Absolute Tool Length Explained

8/4/2019 Absolute Tool Length Explained

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Setting Absolute Tool LengthGetting Started

Select the Absolute Tool Length setting in the Tool Utilities and Settings screen.

Press Auxiliary; User Preferences; Tool Utilities Settings.


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Setting Absolute Tool Length

The Tool Cal Length value is the Absolute Length of the tool measured from the spindle

nose face to tool tip.

ABSOLUTE TOOL

LENGTH

Getting Started


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This value is a measured distance from the Z axis home position to the tool touch-off location

referenced to the spindle nose face. The tool touch-off location is whatever surface the

customer wants to use to reference his tools example: the machine table surface.


Press More (F7) onthe Tool Setup screen.

Then press Tool

Measurement Settings

(F6).


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One way of measuring this value is to use a block of known height, placed on the surface of

the machine table, and bring the spindle nose into contact with the block until friction is felt

between the two surfaces when sliding the block back and forth.



Then press Tool


(F6).


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Teach the location using the STORE MACHINE POSITION button, and then add the height of

the block used, to calculate the actual Z REFERENCE position for the machine.



Then press Tool


(F6).


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Notice that when a Gauge Device Height is entered the Z location (top of the gauge device) is

calculated automatically by the controlZ Reference minus the Gauge Height equals the

calculated Z Location. The control will use these values to calculate the absolute tool length.


Device Height = the measured

height of any object used to set

tool lengths.

Example: Hurco Dial Height Gage

Active Device


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Setting Absolute Tool LengthUsing a Hurco Dial Height Gage

Zero the dial by using the gage pin supplied with the unit.

Touch-off ALL tools to the top of the gage and jog until the dial reads zero.


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Part Zero Z is an actual measured distance from Z home to part zero not

relative to tool tip.

Setting Absolute Tool LengthPart Setup


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The PART ZERO Z value represents the measured distance from the spindle nose face at Z

home position, to the top of the part.

Part Zero Z Value


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Setting Absolute Tool LengthPart Setup

The control will automatically calculate the Part Setup Z

value when using a tool of known length.


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Setting Absolute Tool LengthUsing a Tool Probe

Select Device Type as Probe Height is measured distance from the Z Reference

Surface to the Probe Stylus surface or Laser Beam


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The following slides will briefly explain

how to probe a tool in the Absolute Tool

Length mode when using an automatic

tool probe.


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Enter a reference length measured with a

scale as a rough estimate of tool length.


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Enter the distance above (Rapid Clearance) the probe contact point

for the tool to rapid to(.3937 is the default value).

Enter the distance past the expected probe contact point that the Z

axis will be allowed to travel before alarming.


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Offset values are used to locate the tool off-center in the case of a

facemill or larger endmill to contact the probe on the cutting edge.

Feedrates used to locate the probe. See description on screen.


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These settings are for advanced probe usage, and usually not used.


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Press PROBE CURRENT TOOL NOW softkey, followed by the START CYCLE

button, to measure the tool.

Absolute Tool Length Explained

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