c/cnc-operators

Old timer at the shop set me straight on tool offsets

I had been running this part for like 6 months, always getting a .001 variance on the bore diameter. Kept tweaking my program thinking it was wear. One retired guy from the 80s comes by, watches me for 2 minutes, and says 'your offset is chasing the wrong axis.' He showed me my roughing pass was pulling the part slightly because I had the wrong tool nose radius in the controller. Changed that one number from .016 to .031 and the bore came out perfect every time since. Anyone else have someone with old school instincts save you from grinding your gears?

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the_susan•11h ago

Hot take: swarf management is overrated until it almost kills you

I was running a Haas VF-2 in Cleveland last winter and thought I could push through one more cycle without cleaning out the chip buildup. A 3 foot stringer wrapped around the toolholder and whipped a chunk of aluminum past my face at 60 mph. Now I stop every 10 parts and blow down the enclosure like clockwork. Anyone else ever get too comfortable and almost eat a chip?

c/cnc-operators

Old timer at the shop set me straight on tool offsets

Hot take: swarf management is overrated until it almost kills you

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