How to Measure Tool Diameters on a CNC Mill

Hello everyone, welcome to At-Man Unlimited.
In this video we will review a simple way to measure tooling diameters by hand. This can allow you to make accurate parts the first time, without the need for test cuts.
If you have any questions please feel free to comment or email me, [e-mail]
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[@DGil504]

Thanks for great video! It has helped me alot with my CNC mill

[@hemnathl]

Thank you , great method

[@kevinl5878]

Thanks very helpfull

[@umargul5644]

Well done

[@MazzSeaFishing]

Good stuff! I am fresh to milling and this is best way to go, the workshop I work in hasn't got money to spend on fancy probes. Anyway in my humble opinion, this is the way you becoming a proper machinist who can run any machine... not just the one with probe. I always thing what would happen if your probe would get wrecked. Knowing this method would get me out of trouble.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

People have been machining for decades without fancy tool setters. Everyone gets focused on high tech solutions, but not everyone has the budget. I try to show both the high tech and the simplistic ways. Thanks for the feedback!

[@mnpcfilsdelapromesse2293]

​@@AtManUnlimitedMachining do you speak french please?

[@bstevermer9293]

These are good! I really like how you using a old vmc. I got my eyes on a old supermax with a fanuc or a fadal. They bring $$$

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Thanks B, some would argue the older machines are better then new ones in some ways. Just trying to show that these machines are still very useful and you can make great stuff on them.

[@toddpf]

Great stuff! Where have you been all my life?

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Thank you

[@michelleworley9070]

Just curious? Did you compensate for cosine error or does it not really matter?

[@7425tmachine]

Curious how you zero out the X and Y on your Fadal? I don’t see any simple method other than SETX or using G92. Both will mess up an existing setup. Btw, I appreciate your vids!

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Thanks, I use a fixture offset to set XYZ at a zero point. You can use the fixture utilities and they work well.

[@cenktaskent5072]

What is the difference btw measuring the diameter with Mitutoyo Caliper vs that methed ?

[@MF175mp]

You can't measure a tool with a single flute or odd number of flutes with a caliper, also the caliper is way less accurate and doesn't account for the runout in the tool.

[@jdwinton5411]

We just use cutter comp wear, leave the diameter blank and then just adjust in wear to bring the part in, that way tool diameter does not really matter all that much, as long as we have the diameter reasonably close in our CAM software we are good to go.

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

That only works if your tolerances are tight enough on a new tool relative to the tolerances on the part. If you only make one of something, and its a tight tolerance part, you will want to measure the tool. Especially if your machining an expensive casting or something of the like. The older machines only have one tool diameter input. But you can still use it the same way as your pointing out. You can either enter in the measured diameter, or you can enter in a deviation from the spec diameter to the actual diameter. If your making a lot of something, then yes, as you point out you can measure the parts coming off the machine and make adjustments to the comps to keep the parts in spec through the run.

[@jdwinton5411]

true, we do tend to do large runs of parts, we manufacture farm equipment so everything we machine goes on our our equipment, gives us a lot of leeway and if we scrap a part or two it is not a big deal....usually..sometimes it can be annoying

[@goswila4709]

pls also make a vdo on how to measure a round insert tool diameter

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

Round inserts are a little harder. To measure round inserts you want to use a flat perpendicular surface. The little tool setter gauge I have can measure the length offset on its flat plate. To measure the diameter offset you can use a square or the side of your vise jaw. Use the shim stock, gum wrapper, gauge pin, method to locate the side of the tool to the vertical surface. If you know where that vertical surface is in X or Y then you can figure out the diameter of the tool.

[@tymcclengineering8672]

Surely, you can only say the x is zero when the indicator is reading zero? because you use the indicator zero to read the known diameter?

[@AtManUnlimitedMachining]

You need to use a known gauge pin to setup the distance relation between the indicator and X first