Acu-Rite CNC 3500i user manual Probing Cycles, Tool, and Spindle Probe cycles, 197

7.3 Probing Cycles

Tool, and Spindle Probe cycles

This section describes operation and an overview of the tool and spindle probe canned cycles available on the 3500i CNC products. The cycles provided perform the most common tool and spindle probing functions. Custom cycles to perform specific functions can be written using the primitive and parametric programming. If Probing has been added post-sale, beside Machine Parameter changes, there may be Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) program modifications required.

The tool probe cycles are only supported on machines with automatic spindle forward/reverse and spindle speed, and homing with a permanent X, Y, and Z machine position. The method described assumes the use of negative tool-length offsets. In this method, the Tool-Length Offset (TLO) in the length column for each tool represents the distance from the tool tip at machine home to top of work piece and is a negative number. This method does not require the use of any Z work coordinate offset to be active. This procedure finds the effective tool diameter by turning the spindle on in reverse and touching two sides of the probe stylus, then storing the tool's diameter in the tool's diameter offset table.

The spindle probing cycles are designed to assist in part setup. Using these cycles, one or more features (edges) of a part can be measured. Using the data obtained with these measurements, calculations are made that can be used to set a given fixture offset. It is also possible to find the orientation angle of a part so as to not always have to align the part exactly.

Tool and spindle probing does not allow rotation, scaling, and mirroring. Plane is set to XY when these cycles are complete.

The use of all Tool Probe and Spindle Probe cycles requires the purchase of the Touch Probing Cycles Software Option, I.D. 648809-01. These cycles will not execute, and will generate program stop errors if attempted to be used without this option enabled on the system SIK.

7.3 Probing Cycles

ACU-RITE 3500i 197