Tool Offsets exist to let the CNC Machine know the cutting location of the Tool Tip (Tool Height Offset), as well as the cutting location of the tool’s edges (Tool Diameter/Radius Offset)

Without Tool Offsets, the machine does not know the length or diameter of the tools it uses to cut parts

• Most of the time this results in the CNC machine alarming due to programmed movements exceeding the travel limits of the machine

• In the worst-case scenarios, this can result in tool/part/fixture/machine crashes

Tool Offsets can be set anywhere on the machine, the location of which is called the “Tool Height Offset Reference Location” (THORL)

• CRITICAL: All Tool Height Offsets must be set at the EXACT SAME THORL

• Best practice is to pick a THORL that is consistent & unchanging from part-to-part, program-to-program, etc.

  • Raw (unmachined) surfaces are typically bad THORL’s, as they change once machined & are inconsistent part-to-part

  • When setting manual offsets, the most consistent & accessible location is often the top of the Machine table base

  • Rather than touch tool tips off at the top of the machine table, you touch-off on something sitting on top of the table, such as a

  • When using Tool Height Pre-setting Machines (Zoller, Haas, etc.), the THORL is located at Machine Z0.0

Work Coordinate System (WCS) Offsets - AKA Work Offsets - exist to let the CNC Machine know the location of the G-Code program’s origin

• Without WCS Offsets, the machine does not know where the part is within the work envelope of the machine

Why not use the Machine's own WCS (G28) as the only WCS?

• G28 is inconsistent from one machine to another, as machines have different work envelopes, meaning part programs would have to be different for every single machine, even machines of the same type

WCS Offsets can be set anywhere, but best practice is to – whenever possible – set them in a consistent location that does not move/change, so that it does not have to be reset from one part to another

• Raw (unmachined) surfaces are typically bad WCS reference locations, as they change once machined, and therefore are no longer referenceable/consistent

• Workholding features, work stops & fixturing can provide consistent reference locations for your WCS offsets

• The key to note is that the location of the WCS is dependent on the program being run, and they MUST MATCH EXACTLY

On the CNC Lathe you've been assigned for this quarter, do the following:

• Set the offsets for each of the following tools:

  • (T2 = CNMG432 OD RH IC Roughing Tool)

  • (T4 = VNMG332 OD RH IC Finishing Tool)

  • (T6 = 0.1125" Roundnose OD IC Groove-Turning Tool)

  • (T8 = 0.1125" Squarenose OD IC Parting Tool)

• Locate your WCS to the following specs:

  • (OP1 WCS = G54, TDC OF PART)

• Once done, upload documentation to your previously-created "CNC Lathe Operation" Project page on your portfolio website, including:

  • Pictures(s)/Gif(s) and/or Summaries/Descriptions of:

    • Setting Tool Offsets

    • Setting Work Offsets

    • Descriptions/summaries of what you did/learned, including any mistakes/learning moments during this task