Need some help. I stopped my roughing pass halfway and before it started on the second half of the depth. I liked the initial depth and changed my depth accordingly for the detail pass to match the new depth. When I paused and then stopped the program at the halfway point the machine wouldn’t go home or jog at all, with the mouse or the controller, so I had to estop. I changed bits to the Freud 1/16 bit but it has a 1/4 shank. When I re-homed and probed all three axis using the probe the machine touched the bit on the shank since the 1/16 bit end is so short. I figured things were ok since it knew where the center of the bit was and the detail pass is set for a 1/16 bit. As I started the detail pass it was cutting down the center of the letters, leaving a groove. It’s definitely not correct. Any ideas?
It is a 1/16th bit. I think the problem is the probing measured the shank. When it probed it went lower than the 1/16 in section and touched the shank.
When you ran the probing routine, did you tell it that the bit was 1/16" or 1/4" diameter? If you told it 1/16", that would result in a positioning error equal to half of the difference, or 3/32".
Personally, I always chuck up a 1/4" precision dowel pin when I probe X & Y. Then there’s no question that it will make contact at the correct position.
Thanks Dennis. I told it 1/16th. That’s probably it. I will try it at 1/4" and run it. Thank goodness it was a test piece. And thanks for the pin idea. I just bought some gauge pins from McMaster. I also armor ARs and use them frequently. I never thought to use a gauge pin that’s certified to probe x/y.