Automatic Tool Presetter — Haas Automation

Our new, easy-to-use, automatic tool probing option is a very efficient method for setting and checking tool offsets, as well as checking for excessive tool wear! In this video, we demonstrate three useful operation modes for the Automatic Tool Presetter option, now available on all Haas ST and DS series CNC turning centers.

In this video, we will show you how to use the

automatic tool presetter option for Haas CNC turning centers

The automatic tool presetter offers three modes of operation:

Manual mode is used for initial setup of tool offsets

Automatic mode is used to update offset values after a tool’s inserts have been changed

And break detect mode is used to check the cutting face using a pre-set tolerance for tool wear

To start, press the [MDI DNC] button

and then Program Conversational [PRGRM CONVRS] to reach the tabbed menu

Right cursor to the "Probe" tab and press [WRITE / ENTER]

This brings up the "Probe" menu in manual mode

This turret holds five tools that have no existing offset data

Let’s start in Manual mode to generate the necessary data for each tool

Check that "Manual" is selected in the "OP Mode" box

The turret is at tool position number 12

and therefore the "Tool Number" box reads "12"

This box will always display the current turret tool position

Enter the offset number you would like to use for this tool

There are 50 offset numbers available

but typically the offset number is set the same as the tool number

Next, set the value for "Tool Tip Direction"

based on the configuration of the tool you're setting

In this case we are checking a turning insert with its tip in the number 2 direction

We can’t enter a value in the "Tolerance" box

since we only use that in Break Detect Mode

With the turret a safe distance away

move the probe arm into position by pressing [F1]

With the data entered for tool number 12

you’re ready to check the tool position

Handle jog the tool in Z and X until it is approximately

One quarter inch (0.25", 6.35mm) diagonally away from the edge of the probe

Similar to the image displayed in the tool tip direction graphic

If the operator door is open you will need to hold down [CYCLE START] to continue with the touch off cycle

Or, with the door closed, press [CYCLE START]

The tool tip will touch off in the Z and X directions and record the offsets

Note that a G-code program is generated in "MDI" which is used for the tool movement

With the first tool set, move the turret a safe distance

from the probe arm, and index to the next tool

Continue on to set the remaining offsets

When you are finished setting the offsets for all your tools

Don’t forget to press [F1] to bring the probe arm back to its resting position

With the tools now set, you still need to define your work offset

Start by selecting the desired Z work offset

We are using G54

Using any of the tools you’ve already probed

touch the tool to the part face and press [Z FACE MEASURE]

The distance from the tool probe to the face of the part is loaded in G54, and Z work zero is now set

Once a tool offset has been set in "Manual" mode

You can update the tool tip position at any time an insert is changed out

Here is how:

Access the "Probe" menu and select "Automatic" from the "OP Mode" box

Arrow down to select the tool number you want to check

With the tool number and offset selected, press [CYCLE START]

The turret will index to the tool selected in the "Tool Number" box

and bring the tool to the probe and check the offsets

Repeat this automatic sequence for each tool that needs to be updated

"Break Detect" mode allows you to measure the difference between

the initial probe reading for a particular tool insert

and subsequent readings after wear or damage may have occurred

The tolerance setting in this mode establishes

the allowable wear on a given cutting edge

Select Op Mode "Break Detect"

and the tool number and offset number you used

Now select a tolerance for wear on this particular insert

In this example, we have set this value to 0.004" (0.1016mm)

When the operator presses [CYCLE START] the turret will index

to the tool we have entered in the Tool Number box

and the turret will move to the probe and check the insert

If the insert is not within the tolerance set earlier, an alarm will announce

that you have a cutting edge that is no longer within specification

When you run break detect mode, a program is generated in "MDI"

If you paste this into a part program in memory, you will have added

that particular break detect routine to a your program so that

critical tools are measured before they are used

The "Break Detect" routine is automatically generated

in the upper left side of the "MDI" screen

and is ready to be pasted into a part program

To insert this sub-routine into a part program, start by pressing [F4]

Choose number one, “Select / Create Program”

Find the program you want to modify

Now, simply scroll to the area of the G-code where you want to insert the sub-routine

And press [WRITE / ENTER]

Here is a quick demonstration of the break detect routine

running within our existing part program

The part program is just ending a drilling operation

Before continuing to a tight tolerance boring operation

the machine will now automatically check

that the next tool's insert is within size tolerance

This is particularly useful for checking tools before critical operations

With these three probing modes at your disposal

Inputting and checking tool offsets and checking for excessive tool wear

Making good parts should get significantly easier

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