First CNC Project In 30 Years & Setting Tool Offsets Manually - Tormach 1100MX

Final set up of my Tormach 1100MX CNC Milling Machine. Mixed and filled the coolant with QualiChem XTREME CUT 251C mixed 20:1 (5%) and set up all the tool offsets using the Tormach Manual Tool Height Setter Dial Indicator - 39682. Also made my first part on this new Tormach 1100MX and Aluminum sign for my BladesIIB shop using Fusion 360 CAD and CAM software.
The instructions to set tool offsets using the Manual Tool Height Setter Dial Indicator were a little hard for me to follow, I found what I think is a better way to do this, and demonstrate the repeatability of this process within .0001". I also test this by resetting a tool height on my Tormach 1100MX in the middle of a cycle.
Set up my new GMT (Glacern Machine Tools) GPV-412 4" Premium Vise.
Used the Tormach Portable Refractometer - Coolant Tester (31366) to verify the concentration of my coolant mix.
Thanks for Watching!

[@AlmostCool_]

Phenomenal vid. I'm self taught and making the transition from CAD to CAM, so this was extremely informative

[@BladesIIB]

AlmostCool_ - Appreciate the comment, glad to hear this was helpful for you. Several of my other CNC videos will also walk through my CAM process for the part I am making. Good luck with your learning journey. Never ending for me.

[@Turbo93notchback]

Awesome video. Thanks for taking us along on your journey

[@BladesIIB]

Bjorn Baal - Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@houstonsigmund2550]

Another great video my man! Thanks for the help!

[@BladesIIB]

Houston Sigmund - Welcome! Thanks for the comment.

[@KINGKit808]

nice info, thank you for taking the time.

[@BladesIIB]

KINGKit808 - Thanks for the comment! Glad you like it.

[@anthonyp81979]

I recently found your channel. So far your content was been great. Plus you have covered a few of the machines I am looking to purchase.

[@BladesIIB]

Anthony Pizzuto - Thanks for the comment, glad the information is helpful. All the best adding some new machines to your shop!

[@nothingtoseehere4026]

Nothing wrong with a learning curve when your first project turns out that nice.

[@BladesIIB]

Nothing to see here - Thanks! Definitely makes me eager to learn more.

[@BuggieChief]

Great Job. Thanks for showing us the challenges and troubleshooting. You are doing well. Looking at buying a 1100mx or HAAS TM....

[@BladesIIB]

LJL - Thanks for the comment. Congrats on the new machine, I hope these help you get set up.

[@BobGarrett66]

Thanks Bud. That was a lot of fun to watch!! If you get time, do a little search for setting up your vise in fusion so it can monitor your tool paths for a crash with the vise during simulation. That’ll allow for that hopping you wanted to do from one side of the part to the other and minimize the stress. 😎

[@tdg911]

I always wondered how people had their vice in fusion 360! Thanks

[@BladesIIB]

Bob - thanks for the tip. I will definitely review that in my next set up.

[@texaswoodworks8853]

Another excellent video. Good to see the mistakes made and rectified. How do you clean up that mess in the machine when you are done?

[@BladesIIB]

Happy Horned Frog - Thanks for the comment and great question, I added a wash down hose that uses the coolant to spray all the chips into the bin.

[@tdg911]

So I don't understand something here. There is a limit on the amount of lines of G-code the machine can process? 100k lines doesn't sound like much tbh. As a software developer 100k lines of code isn't that much. It also kind of takes away the main reason of having the ATC. If the cam side has to be broken up and loaded separately this really defeats the purpose to the automation. What does Tormach have to save about that limitation? Loved the video and great outcome for the first project! Can't wait to see more!

[@BladesIIB]

tdg911 - fair question. I have not followed with Tormach on it. It would still do multiple steps and take advantage of the ATC. For this part i could have just split it into two chunks of code. Also it did run in the simulator so not sure I fully understand it either. Will ask them and see what I learn.

