Tool Setup and Offset in LinuxCNC

I'm using both a touch probe and a toolsetter switch to set up my milling tools. This video goes through my configuration.
I don't use tool-length offset very often so I made this video to remind myself how it works.

[@DanielWood]

Really enjoyed this video. I love seeing other people's work flow and setup tips and tricks.

[@steveu235]

Thanks for the video

[@thefoildesigner]

It looks like you have a long travel on your tool setter before it activates. Do you use the "e-stop" circuit of the tool setter instead of the "sense" one? Just wondering.

[@sliptonic]

Good eye! You're exactly right. I fixed it a couple months after I published the video. I saw someone else's video with a similar setter and realized how short their stroke was. It made a big difference in touch time but didn't change the repeatability at all.

[@paulreader1777]

Thanks Brad found this extremely useful. You seem to be using the GMOCapy UI for Linux CNC was this a conscious choice and for what reason?

[@sliptonic]

Yep, that's gmoccapy. I switched over a few years ago when I added a touchscreen to the mill. Axis is a good ui for experimenting and learning LinuxCNC but it's terrible for day-to-day work, especially on a touch screen. The buttons are poorly sized for fingers and it's easy to make mistakes. Look at professional control panels like haas or fanuc and you'll see what I mean.

[@paulreader1777]

@@sliptonic Thanks - I will look at it . Had begun trying to customise Axis for our traditional DIY router based woodworking CNC. We don't have a touch screen but I need to make it as easy as possible for our members to use the system .

[@RotarySMP]

@@paulreader1777 I use Gmoccapy, but added a set of physical buttons around the screen. I find it to be excellent and really well thought out.
ruclips.net/video/QEJv1uTYA3Q/видео.html

[@josiascnc4539]

Hi...error message in G43 'Parameter H without G43 or G76 to use it'.....what could that be?

[@sliptonic]

Difficult to say. Not enough information. Probably best to post to the FreeCAD forum Path section. Include your FreeCAD info and a project file if you can.

[@tmackintl]

While that method will work, the resulting numbers in the tool table are not as useful as they could be. A better method is to consider the empty spindle nose to be the reference tool, aka T0. The tool probe, and later, the work surface are also touched off using T0. Now when the tools are touched off the numbers in the tool table are literally the length of the tool from the spindle nose. Now if there is ever any doubt about a tool length, you can just look at the value in the table and compare that to the actual tool length, even an eyeball approximation would likely be good enough to prevent a crash due to a bad number.

[@human2761]

Firstly, good practice to have positive tool length offsets. Next, never touch off the probe on the toolsetter, you're bound to get a wrong length. Rather, use a gage block on the table , set that as the surface and probe off off it to get your exact probe length( the deflected length ).

[@katemoon7476]

How are you supposed to measure off from the bottom of the spindle nose to the work-piece accurately? Isn't that the purpose of the probe?

[@tmackintl]

@@katemoon7476 Paper, most paper is about 0.1mm or 0.0004", just take it down carefully tell it touches, wiggling the paper. When it grabs the paper, the gap is 0.1mm. Done. Check your paper thickness.

[@dieSpinnt]

@@human2761 Yeah, I thought the same. To "While that method will work", by the OP we should add: Maybe sometimes ... and sometimes not.
This setup is actually two reference instruments fighting each other, which results (worst case) in adding up their own worst tolerances. Also: The switch of the tool-length-sensor maybe accurate and must have repeatable characteristics (or it would be garbage), but the initial spring travel of the tool contact point may not even be linear or give repeatable results. So the spring/mechanics of the toolsetter and the spring force of the probe will (in the best case) always approximate around a virtual value, which we cannot tell and makes that method a guessing game. "Twice" of something is not always = better!:)

[@dieSpinnt]

@@tmackintl That is a wonderful advice. In addition:
You can look up the actual sizes/tolerances for your X grams/square meter (just exchange the "strange stuff" to your imperial madness, hehehe) paper on the homepages of the manufacturer. For example 80 g/m² is 120 μm thick and 120 g/m², is 0,15 mm = 150μm thick.
You can of course also use a valve gauge or ruin some precision blocks (the unavoidable wear and tear over time), or just use a fresh and new tiny piece of paper for every calibration task. Have a good one, guys!:)

[@seancollins9745]

How are you handling the separate probe & tool height setter inputs ?

[@sliptonic]

My probe is tool 0 and has no length offset. When I use the probe for surface interpolation, all the probed heights are relative. The tool setter is is only used for tool probing and the value is stored in tool table length offset

[@seancollins9745]

@@sliptonic are the tool setter and probe sharing a input ?

[@sliptonic]

@@seancollins9745 My linuxcnc configuration is here. (master branch) github.com/sliptonic/millstone

[@seancollins9745]

@@sliptonic before i pour over this, could you please answer my inquiry, and as nice as a configuration is, that doesn't tell me about the physical machine past pin assignments.

[@sliptonic]

@@seancollins9745 yes. They share an input

[@mattivirta]

nice video but not tell how i can make touch off makro, i has make button to display Z touch off. but alltime come error EOF axis.ngc row 0. somethink i not understand, not good english. need know how make macro and how this can make working good. i have manual ER16 collect spindle, need ewery tool change make new time zero point of tool. but not understand if has make button to display ok and then bush button why not go make sub/macro g-code and measure tool lenght and add zero point. or macro measure ZXY points workpiece corner too. i have basic parallerport linuxcnc 2.8.4-1 version. DIY cnc machine working manual well. but need make automatic, set tool lenght set workpiece corner and know true zero point, then run linuxcnc example code and carving this linuxcnc text to wood. i not has make first cutting yet because i try run this example code thats run too high alltime same move bit wery high point. how move bit down. manual if i move bit top of wood, and then run example code bit run move same point high than before i run empty machine this g-code.

[@shaiseg]

Amazing, yet again you come with a video I exactly need. I'm working now on a LinuxCNC clone that works with cheap 2$ USB controller, this way eliminating the need for parallel port or realtime OS. Preview here: ruclips.net/video/Xs3zdXhlPMc/видео.html