Fill in my knowledge gap :)

[Ger21]

Put an precision rod in the spindle and use the 2010 Probing wizard?

[Davek0974]

but that needs an insulated workpiece or spindle to function no?

[m_c]

How accurate does it have to be?

I've been known to just slowly jog in with an endmill going at slow(ish) speed until it just touches the material.

[Davek0974]

Well, pretty accurate i guess - features on both sides have to match up ;)

[m_c]

It should be just as good as edge finder, but it'll depend on how good your eyesight is ;-)

[Davek0974]

Ok, the tool length offset table ;)

I'm going to try R8 ER collet chucks as a repeatable method of tool holding, have asked many people and resounding reply was yes it should be plenty accurate enough for this style of machine.

1 - With the tool offsets, can I measure them using the Z axis probing and touch-plate setup?

2 - I guess i need a "default tool zero" or some such to enable a reference length to be kept and then measure all tool against that one?

3 - If i was using the tapping head, i would need to lower the knee about 5", ref the surface again, tap the threads then return the knee to the higher position. Fit the next tool, set the tool number in Mach3, ref the surface and good to go again??

Am i on the right tracks here?

[Davek0974]

Well, i now have a Haimer 3d-Taster for edge referencing, nice little tool, if i ever get the mill project finished it will come in handy ;)

I also have a bundle of ER32/R8 collet chucks for tool-holding.

And I have just about sussed out tool length offsets, I have a neat little macro that will take the reading from the Z axis after setting with the Haimer, then asks for each tool to be inserted, does a Z probe to the plate and then saves the offset into the tool table :) In use, i just pick up the Z ref with the Haimer then choose whatever tool i want from the table.

Ok, software.....

I am getting pretty good at 2d on Sheetcam and Vectric Aspire but is there a need for Fusion360 and when would I need it??

I have it installed and have played with it but i do not find it intuitive, its very complex and there seem to be no tool-tips or pop-up help. Lots of stuff on the 'tube but all seem to move very fast and make it look easy.

The only benefit i can see yet is that it does adaptive clearing which Sheet-Cam and Aspire do not.

What sort of job would need cam generating in Fusion that I could not do in my other two apps????

If its not needed, i won't learn it as I am not 20 any more and already have enough to learn ;)