Good evening Guys
I have machined a small riser block at 20mm to allow me to fix my ETS to the SMW fixture plate. The overall height of the ETS and riser block is 86mm..
Is this too high? I’m a novice so any feedback would be appreciated.
Martin
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As long as you reference the ETs with the same block that you reference spindle nose it should be fine.
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I have a similar block but for securing it to the t-nut track on the 440.
Height shouldn’t be an issue as long as:
- You measure height correctly
- There is no variability in height where it is measured vs where it is permanently mounted
- Attachment to the riser has no “play” such that you have a variability in height
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On a related point, is it the case that you have to touch off the spindle nose to the ETS each and every time you start up the machine? Or is it calibrate once and then forget?
If you are concerned about .01 it’s every time. If you can deal with +/- .02 you’re probably ok. But you do take the time to setup the machine so the 30 seconds touching off isn’t really that bad.
ETS height is measured once during initial setup.
The 440 operator manual states:
G37 fails if the spindle nose hasn’t been referenced to the ETS after a Z-axis reference
So, upon machine start and any subsequent Z-axis reference you have to touch off the spindle nose.
It depends on your machine type. On the M and PCNC machines you have to touch off the spindle nose each power cycle
Rather than the spindle nose, I really wish this touch off could be done with a known length tool.
That’s a nice looking tooling plate. If you haven’t already done so, get the little injection-molded plastic hole covers in place ASAP. Don’t ask me how I know.
That’s possible, David Loomes has a great video on you tube showing this process. I’ve adopted his method and its far easier than using the spindle nose…
Link? I only see an old one that’s for Mach and not PathPilot.
Your Ferrari ETS makes my OG PCNCs3 unit look like a cinderblock. My ETS riser to affix to fixture plate was just a random piece of ground 4140. I think everyone else answered on how it really doesn’t matter what the height is as long as spindle nose is referenced after powerup and you don’t move it for tool touchoff. You can put it anywhere you want including on the work if you are using the entire machining envelope.