How to use Tool Length Offsets in Fusion 360 and MACH3

Today we'll take a look at tool length offsets in Fusion 360 and MACH3 and explain everything you need to know to perform tool changes during CNC programs without losing your Z height.
Tools used and shown in this video:
*This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Shars 8" Dial Height Gauge (eBay*): goo.gl/2L6omY
Shars Ultra Precision 1-2-3 Blocks (pair) (eBay*): goo.gl/8Ykyhk
ER20 TTS Clone Toolholders (eBay*): goo.gl/99LvRD

[@waelsalem5248]

There are many on KZbin that can machine, but none can explain the process as well as you do. Please keep up the good work.

[@farmhousetechnology1130]

Your video are good because you care about details. It makes all the difference. Thanks

[@joshuashutt]

Man I dont know why I haven’t seen your videos till today! So far they all have been great keep up the great work!!

[@MrSkeeteman69]

Thank you so much for this video, as a matter of fact all of your videos. After watching this I'm finally making parts from beginning to end without any crashes. I thought that fusion 360 would change the tool numbers as it did the sequence all along not knowing that it only applies the tool offsets, so when i saw that it wasn't changing the number i assumed that nothing was changing and I would manually set the z height every time only to crash into the part, which became frustrating and discouraged me from trying for 2 going on 3 years. But 2 days ago I watched your video and boom! I'm excited to use my machine. Thanks again for the in depth tutorials and keep it up.

[@3dmakerzone75]

I am catching up on your older videos since I just recently found your channel. I started to skip this one because I am using a Centroid Acorn controller. Man I am really glad I decided to watch it because I have been having trouble getting my tool library setup. After watching all the videos specific to CNC12 I was still having problems getting it. Your video was the best and cleared it up in my mind so I was able to get mine setup correctly. Thank you for making these videos and explaining everything in detail.

[@johnathonmullis4234]

Another awesome video James. The level of organization that you’ve obtained in your home shop is something I’ve admired since I began watching your videos. I messaged you from eBay several months ago in re your ELS for lathes. I decided to purchase a better lathe instead of the ELS you developed. I also purchased a pm-25mv mill and my son did a wonderful cnc conversion on it for me. I’ve been a bit intimidated by “CNC” as I’m not very computer savvy. However I can’t wait to get mine setup like yours. Thanks for all your help and keep the videos coming.

[@stevedaly62]

Thank you very much - absolutely outstanding explanation!

[@denniskirouac6304]

i just went to the TT system your vid is great gave me the help i was wanting

[@blindness2sight119]

Love it This will help me a lot. I'm just getting started with all this cnc stuff. Thanks.

[@joer8486]

Yet another fantastic tutorial! Very easy to follow and understand. This cleared up a few areas of the tool change / offsets process that I was unsure how it works. I have a QC30 spindle on a BOSS 5 CNC mill and find I must really tune things carefully since the total Z travel is only about 4.7". This should help me configure the knee position to handle some tool changes. Future plans are to motorize the knee and use it to adjust for the tool offset but that is 'future'. I also found some bonus coverage as I've wondered about the TTS tooling system and how it works - since I do not have any of this system. I really appreciate your taking the time to make these videos!

[@Clough42]

Thank you. It's my pleasure.

[@Westmach]

Really well put together video. I would definitely urge you to get a retrofit pneumatic drawbar done. I built one for my Sieg KX3 and worked so much better and saved a lot of time. Keep up the good work 👍👍👍

[@SeungOhChoi]

Wonderful explanation!!! Thanks. Subscribed with two thumbs up!

[@mainstreetmachineworks651]

Thanks for following up on my request mate, excellent video!

[@Clough42]

It was a good idea. Thanks!

[@vladanovakovic87]

I watch over a thousand of videos on this topic, and this is the best one. Very good and simple, very nice.

[@Clough42]

Thank you!

[@jeremyhoggard5322]

Very insightful. Just what I was looking for.

[@VAXHeadroom]

Super helpful, I'm using UCCNC and Fusion 360, but this linked the info together.