[@BladesIIB]

tdg911 - I just did a little searching and it seems the 100000 is what it can look ahead and preview to “check” your parameters. That is why it still ran in the simulator. It seems it will still run, also reading and understanding the rest of the screen it seems you can increase this, may just slow load times of larger programs. Also read where you can set it to Load All Preview Lines and check tool paths that way. One of many things I have to learn and understand. Thanks for the question and prompting me to sort through it.

[@tdg911]

@@BladesIIB sounds good and thanks again for the quick replies. I placed my deposit yesterday so I now have my spot in line for the 1100mx. Can’t wait to see some more videos from you because I’m sure they will help me get up to speed so thanks again!!! Happy 4th

[@BladesIIB]

@@tdg911 Congrats! Happy 4th to you as well.

[@kenjohnson2730]

Why did you program tool offset on main table first , then after breaking tool, you reprogrammed it on top of vise. What am I missing here?

[@BladesIIB]

Ken - Only reason was I was learning and setting tool offsets before I had the vise in place, so the table was handy. I did not save that offset so when I broke a tool the vise was just handy and easy. I did save the vise offset but really should used the fixed jaw rather than the moveable for future repeatability. Basically it only takes a second to reset the offset for the dial in any new position. Just go with what is handy at the time. The difference between where you zero it and each tool offset will be the same regardless.

[@kenjohnson2730]

@@BladesIIB thanks

[@BladesIIB]

@@kenjohnson2730 you bet. Hope that made sense and answered your question.

[@kenjohnson2730]

@@BladesIIB I’ll find out when I get my 1100mx, deposit going in next week! Been watching all videos available! Going to be learning curve for me also! Great video!

[@BladesIIB]

@@kenjohnson2730 congrats on the new order! Exciting process. Yes the tool offsets will make sense the first time you do it. Just setting the difference between that spindle face and any tool tip. As long as you reset the tool face to 0 for tool zero you can check it from anywhere. I would recommend the ball bearing though, I do think that makes it a lot easier and more repeatable.

[@VR6NAVYVW]

From tool 1 to tool 2 theres human error. I believe the camera has not moved or the guage yet the dial at 0 is not the same. This tells me you didn't bend down. To look at guage straight on for 1 of those. Not trying to nickpick but help you with repeatability and accuracy.

[@BladesIIB]

Kyle Trent - I appreciate the comment. I won't try to claim there is no human error involved, this was the first project in 30 years and steep learning curve so I am sure I made some mistakes. For the point in the video you are referring to, I did in fact move the table a few inches back on the Y Axis you can see it at 8:03 in the video. The face mill hits on the outer diameter, while the other tools need to be in the center. I believe this is what caused the variation in zero from the camera angle. Let me know if you agree, and that answers your question. Also, let me know if that does not answer your question and I will give it another shot.

[@VR6NAVYVW]

@@BladesIIB I was just pointing it out as you had a .0001 difference on that tool and not the next. Thought that may have been the cause, but if you moved the table...who knows lol.

[@BladesIIB]

@@VR6NAVYVW Ah, I thought you were referring to the visual difference on the dial. I would attribute the .0001” to the rounding since the machine read 0 on Z and only changed on tool height. The face mill has 6 tool bits and each will read a little different so likely a different insert than the last time. For this machine that level of repeatability is well within tolerance.

[@VR6NAVYVW]

@@BladesIIB yes, I was referring to the indicator position being misread, but if you moved the table that could be the .0001 in the camera angle.

[@BladesIIB]

@@VR6NAVYVW Ok, dial angle I would attribute to the table move. The reason the first tool read a .0001” different from the last time I set it I would attribute to a different insert.

[@chuljinbaek7937]

This Tormach company does not send products after customer approval. I'm reporting this. I approved it on October 12th, 2021. Since then, I haven't received any additional products. Please be careful, everyone.