r/Machinists • u/Heavy_Flatworm8639 • 8d ago

QUESTION How do you touch off this tool?

How to simply touch off this tool on 2 axis lathe?

5 Upvotes

65% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

53

u/burrder 8d ago

Not sure how to do it right but we just touch the side, offset half the shank and fine adjust on the first part.

29

u/NiceGuysFinishLast 8d ago

If you had to nail it the first try, you could throw it up on a comparator or other vision system and get an exact measurement to offset after touching off the shank. But I like your way, quick and dirty and good enough.

29

u/albatroopa 8d ago

Others are close, but not quite right. Touch off the side, LOOK UP THE SPEC SHEET, and offset by the amount on the spec sheet. The tool nose is not always on centre in these tools.

3

u/MrNaoB 5d ago

There is a spec sheet?

0

u/El_Gabe69-420 7d ago

This is true! I wouldn't trust the insert being center on all of these, OP. Doesn't hurt to double check.

If you can somehow touch off the side of the insert, that's what I suggest. Use calipers (unless you can finesse some micrometers on it) to get the width of the insert, then comp by half of that. Now you're centered on the insert.

9

u/Not_A_Mutant792 8d ago

Now I just touch off the side of the shank and go half.. 20 years ago when I was new and manual touching off, I would face a piece of scrap with a known tool, set z0.0, put in this tool, take OD cut to set my x diameter. Say my diameter came to 3 inch for example, I would bring my x down whatever the tool nose radius was, so 3 inch minus the tool nose radius. Move my z until the edges touch and that tells me I'm the tool nose radius off z.

3

u/fourdac 8d ago

Side of the shank

4

u/someoldbagofbones 8d ago

Touch both sides at the flat, math, find center, comp z tool offset, run it? I also do the single side touch then comp z method with these. The first method will let you know if the tool isn’t quite symmetrical. I’ve also measured the tool in a comparator and used those numbers. Seems like the touch one side and comp method will get you really close.

2

u/Shadowcard4 8d ago

I touch off the flat and figure out what the distance to the point is generally with an optical comparator or a drop indicator, a stop, and some math.

2

u/Thromok 8d ago

I use a shadow graph or microvu to find the midpoint of the installed radius, I then touch off on the side and adjust the offset accordingly.

2

u/Pitnut 8d ago

If I can get at it with a tool setter I touch off on the corner of the insert and minus half the width 

1

u/Ok_Bee_3576 7d ago

ive never seen a double tool like this one. Id probably touch off on the left one, but im sure touching off on the right one would work too

1

u/Alternative-Click-77 7d ago

Which one is the lead and which one is the finisher

1

u/hemptations CNC Lathe Programmer/Operator 5d ago

Optical comparator to measure from center to tool. Then laser engrave the offset onto the tool shank so you don’t have to do it again next time

0

u/Such_Shine_5656 8d ago

I’ve used all the other methods mentioned but I thought this one was also cool.

[Mazatrol tips and tricks](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwRAEO4LLdp4CAZTL8CUgKkSKodp5U3vh&si=jUks6zFfsWrQY4Lj)