[@renierjoubert6177]

Hi James, you really have beautiful tools, it looks very expensive. I wish I could afford it. Also you have excellent skills with both machining and the cad software. You can be proud of yourself. Also I love how you just have to get everything precise, and you go on until it is as precise as you can get it, I'm like that too. Although I'm in electronics, and precision is also something I'm obsessed about, in ppm's. I enjoy your channel. Oh and lastly, your shop is spotless and clean and organized, beautiful.

[@abrahanaeoa733]

Thank you!! Excelent video, very useful! 👍👍👍👍

[@justaguy4788]

So glad that you didn't show the differences in collets you described. How did this make it past editing?

[@easyboy1950]

Absolutely fantastic.

[@chenosperformance2499]

I think you explained really good sir thanks

[@user-xb1ht4py2v]

nicely done and well explained. Even though you reference the Mach3 system this is applicable to any machine. Thaks!

[@salvadorebertolone]

i sometimes run a router that has an er20 holder integrated into the spindle. my workaround for changing tools was essentially changing my workflow to individual programs based on which tool. forcing myself to do it that way also improved my thought process for ordering operations on a machine with a tool changer.

[@neilcunningham5542]

VERY good video THANKS so much for posting this. I would love to see how you use a boring head with CNC.

[@Clough42]

I generally use it for production work. I get it pre-set to the final diameter I need. Then I rough out the hole with an end mill and make a final plunge pass with the boring head to make it perfectly round and smooth.

[@Not_My_Name5912]

great video. small correction. T28 M6 does NOT stop the machine/program. M6 means change tool if the machine has automatic tool change. But with a machine that does not have this function, the machine will proceed as if the command was executed. The machine stops on the command M1 which is a command for optional stop, usually controlled by a button to choose between ignore stop or stop when the M1 command is read. you can also use M0 which means stop regardless of whether you have switched on the optional stop function. also in the G code you have G43 Z0.6 H28. G43 means use tool offset. Z0.6 means go to Z0.6 H28 means use offset from tool 28. Example: if you use T5 M6 and G43 Z0.6 H16, the machine will pick up tool number 5 (if the machine has automatic tool change) and use the offset from tool 16. which means that when you don't have automatic tool change, you don't need to have the T28 M6 in the program at all, you just need the G43 Z0.6 H28. the machine cannot change tools, and will only use the tool that is in the spindle. (even if you have automatic tool change, you only need T28 M6 in the g-code when you use MORE than 1 tool) It's just a standard function built into the program you use to generate the g-code. if you had written the g-code by hand, you wouldn't have needed to include the T28M6

[@MWalsh_NY]

Have you done a video on tool wear? And if not I hope you’d consider doing one sometime. Thanks for the awesome content as always!!

[@WillianMai]

Please make a video about the right feeds and speeds for wood, aluminum and steel, there is so little practical information around the internet, this would be nice to understand how to set by feeling and where to begin from as a complete beginner. For example, what is going to be the feeds and speeds diference from a 2mm flat endmill for a 4mm flat endmill and a 8mm flat endmill, and basically what is the difference between wood, aluminum and steel. But avoid the calculations, try to explain a way that you wouldn't have to calculate.. calculations doesn't seem to always be right as there is some other factors such as the machine's rigidity. In my case, I have a quite small cnc, with ER11 chuck, which I had replaced for an ER16 chuck on my 500W spindle. I know its not suitable for steel, and never tried, but the calculations doesn't seem to do right and everything I've learned was by trial and error, it would be nice to know which feeds and speeds someone else used for those 3 material comtinations and for those 3 different tool diameters, so it would serve as base to start from when using new tools.

[@Steelcrafted]

Best video I've found on this subject! Thank you!! Also side note, I want to know if there's any data to support the need to slide your 1 2 3 blocks, height gauges, etc onto your surface plate, vs just plopping them down and sliding them around to get the air out... Personally I find it overkill, but I'd love to see if it makes a difference....for instance on the tormach mini surface plate with the hole, technically you are just plopping the tool holder register down instead of sliding or wringing it...so I dunno....I guess it's best practice....

[@Clough42]

I don't think it's about the air. It's more about dust, grit, and loose fibers. You can feel when there's something between precision-ground surfaces, and sliding often pushes this stuff ahead of the block instead of trapping it underneath.

