One method of setting tools in Mach Turn.avi
Video showing one method of setting lathe tools in Mach. In this video the lathe doesnt have home switches so I will set tool 1 X and Y coords but have zero offset in the tool table. When I start Mach I would just take a light skim of the face and set that as Z Zero and same for the Dia but this time measure the Dia and enter that into the X DRO. Any tool called after that will be offset from these dimensions. I have used a device I made up for setting the tools in the big lathe, it consists of two bits of steel seperated by a delrin insulator and then I have a LED and battery that I connect between the two part, when the tool contacts the front part it completes the circuit and the LED lights up. . I take a face cut and a dia cut and can then set the rest of the tools without having to actually cut any more stock as the LED will light when I touch the part. This device is not needed as you can just take a skim cut of the Dia with each tool and measure each time and for the Z just touch off the end with a feeler but on my big lathe the tools are behind the stock so its hard to see and this just makes things easier. Video is a bit wobbly I am afraid but hopefully it will help to show how easy it is.
Video showing one method of setting lathe tools in Mach. In this video the lathe doesnt have home switches so I will set tool 1 X and Y coords but have zero offset in the tool table. When I start Mach I would just take a light skim of the face and set that as Z Zero and same for the Dia but this time measure the Dia and enter that into the X DRO. Any tool called after that will be offset from these dimensions. I have used a device I made up for setting the tools in the big lathe, it consists of two bits of steel seperated by a delrin insulator and then I have a LED and battery that I connect between the two part, when the tool contacts the front part it completes the circuit and the LED lights up. . I take a face cut and a dia cut and can then set the rest of the tools without having to actually cut any more stock as the LED will light when I touch the part. This device is not needed as you can just take a skim cut of the Dia with each tool and measure each time and for the Z just touch off the end with a feeler but on my big lathe the tools are behind the stock so its hard to see and this just makes things easier. Video is a bit wobbly I am afraid but hopefully it will help to show how easy it is.