But for a real shop, renting one is probably best.
"10 meters per second or whatever" Got to love Americans :), not even the guy who does measurements for a living can convert to metric units. FYI 10 meters per second would be 23622 ipm, some high speed machining indeed.
Haha, yea we are not machining that fast! I’m awful with the metric system. I always have to convert. Although my dad only works in Metric and doesn’t like imperial. :)
No offense to any fans but haas is a hobby machine, don't get me wrong over the years they've came s long way but even they're higher end machines aren't worth what you pay for them
I really love talking to guys like this, this is what keeps America going. Great video.
I love that I can come on TH-cam and find a video showing a process I never knew existed. I have some manual machines but no cnc yet. Obviously they need some sort of calibration but after watching thousands of machining videos, this is the first time ever seeing a ballbar. Who knew...
I love TH-cam for that. You can always find something to learn!
So many companies glaze/overlook on this. Larry knows his stuff and has helped my shop out with laser calibration.
Larry! What a legend. Thanks for putting together this high quality video Shawn.
My pleasure!
So glad to see Larry still out spreading the benefits of machine tool calibration. I trained Larry about 10 years ago when we was first thinking of starting his machine tool calibration business and it's always wonderful to see when individuals I've taught take the reins and become experts themselves. Great explanations from a great guy!
What an awesome process for fault finding. Thanks Larry for the redo as this made for great video with a bit of real life problems chucked in.
Very cool to get an inside look into the whole process!
Way to go Larry! The best in the business for calibrating!
He sure knows his stuff!
Great demonstration on the process of measuring machine movements under no load
I have a ball bar (with the wires) and using it mostly to level mills and just as kind of preventive maintenance (keeping track from year to year). I usually use the .0005 scale just to be consistent, but at .0001 almost anything would not look good. Like that Y-Z semi circle, never tried that! Nice video.
Just don’t hit that spindle on button! 😬
Will there be a follow up video, maybe the replacing of the bearings and then retesting to compare/confirm?
Possibly. Will see what I can do. I definitely want to see the differences.
That is actually quite cool❤ makes me want to be a meteorologis
What a cool guy to do that. No doubt this is where the playing field is at, precision! Even for a hobbyist, it's nice to know what technologies are being deployed in the name of accuracy!
It’s definitely a handy tool to at least see what that machines capabilities are. Like how accurate can it be and schedule jobs on it according to tolerances needed.
It would be great if the machine would keep track of where the table has been, particularly under machining load. Then you could distribute your jobs to even it out.
Forget destroying an edgefinder with PRM, ever turn on the spindle with an indicol and test indicator clamped on? Lost my first Mitu ind that way. Ouch.
I did that with an Interapid on a Bridgeport
I almost got killed by an edge finder releasing at 7krpm. It shot across the shop past my head and went right thru the 5/8 Sheetrock firewall. Scary moment!
Yes yes. Had an obnoxious friend over wanting free work. I got distracted by his inane commentary, flung my indicator off the spindle nose. Insufferable prick though he was, he knew he was part of that mishap.
Now I need a Larry in So cal OC that can offer this service
Larry said he will travel. You could always reach out to him... the worst he could say was no thank you. 😆
Would like to see your tear down & replacement of the bearings.
I need to find a video on how to do it and then I will make a video on how to do it. Haha
This is something we want to do on our Haas. We replaced the Y ball screw last year & bearings in the guides. We were having a weird noise as well.
You should. But more so a laser leveling would greatly improve accuracy on a new ball screw!
Where you get the plugs for the bed ?
good video..thanks for your time
🤜🤛
7:16 offtopic but a service tech from Hermle once crashed our blum laser 💀
Bummer. Lol
I know my brother's old slopped out lathe is just this side of total junk, so I know its not remotely accurate.
Also, it is missing parts of the angle plate mechanism, so I need to some day find those, so I can cut Morse tapers with it.
I litterally cant believe its THAT GOOD. our mazaks are only within .0006"!!!!!!😢
Thing is, these tests are done with zero loading. Relatively useless information. I'm sure any Mazak will outshine that Haas in precision on a heavier cut.
@@rolandjollivet38Absolutely correct. Comparing a 2000lb machine to one that's 12000 or 60000 is night and day. Has machines are light and cheap.
i wish this technology was more accessible. The technology itself is quite old. LVDT transducer with two round balls at the end.
It’s definitely been around a while. Don’t see it used much in the real world.
@@SBSOLOCO thats because lasers are faster and more accurate than QC bars
@@abhiwins123 And gives you far less information. BallBar and laser arent equal.
You can rent ball bar test sets. Most shops wouldn't need to own a set full time.
A ball bar is good to check wear and verify function after repairs are done.
Always a good idea to move your fixtures to spread out wear zones.
@@sprky777 probably expensive :P . I would find it useful for machine building and for checking your servo tuning. But for a real shop, renting one is probably best.
Bluetooth sure made it easier. Nothing worse than the old cable units getting tangled up and having to start over.
I would be so worried I would damage my ballbar!
68 in the PNW would be warm. My house temp is 63.
"10 meters per second or whatever" Got to love Americans :), not even the guy who does measurements for a living can convert to metric units.
FYI 10 meters per second would be 23622 ipm, some high speed machining indeed.
Haha, yea we are not machining that fast! I’m awful with the metric system. I always have to convert. Although my dad only works in Metric and doesn’t like imperial. :)
We are better at this than Europe by default.
I'm sure he meant 10mm/sec.
its a haas, of course the bearings go out
Womp womp
22 years of use seems fair enough to me. 😬
No offense to any fans but haas is a hobby machine, don't get me wrong over the years they've came s long way but even they're higher end machines aren't worth what you pay for them