[@ntcsie9530]

Thank you so much for a great depth instruction. I have a question regarding on the vise grip. it looks like on the fusion 360 when you did the milling simulation, the vise grip is not there. what if you want to mill something deeper and also mill around the edges of x and y coordinate of the aluminium block, does it going to cut into the vise ? if so, how do you set it so it does not cut into the vise if you want the cutting depth deeper and mill around the edges without the Vise model in fusion 360. Thank you

[@robertcarr5846]

Excellent thanks

[@Clough42]

You're welcome.

[@amrmusa7217]

You my frind are a great man and realy cant Thank you enough and i cant emagine what peable are doing with wizirds and that time wasting they just should subscribe your chanle

[@Ale_Lab]

@Clough42 Thank you for all your videos. Really appreciate your work. One thing. COuld you share your M6Start and End macros? I can not get Mach3 to move the Z during the M6 command to a certain height (for instance G53 z-50 'machine cordinate to z-50), wait for changing the tool, apply the tool offset and after press ok continue with the program. Basically the macros your are using. I have the same machine so values will be really similar. Thank you very much.

[@FreemanPascal]

I've always been curious where you got your edge finder. It always appears to be larger than the Starretts I buy?

[@henrymiller9055]

Question, I'm am considering using using Fusion 360 for CAD and It has CAM do I need tool setting in both Mach3 and Fusion? I have just started messing with Fusion 360 since watching your videos and it is easier to use that the other program I was using for my drawings on my DIY CNC Plasma Table, I am nude to cad and cam so just curious of your thought's

[@miguelaguilarparedes2807]

thanks

[@Clough42]

You're welcome.

[@FreemanPascal]

Since you have the new spindle, have you sold your TTS holders off yet? I'd be interested in adding to mine.

[@isaacamankwaa9634]

Thanks for the good work. Can I please get the Autodesk Fusion 360 files and the other files used in the machnining.

[@blairg420]

Thanks for posting this video, I found it quite helpful. I am trying to set up my own tool table in Mach3! I note also in a video, you mention you use the default Mach3mill post processor in Fusion360.. I also want to start machining with Fusion..Do you have any advice or perhaps time to post a video on how to: setting up a G0704 mill /Fusion360 from start to finish..ie, machine setup, machine profile, machine simulation, post processor, gcode...etc I would like to know how to setup and have a digital simulation of my actual mill/vice in Fusion!

[@Clough42]

I'm just using it with the defaults. To have a digital simulation of the vise, you just have to model it, include it in the design, and mark it as a fixture.

[@csmith1a]

In this video you talked about your z axis losing it's location and/or missing steps. I am having a similar problem with my CNC. Do you have a video that shows how your reset and/or calibrate your z axis to/with Mach3? Thanks

[@Clough42]

There is no calibration. It's a matter of adjusting the mechanism so there is no binding, having a strong enough motor, a DSP driver, a high-enough voltage power supply that generates enough current, and then tuning the speed and acceleration to be slow enough to not lose steps under actual cutting conditions.

[@fltenwheeler]

Where do you get the protectives for the end mills without buying 5000?

[@jameslee522]

What kinda air compressor do you run for your mister? Looking for something quiet like yours. Currently looking at California air tools. Just curious what you are running.

[@Clough42]

California Air Tools 2HP 10gal.

[@jerrysgaragethemoneypit2028]

Since your dont repond to commits. How do you know the speeds

[@j1g2004]

I was noticing your tts drawer organizers, you make or buy them?

[@Clough42]

Made them. They're all 3D-printed. You can download files here: www.thingiverse.com/thing:2848955

[@j1g2004]

@@Clough42, Thanks

[@sisomarshallaw9163]

How did you get the tool paths for Fusion 360 to work with Mach 3?

[@Clough42]

I just selected the mach3 post processor. I'm using all of the default settings.

[@DavidLindes]

0:57 - and later, the electronic lead screw did the same, no? Lathe manufacturers, take note. :D

[@DavidLindes]

(P.S. Nice info. I’d been wondering how you did this. I’ve seen it with automatic tool changers, but this TTS system with manual tool changes is new to me. And yeah, I’d been wondering about the details. Now I know!)