Newbie question about tool offsets

If you can change tools without loosing Z offset for the tool then you can number them and use the manual tool change. Otherwise you can just touch off the Z in G54 if you don't use tool diameter compensation.

One trick I use is to place a 1/2" dowel on the material top and lower the tool tip below the top of the dowel and as I raise the tool up press the dowel between the tool and the work piece and just as it rolls under the tool stop and set my Z offset to 0.500" (if I used a 1/2" dowel). This works fast and easy and no chance of damage to your cutting edge as your moving away from the work piece as you gauge.

The tool table is a place to store tool information for cutter comp and when you have automatic tool changers or as mentioned above manual with repeatability on Z... collets don't work well for this only tool holders like Cat, BT, QC etc.

John

The only thing you need to repeat is the Z normally, also when first starting after touching off jog to a position and double check that the position on the DRO matches what you expect it to be...

John

Oh bother, I forgot to mention my other time saver for X location. I put a dowel in the spindle and move the X to 1/2 the diameter of the dowel farther than I want the left edge to be and lower the Z down then slide the material up to the dowel and lock the vise down. You can set the X offset at the same time if it is not the usual X0.

John