MachPro Mill and Router Setup Manual

Configure Software

Please refer to your motion controller's documentation to:

Calibrate your axes
Establish machine zero
Configure soft limits
Connect and configure I/O

Spindle Calibration

spindle include

Lube System Setup

If your system has an oiler edit the lube settings. Pull down Configure -> Control, and select the Settings Tab. Scroll down to the Lube System settings. Enable the lube system, and adjust the settings. In the default settings, the oiler will only run while the control is enabled, and it will run for 8 seconds, then turn off for 5 minutes. Adjust the values according to your machine's needs. Note that lube pumps vary widely in their output. Start conservatively and increase the values to achieve proper lubrication.

Tool Setters and Offsets

Open the Calibrate Tool Setters window. Found on the Tools tab.

Creating a Manual Tool Setter

Mapping the input to a software signal

Pull down Configure -> Control and select the Input Signals tab.

Some signals are pre-configured when MachPro is installed.

Tool Setter Limit (Over Travel) maybe be mapped to Input #6

Tool Setter Input may be mapped to Probe1.

GoTo Position

If the tool setter is permanently mounted, then define a GoTo Position so the spindle can safely move to the tool setter before touch-off.
This ensures a consistent and safe approach, reducing the risk of collisions.

1. Add or Edit a tool setter

In the Tool Setter tab, click Add New to create a new tool setter.
Enter a unique name for the tool setter.
Select the new tool setter from the list to display its settings on the right side.

2. Setter Type

Under Setter Type, select Manual.

3. Tool Setter Height

This is used with randomly placed tool setters to determine the Z fixture offset. If you have a fixed position tool setter, leave this value at 0.0
Measure the physical height of the tool setter.
Enter the measured value in the Tool Setter Height field.

4. Z Position

For a fixed positionsetter:
- Use the Z Position Wizard to determine the machine coordinate for the top surface of the setter.
- Once set correctly, this value should not be changed.
If the setter is mounted outside the soft limits, enable Disable Softlimits.
Once the Z position and height are calibrated, the system will automatically use these values for all tool length offset calculations.

Randomly placed tool setter

Set Initial Parameters
- Set the Z Position to 0.0.
- Leave all GoTo fields blank.
- This indicates that the setter position may change between uses.
Prepare the Spindle
- Remove all tools from the spindle.
- If the spindle uses tool holders or collets, insert an empty holder while setting the Z position.
Position the Tool Setter
- Place the manual tool setter or gauge blocks on the table at the desired location.
Set the Z Position
- Carefully jog the spindle down until the tool tip touches the surface of the setter.
- Click Set Position.
- This records the Z position using the current spindle location and the entered Tool Setter Height value.
Measure Tools
- Insert each tool required for the job.
- Perform a tool measurement cycle for each tool to record its length offset.

Creating an Auto Tool Setter

Click on the Tools tab at the bottom of the MachPro screen, then on the Tool Setters button in the middle of the left side of the screen.

If you are setting up a RapidChangeATC changer and setter, also refer to RapidChangeATB Tool Changer and Tool Setter

Define GoTo Positions for the tool setter.
- - Selecting a GoTo position allows the spindle to move automatically to the setter before touching off.
  - This is recommended for permanently mounted setters.
  - If the setter is located outside the soft limits, enable Disable Softlimits.
Click Add New to create a new tool setter.
- Enter an appropriate name for the tool setter.
Set the Setter Type to Auto.
Select the Probe Input that the tool setter is wired to. The 4 input signals available are:
- Probe (G31)
- Probe1 (G31.1)
- Probe2 (G31.2)
- Probe3 (G31.3)
If the correct input probe signal has been selected, then indicator bar below the input selector will turn green when the tool setter is triggered. Manually trigger the setter (or have a helper do so) to confirm the correct input is selected.
If the tool setter height is known, enter the value in the Tool Setter Height field.
- If the height is unknown, click Launch Height Wizard and follow the on-screen instructions to measure it.
- The tool setter must be wired to the control for this process.
Set the Z Position to the machine coordinate of the surface where the tool setter rests.
- If the position is unknown, use the Z Position Wizard to determine it.
- For a randomly placed setter, set the Z Position to 0.0. This value will be defined each time before measuring tools.
- See also: Using a Randomly Placed Tool Setter.
For randomly placed setters, leave all GoTo Position fields blank.
- Manually jog the spindle to the setter or place the setter beneath the spindle as needed.
- The machine will not perform automatic jogging during this process.

Align Tool Edge to Center of Tool Setter

This feature positions the edge of the tool precisely at the center of the tool setter, ensuring accurate alignment and consistent measurement results.

Pull down Configure -> Control and select the Settings Tab. Scroll down to the Measurements and Offsets section.

Set Tool Setter Align Tool Edge To Setter to Yes.
Configure the Tool Setter Align Tool Edge Offset parameter.
- Choose between Tool Radius or Tool Setter Offset as the source for the offset used to align the tool edge to the center of the setter.
Select whether to Align (X or Y) Axis to Setter to define which way the tool moves when aligning the edge to the center of the setter.
Close the Settings menu
If you selected Tool Setter Offset, then open the Tool Table and click the Edit option
Select the User Fields tab
Select the Tool Setter Offset field, and use the movement buttons to place the field where you want within the User Fields
Close the Tool Table Editor
Select View and select User Fields

Additional Settings

The measuring and offsets settings in MachPro Control may provide helpful access to these settings. Pull down Configure -> Control and select the Settings Tab and scroll down to the Measuring and Offsets portion.

Modifying GoTo Positions

If you are setting up the GoTo position for a tool setter, jog the tool to the correct position over the tool setter.

Pull down Configure -> Control -> GoTo Positions tab

Position Setup Instructions

Use the Add or Remove buttons at the bottom to manage positions.
When adding a new position, choose Machine Coordinates or Part Coordinates at the top.
To change an existing position, select it and edit as needed.
Each position builds a movement list in the Data Box. Use Delete to remove a movement.
To add a custom G-code line, write it and click Add to include it in the Goto list.
⚠️ Do not use M Codes here.
This helps move the tool safely before other operations.

Add Movement Instructions

Click Include for each axis you want to move.
Click Get Current Position to copy the current coordinates, or type the coordinates manually.
Click Add/Update to save the movement in the Data Section.

Example: Z-Axis Movement

Define the Z-axis movement to run first.
Click Add/Update to insert this movement into the Data Box.
Add more actions in the next rows.
Optionally, add a final Z Rapid Move to bring the tool close to the setter.

I modified the Tool Setter position. Coordinate lines in the Data box will be in Machine Coordinates. This will be used as the Tool Setter position and can be called using the P2 variable.

Spindle Settings

These are the settings for the most commonly used Spindle features.

Pull down Configure -> Control -> Settings tab
Click the button to flatten the full settings tree, then expand the Spindle section

Gear shifter

Before configuring the gear shifter, you need to configure your gear ranges. Use this portion of the Spindle Calibration document for gear range configuration. Set MaxRPM values for each gear

The default settings will work for a machine with a manual gear shifter.

You may use M-codes to run the gear change cycle during a job. M40 - M45 change ranges from 0 to 5. M40 P# can also be used where # is the gear range to use