Z axis touch plate with MTM

[zkmiller]

I have two touch plates that use a piezo switch to provide input to the probe pin in Mach. On touch plate is fixed at the tool change position, the other is a mobile touch plate also connected to the probe input. I want to use the mobile touch plate to set the work piece Z zero but cannot seem to make it work. The tool change works fine. I have a gauge block defined with 1.125". I know I must be missing something - in the WCO/Probing tab the 'gauge block active' led is not lit. In your video you use a touch plate that requires a manual setup. I want to use my touch plate for Z zero just like the Tool Change Touch Plate to set my WC Z zero.

[DaveCVI]

Hi,
I'll assume that the piezio devices are correctly interfaced to the control inputs and are working...

To test the devices and interfaces, given they are piezio (and thus respond to pressure on the top of the device I think) I'd simply touch the top of each device with enough pressure to trigger the device. When neither device is being touched the "probe active LED" will be off, when either device is touched, the LED should come on. This is the same logical action you'd get with two real plates or normally open switches in parallel connectd to mach's probe input pin.

To use a mobile touch plate to set Z0 (independent of the type of device used as the mobile Touch plate), go to the settings common page and turn on the "TLO G-Blk is TP" button - this will allow a z probe operation to the mobile TP. Also set the Gage/Plate Height DRO to the thickness of the device.

Then place the device on the surface you want to use as Z0; position the tool over the device (the master tool is required if you are using Master tool mode) and from the probing page click the "Probe Z-" green arrow -
The tool will start down, touch the mobile TP and Z0 will be set to the surface the plate is on.

Note that the speed of the probe operation etc is controlled by the various probing Op Parameters on the Probing page (Even though a probe tool is not being used for this operation, the system is doing a probing operation to the mobile touch plate).

Dave

[zkmiller]

Thanks, I'll try that tonight or some time this weekend - Grandkids comming!

Another related question...In your videos you mentioned that you have your touch off set up to do a double touch. Is that an option I can set somewhere?

Thanks again.

Zeke

[DaveCVI]

Hi Zeke,
it's controlled by the slow probe feed rate parameter - see section 8.5.1.5 of the user manual.

Dave

[zkmiller]

I have been able to get the mobile touch pad to work when setting WC Z0 without Master Tool Mode. I set WC X0 Y0 using the WC Offset screen 'Touch +X' and 'Touch +Y' and on the 'Probing' tab I use the 'Probe Z' probing action. Then I can type in 'G0X0Y0Z1' in the MDI and the spindle is moved to WC X0 Y0 and Z goes to 1" above the work piece.

When I try to use the 'Master Tool Mode' as described in your video 'MSM Master Tool Mode with Probe' I don't get the results I expect. I guess that the master tool mode doesn't calculate in the use of a gage/TP block offset. Because when I use the mobile touch plate to set WC Z0 and type in 'G0X0Y0Z1' in the MDI the spindle is moved to WC X0 Y0 and Z to 2.125" above the workpiece. Is there a way to make the Master Tool Mode accept the mobile touch pad? I assumed that if the "TLO G-Blk is TP" was on that the G-blk height would be accountef for in any WC Z setting operation.

Mach version: R3.043.062
MSM version: 2.0.0

Any suggestions would help

Zeke

[DaveCVI]

Zeke -
My apologies for the delay in this response - I missed your post when is was made.

When using a probe action to a touch plate to set Z0, the gage block height is assumed to be the touch plate thickness. Whether in master tool mode or not, the gage block height is accounted for.

For example, I just did this:
1) mounted the master tool via TxxM6
2) used MDI to G53 Z0
3) Zeroed Z to the MCZ0 position (just so I'd be able to easily see the difference on the next steps)
4) used the green "probe Z-" to probe to the mobile touch plate
5) when the pate was found, the height was set to 1.100" (1" for the gage block height setting + 0.100" for the Z clearance distance set in the probing params block).

This is what was expected.

Note that you must not have the probe tool # = Master tool # for this scenario. If the probe T# = Master T#, and the Master is mounted, then the probe is also mounted (as they are the same tool #)....
When a probe tool is used to probe for Z, the gage block thickness is not used (as there is no need for a gage block between the probe and the Z0 surface).

Dave

[zkmiller]

That is probably where I went astray. My probe and Master tool are the same number. I will give it a try again tonight.

Thanks Dave

Zeke

[DaveCVI]

Zeke,
FYI - My preferred method for my mill is to use the probe as the master.
In this case master tool # = probe Tool #.
I use the probe to set Z0 and I'm all ready to go.

Since there's no need for the gage block when using a 3d probe, you just probe to the Z0 surface and don't physically put a gage block between the probe tip and the Z0 surface.

Dave

[zkmiller]

Dave,

I finally got a chance to try the touch off with probe tool and Master tool having different tool numbers. And it works as I hoped it would.

Thanks for the help. I really like the way MSM works. I still have a lot to learn, and now it will be a bit easier.

Zeke