This video shows a quick example of setting tool length offsets in the Sinumerik 840D Sl and 828D controls. This follows the negative tool length strategy commonly used in 3 axis vertical milling machines.
With the Sinumerik control, is it possible to set the tool height in relation to the table and not a work offset? (So if I have already setup a work offset then need to add a tool, I don’t have to redo the work offset)
Yes if you decide to set you tool offsets to a fixed point like the machines table you simple apply a shift in your work coordinate Z axis to determine where the top of the work piece is.
Thanks for the video. I'm also more inclined in the idea of having a Fixed Point as reference than a workpiece. Will selecting one or another method affect calculation on the control side? e.g. transformation, fgref, feed, etc. Equally important to know is, are positive and/or negative tool offsets affecting those calculations?
the only time you need to worry about TLO calculations and how they play with other offsets is on a 5x machine. With 5 axis you always need to use a positive TLO. I however have now adopted positive TLO on all machine types. at the end of the day it is just a better method.
Perhaps worth a folllow-up video, but how do we interface a Tool Pre-Setter onto the Sinumerik control. Wiring/pinouts and macros-wise. Those presetters are rather inexpensive devices and could make this task far more easier
