Greetings all. Can someone line out for me the advantages of attaching the new Tool Length Sensor to my AltMill 4x4 when I’ve already got the AutoZero Touch Plate? Is it just the convenience of not having to put the AZTP on the corner of the material for every bit change? Or are there other advantages?
Cheers from Tucson,
ken.
I think that although the AZTP can make things a bit easier, it really shines when you have a tool changer and you can do tool changes automatically without having to zero Z for every tool change.
I do not have a tool changer and since I am still doing manual tool changes, I don’t really see a requirement for the AZTP.
I use the free version of Fusion which, as far as I know, doesn’t do automatic tool changes.
Thanks Jens. Did you mean that the Tool Length Sensor (TLS) makes things a little easier? I’ve already got the AutoZero Touch Plate (AZTP), which snugs onto the corner of the material for probing X, Y, and Z. I’m trying to figure out if the TLS is measurably better for my workflow if I don’t have an automatic tool changer (ATC…just to add another TLA (three letter acronym)).
ken.
LOL … sorry about that. Acronym overload. Yes, the tool length sensor makes things a bit easier.
I should point out that I can set my Z manually with the paper method in probably 30 seconds (and another 20 or seconds for the actual manual tool change) and probably close to that with a touch plate. I use the spoilboard surface as Z zero. I do not know how long it takes with the TLS but I would be surprised if you saved much time unless you have the automatic tool changer.
If I understand it correctly, you still need to set Z zero manually on the first tool, then you run a probe cycle with the first tool to get a reference height, then you do the first tool path. When it’s time to change the tool, you can run the TLS routine and your z zero is set.
I run between one and three tools with the vast majority being one or two tools and I need to manually load the tool path for the second tool before I can do anything. Would a TLS save me time … maybe 10 seconds for a two tool job. Maybe if I tried the TLS for a while and get used to it I might like it but from where I sit it just adds complication for a very minor time saving.
NOTE: I do not have a TLS and I do not know if VCarve or other programs allow for an automatic tool change so take all of these ramblings with a ton of salt!
I had same question. Might suggest the page for the tool length sensor kit mention the advantage of using it with the automatic tool changer which would help clarify the main reason for its existence.
Thanks again, Jens. That’s pretty much what I was thinking. The one thing that I can imagine it saving me some time on is on those project where I need a clamp in the corner where the AutoZero Touch Plate goes. In those cases, I have undo the clamp in the corner, put the AZTP down, do the Z probe, then put clamp back in place. With the Tool Length Sensor, the Z probe is handled away from the material so no need to remove that corner clamp. Using the paper method gets around this too, but for 2.5D carves, I don’t get great results with the paper method.
And good suggestion, @DavidB.
Cheers,
ken.
You could also use the AZTP for setting only the X and Y on the corner prior to installing the clamp, then flip it over and probe the Z away from the corner. The Z probing does not have to be on the corner. It’s a good idea though to try to set it in a consistent location for multiple tool touch offs.
@mick_s , I had completely forgotten that I can flip the AZTP over and probe Z from the AZTP’s corner! Many thanks!
ken.
Yeah this is the way.
I only zero on the corner at the start of a carve on a project, everything else after that is just doing a z-touch somewhere on the project unless of course they’re different pieces in one project, but for bit changes, Z touch only after I started, i’d hate for something to go wrong and the x/y zero to be off of what it was originally set at.
When set up and using gSender there is no need to zero a new tool gSender prompts you to test the length of the new tool at an appropriate time and moves the spindle to the TLS, and measures it without you having to do anything other than click the button on the screen. It then allow you to “resume” and continue running the program. Again, only clicks on the screen and the spindle automatically moves back to the work piece and cut/carves with the new tool automatically at the exact depth you wanted it.
You can use your AutoZero Touch Plate to Z=0 the original tool but never need to touch the AutoZero Plate again (or any other such plate) until the job completes.
You need to manually change each tool of course (unless you have a tool changer). But again gSender will prompt you to do that and by clicking a button the spindle will automatically move to the place you told it where you want to change tools.
VCarve absolutely supports auto tool changes. I have the ATC and TLS, and routinely run multiple tool paths (flattening, roughing, finishing, etc) with no input from me, other than using the AZTP to set my initial zero positions. This frees me up to do other things.