Tool Setters and Offsets

Creating a Tool Setter

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

Creating a Manual Tool Setter

1. In the Tool Setter tab, click Add New to create a new tool setter.
  - Each tool setter must have a unique name.
  - After naming it, select it from the list to display its settings on the right-hand side.
2. Under Setter Type, select Manual.
3. Measure the height of the tool setter and enter the value in the Tool Setter Height field.
4. Set the Z Position.
  - For a fixed-mounted setter, use the Z Position Wizard to determine the machine coordinate for the top surface of the setter.
  - Once this value is set correctly, it will not need to be changed.
  - If the setter is mounted outside the soft limits, enable Disable Softlimits.
5. (Optional) Set a GoTo Position.
  - Define a position so the spindle can safely move to the tool setter before touch-off.
  - This ensures a consistent approach and reduces the risk of crashes.
6. For randomly placed setters or variable table heights, set the Z Position to 0.0 and leave all GoTo fields blank.
  - This indicates that the setter position may change between uses.
7. Click Save to apply and store the configuration.
Once the Z position and height are calibrated, the system will automatically use these values for all tool length offset calculations.

Using a randomly placed tool setter

Remove all tools from the spindle.
- - If the spindle uses tool holders or collets, insert an empty holder while setting the Z position.
Place the manual tool setter or gauge blocks on the table at the desired location.
- Carefully jog the spindle down until the tip touches the surface of the setter.
Click Set Position.
- - This sets the Z position based on the current spindle location and the entered height of the tool setter.
Insert and measure 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 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 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.
(Optional) 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.
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

Enable the feature by setting 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 the Offset Direction to define which way the tool moves when aligning the edge to the center of the setter.

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

Configure the following Parameters:

Parameter Name	Value	Optional Values	Default Values
Tool Setter Align Tool Edge To Setter	Yes		No
Tool Setter Align Tool Edge Offset	Tool Setter Offset	Tool Radius, Tool Setter Offset	Tool Radius
Tool Setter Align (X or Y) Axis To Setter	X Positive	X Positive, X Negative, Y Positive, Y Negative	X Positive

Parameter "Tool Setter Align Tool Edge Offset" must be set to "Tool Setter Offset" before the Tool Setter Offset column will show up in the tool table.

The tool table can be edited and customized extensively to meet the needs of your system. Please see Tool Offset Table Customization

Modifying GoTo Positions

Navigate to the Service Page -> Maintenance Page and click on Interface Config

Now select the GoTo Positions tab.

You can Add or Remove a position with the buttons at the bottom. When you add a new position, carefully select machine or part coordinates at the top.

You can also select an existing position to modify it.

In both new positions and modified positions you are building a list of movements in the Data box. You can use the Delete button to remove movements.

If you are creating a tool setter position, jog the machine to the correct location.

You can write your own custom gcode line. Hit "Add" to add this to goto list. Note: DO NOT use M Codes here. This is one way to get the tool up and out of the way before making any other movements.

Click the Include buttons for the axes you want to move next.

Click the Get Current Position button for each relevant axis to copy in their current coordinates, or manually enter the coordinates.

Click the Add/Update button to add that movement to the data section.

I have defined a Z axis movement that I want performed first. When I click the Add/Update button, this configuration will be inserted in the data box. Additional actions will be added in following rows. I could add a final Z rapid movement to bring the tool closer to the setter.

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