Hey all,
I’ve been thinking about mounting my passive Renishaw-style probe directly into one of the ATC (automatic tool changer) slots on my 1100MX. That way, I could probe automatically mid-job without manual swapping.
Has anyone done this successfully? Wondering if there are PathPilot macros or tool offset tricks I should be aware of before giving it a try.
Would love to hear what setups or custom macros others are using!
— Jhonn Mick
Dont do it. Sometimes tools fall out and you can never trust that probe again (unless you have it refurbished) and the tip has to be replaced.
Assuming it’s wireless.
It’s always the most disruptive/ expensive tool that falls out of the tool holder. Never the empty tool holder you put in there for storage.
I know lots of people do it but if you have to open the machine, clamp the part, probe it and start the program.
Or completely automated,
Robot loads the stock, clamps it, probes it, starts the program, cuts and then probes the cut for verification then stops and waits for the operator to accept and continue the program.
It might save a minute but it’s still going to stop and wait. Might as well keep the probe separate and safe. (Unless you drop the probe)…. And in that case do the opposite of everything I said above.
Keep in mind that I probe for 0.00007 accuracy.
Its a great idea - forget the nonsense about tools falling out. Never happened to me, using Tormach since 2011. The latest GP-800 wireless probes are uber low cost (but only work at 24V). I’ve rigged up an Arduino on USB to detect when tool 99 is in the spindle, and then “ground” the brown wire of the receiver via a small relay which wakes the probe up - means batteries last for a year or more with the 1200ma LiPo, The PROBLEM - Tormach PathPilot forces max probe RPM to 0, which prevents spindle from orienting the probe for ATC store - makes sense when only wired probes were available, but out of date now.