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What’s New In Tool Presetting?
Tool presetters integrated into digital manufacturing ecosystems enable seamless data exchange with your shop’s tool management systems and CNC machines. The post What’s New In Tool Presetting? appeared first on Fabricating & Metalworking.
Smarter, more automated tool presetting solutions contribute to increased productivity, improved quality, and reduced downtime. Metalworkers benefit from decreases in operator errors, shortened setup cycles, and improved repeatability.
Reduce Setup Times with a Presetter
The SPERONI ESSENTIA and MAGIS tool presetting and measuring systems provide high precision, efficiency, and ease of use for machining operations. Built with durability in mind, both systems feature a thermally stable pearlitic cast iron structure, ensuring long-term accuracy and reliability, as well as micron-precise scales and advanced guideways for consistent precision. These systems are offered by BIG DAISHOWA Inc. (Hoffman Estates, IL).
ESSENTIA is an entry-level system designed for maximum ergonomics, offering ultra-light axis adjustment and a high-definition camera sensor system. Measure tools easily and independently of the operator, ensuring full machining productivity. A standard ISO 50 reduction system is included, with an ISO 40 option available. Its touch-control LED front light enables manual inspection of tool tips and inserts.
MAGIS takes precision to the next level with the SIMPLE VISION control system, featuring a high-resolution 22″ monitor for clear tool data visualization. The system delivers unmatched accuracy with a TIR of .0003″ at 11.8″ and 45x optical magnification. A pneumatic spindle disc brake system locks at any point in the 360° rotation. X- and Z-axis fine adjustment hand wheels ensure micron-level precision. A front light allows for manual inspection of tool tips to detect wear or cracks. The precision-ground integrated spindle with calibration edge allows for quick calibration. With the same features as the MAGIS, the MAGIS CNC automatically executes measuring cycles, adding speed and precision to measurements.
Powerful Way to Transfer Presetter Data
Caron Engineering, Inc.’s (Wells, ME) ToolConnect system — an intelligent tool management system that automatically transfers presetter measured tool data directly to the CNC control via RFID tags in tool holders — is now more powerful than ever with enhanced supervisory system reporting, user access control, and expanded scalability for CNC automation.
In addition to automating the process of loading tools into a CNC machine, ToolConnect enables real-time reporting to supervisory systems, providing complete visibility into which tools are in the machine, tool life status, and asset tracking across the shop floor. This ensures accurate tool usage monitoring, prevents premature tool changes, and optimizes inventory management.
Another key new feature that can be added to any ToolConnect system is RFID badge-based user authentication, allowing only authorized personnel to load preset tools or access the system with a simple scan of their RFID-enabled employee badge. This application is powered and integrated by Caron Engineering’s new MiConnect Technology and ensures that only properly trained operators with the correct permissions can perform tool-loading tasks or access ToolConnect.
High Quality, High Accuracy Tool Presetting
The Mitutoyo America Corp.’s (Aurora, IL) Quick Vision Pro (QV Pro) is a high-precision CNC vision measuring system that excels at offline tool presetting. By capturing critical parameters such as tool length, diameter, and angles using advanced cameras and specialized lighting, the QV Pro ensures each cutting tool is measured precisely outside the CNC machine. This approach reduces downtime significantly, as operators can gather offsets while machines continue producing parts.
Equipped with robust hardware and streamlined software, the QV Pro automates measurement routines, boosts consistency, and delivers offset data directly to the machine control for error-free setup.
Innovative features such as StrobeSnap technology minimize measuring time by synchronizing strobe lighting with continuous camera motion, making it easy to measure diverse tool geometries much faster while maintaining accuracy. With high-resolution optics and advanced auto-focus, the QV Pro also verifies complex features like corner radii and relief angles, ensuring reliable results across multiple setups. Additionally, its non-contact measurement method helps preserve delicate or custom-shaped tools. In short, shops benefit from fewer operator errors, shortened setup cycles, and improved repeatability.
Easy-to-use and Robust Tool Presetting Solution
REGO-FIX Tool Corp. (Whitestown, IN) has partnered with tool measuring and management solution company Omega TMM for the creation of ORION powered by REGO-FIX – a tool measuring machine using REGO-FIX’s powRgrip® tool holding system with Omega TMM’s presetting technology.
ORION powered by REGO-FIX was created based on customer requirements that demanded reliable, innovative and precise tooling to ensure satisfying experiences with an easy-to-use and robust tooling system.
The REGO-FIX powRgrip tool holding system creates simple, heatless tool setting in less than 10 seconds using a hydraulic press to insert special shallow-tapered collets into holders with a matching taper. Its superior clamping force, vibration damping and precision with toolholder-to-collet and collet-to-tool shank interfaces provide extreme accuracy and high-quality tooling from high-speed milling and drilling to coolant-free cutting.
Reliable Tool Setting Solutions
Renishaw Inc.’s (West Dundee, IL) APCS-45 tool setting probe enables manufacturers to implement automated tool measurements into turning and multi-task machining applications. These measurements can be used for initial tool setting, tool replacement cycles, tool wear, tool breakage and thermal growth monitoring. Complementing the APCA-45, the APCS-45 features an alternative protective stylus cover mechanism, enabling fitment on machines with limited control options.
Engineered for the harshest machining environments found in lathes and multi-tasking machines, the APCS-45 provides a robust, reliable and automated solution for setting a wide range of tools – such as turning, grooving, threading and boring tools.
A host of innovative design features, including a protective stylus cover, ensure the APCS-45 is built to survive the harshest machining environments. Unlike the APCA-45 which features a pneumatic drive to extend and retract the cover, on the APCS-45 the cover is retracted using a spring mechanism.
Reduce Setup Times and Increase Spindle Uptime
The ZOLLER (Ann Arbor, MI) »smile« tool presetting and measuring machine provides precise, accurate tool measurement data outside the machine tool in a fraction of the time, reducing setup times, increasing spindle uptime and extending tool life.
One of ZOLLER’s most well-known solutions, machines in the »smile« series are constructed from high-quality, brand-name components, including Bosch/Festo pneumatic elements and HEIDENHAIN glass scales. The »smile« is equipped with a high-precision SK 50 spindle that can handle almost any tool holding system. With a concentricity of less than 2 microns, a pneumatic spindle brake, 4 x 90° spindle indexing and integrated calibration balls, this high-precision spindle delivers exact results with each measurement. The »smile« operates with ZOLLER’s »pilot 4.0« software that features an intuitive and user-friendly graphic interface that easily pulls up production-relevant tool data. With a body made of a light metal alloy developed specifically for measuring machines, the »smile« is built for durability on the shop floor.
The post What’s New In Tool Presetting? appeared first on Fabricating & Metalworking.
