Introduction

The setting of tools in advance at a place away from the machine tool or
offline, in special holders is known as preset tools. A presetting device is used to
preset axial and radial positions of the tool tip on the tool holder. Once this is done,
the tool holder is ready to be mounted on the machine and produce a known
dimension. Presetting devices to various levels of sophistication are available like
optical projector. Since the generation of actual geometry is taken care of by the
CNC part program, which is essentially the coordinates through which the cutting
tool tip moves, it is important to know the actual dimensions of the tool when it is
placed in the spindle. The relationship of the tool with reference to the tool holding
mechanism requires a special attention during CNC machining process. The actual
point to be programmed in a CNC part program is the tip of the tool whereas the
axes will be moving with respect to a known point in the spindle, e.g. the centre of
the spindle in case of machining centres. It becomes therefore necessary to know
precisely the deviation of the tool tip from the gauge point on the spindle. Tool Length
Offset allows the length of tools to be measured and entered into the CNC control's
tool table, so that the tool does not need to be 'touched off' on the part or on a gauge
block to set the Z axis.

Tool presetter
It is an equipment which is used for the measurement of tool offset value for various
tools.

Fig. 1. Schematic of the tool presetter

Specifications of Digital Readout (DRO)

Input voltage
Powerw consumption
Humidity
Temperature
Vibrations
Enclosure
Weight
Maximum count
Resolution
Display

Quantization error

75 to 145 VAC, 50 Hz
30 VA
85% at 45C Non-condensing
0C to 5C
1g, 10 Hz to 50 Hz
280 x 150 x 73.5 mm
2.5 kg
+/- 8000.000 mm for 0.005 mm resolution
1, 5, 100Micron (micrometer)
7 segment 14.2 mm Green (count display)
LCD-16 Alphanumeric character,
2 line (interactive message display)
+/- 1 digit

Specifications of Tool Presetter

Make
Model
Spindle Taper
Measuring range X (diameter)
Measuring range Z (height)
Base
Movement on X & Z axes
Digital readout resolution
Dial indicator resolution
Weight

Preci-Techh
PT 3040
BT40
300 mm
400 mm
Granite base for high stability
Precision LM guideways with Linear
Drive Nut systems
1 micron
1 micron
80 kg

Functions of various keys in tool presetter

KEY
FUNCTION
Enter into Preset mode

Enter into center of circle mode

Enter into bolt hole function
Enter into half function
Enter into function mode
Select inch or mm mode
Select radius or diameter mode
Select absolute or increment mode
Enter into run mode
Enter into tool offset mode
Reserved for OEM special function
Enter into calculator mode, numeric key 5
Terminate existing function
Enter and confirm coordinates of points in center function,
numeric key 0
To select next function, enter into display checking program
Select sign while entering value, select desired step, select
hole number in respective mode, enter into direct factory
setting mode
Enter into selected function
Axis key X
Axis key Y

Enter into home function, numeric key 9

Basic Functions of Tool presetter

Axis selection
The digital readout is having 2 axis readouts with 2 display windows. The
required axis can be selected by pressing the positive touch key X or Y right to the
display.
Zero reset mode
This function is used to reset the origin to zero (i.e. define a point which would
be considered as a reference).
Entering or modifying or setting a value
This function is used to set any value for the absolute count. This directly
modifies the absolute count and accordingly new origin is defined.
Inch/mm conversion
This function is used to convert the DRO count from metric to imperial unit of
measurement and vice-versa. Using this function all the axes can be toggled
between either of the units.
Note: Individual axis cannot be toggled between either of the units.
Radius/diameter conversion mode
This function is used to convert the DRO count from radius to diameter mode
of measurement and vice-versa. Using this function individual axis or all the axes
can be toggled between either of the measurement modes.
Increment/absolute conversion mode
This function is used to toggle the DRO count from incremental to absolute
origin of measurement and vice-versa. Using this function individual axis or all the
axes can be toggled between either of incremental or absolute origin.
Preset
Preset function is used to travel a predefined distance on any selected axis.
Normally, it is easy to locate a zero position and display other than locating or
reaching a complex figure (say 10.675).
Put the tool at point A, display will show 10.000, now say you want to move
the tool at point B (at 10.675 from A), using the preset function activation process
enter 10.675 as the preset count, now the display will 10.675 and will count down

towards point B to become 0.000 at point B, a near approach buzzer will beep as the
reading approaches to 0.
This function can be used to enter the distance to be approached and allow
the DRO to display the value in zero approach mode, i.e., in down counting mode.
Press esc key to terminate the preset mode, then DRO return to normal counting
mode.
Setting the reference
Need of referencing:
Innovative DRO has a built in function to save the reading at power OFF and
retrieve the same at power ON. But if the slide has moved after the power has turned
OFF, the true position of the slide is lost, so here comes the need to reference the
datum.
The operator has to set a reference machining/settings on a pre-defined
location on the selected axis. These pre-defined points are called absolute marks,
which need to be present on the measuring scale you are using.
There are two ways of referencing:
(i) In home function mode, the display will be set to 0.000 on sensing of first
reference (marker) pulse in any direction.
(ii) In machine reference mode, display is set to a pre-defined value on sensing
the reference pulse.
The operator moves the slide to cross the abs/reference/marker pulse and all
the points on workpiece are referenced from this abs pulse.
Special functions of Tool Presetter
1. Bolt Hole mode
This mode is used to create the coordinates of the holes on the PCD of a
circle. This is of great use in PCD drilling of holes. The user should give the
data such as X origin, Y origin, circle radius, number of holes (divisions) and
starting angle of first hole. Maximum 100 holes are possible. The holes are
defined from number 00 to 99. The coordinates of the selected hole are
displayed on the LCD message display while the distance between the tool
and the hole centre is shown on X and Y axis display. The user should move
the slide to make the X and Y axis down count to zero to reach the required
centre, This mode works as simulated preset mode. While moving the slide
down to zero count, when both the X and Y axis are in the zero approach
region, the DRO starts to beep indicating that the centre of the hole is
approaching.
2. Centre of circle measurement

This function is used to set the absolute origin to centre of circle by giving any
three points on the circle. The centering mode once entered can terminate by
pressing the esc key, then DRO returns to normal counting mode.
3. Half
This function can be used to half coordinates of any selected axis. This
feature can be used to find out the centre of any particular job.
4. Run (programming mode)
This function has three sub functions.
(i)
Program mode
(ii)
Learn mode
(iii)
Run mode
Program mode: In this mode operator must manually enter coordinates of
position using numeric keypad. All the entered values for all the axis must be
in abs mode only if the coordinates are considered to be from absolute origin
(0,0). If the increment reading is to be entered it is considered from the n-1
step.
Learn mode: In this mode the user need not use the keypad for programming
step values, i.e. coordinates. This is advantageous for big programs and can
be used to reverse any job by engineer.
Run mode: In this mode programmed step values are recalled to operate on
job.
Working procedure