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Debate: Tool offsets set by feel vs measured - which actually saves more time?
I've been running a Haas VF-2 for about 3 years now. First year I set all my offsets using an edge finder and paper method, take like 2 minutes per tool. Then my old lead hand showed me how to do it by feel and sound, cutting air then skimming the part. Got it down to maybe 30 seconds per tool. So my question to the group is, is the time saved worth the risk of crashing if you're off by a few thou? I've had maybe 3 close calls in 2 years doing it by feel, never actually crashed though. Has anyone else tried both ways and landed on one method over the other?
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jordanc323mo ago
That close call count is way too high just to save half a minute.
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caleb2623mo ago
Hold up, you're telling me you've had THREE close calls doing it by feel and you're still asking if it's worth it? That's wild man. I've been running CNC for almost ten years now and I've seen a guy send a tool holder through a vice jaw because he was off by .005 thinking he could feel the cut. You got lucky so far but that luck runs out eventually and when it does you're not just out a tool, you're out a spindle or a part that took four hours to run. I use a Haimer 3D taster for every tool, takes me maybe a minute per tool and I've never had a single crash from an offset in six years. The extra 30 seconds per tool is insurance against a $3,000 repair bill or a scrapped job. You do you but I'm not gambling my machine on a gut feeling.
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