Probing Routines in PathPilot

Brennan Williams, a systems and technical support specialist at Tormach, walks through various probing routines on a Tormach PCNC 770.
Probing routines like these are important for fast, accurate part and fixture setup, to help ensure your parts come out right every time.
This was part of the Probing Routines Seminar given at the Tormach Open House in August. #Tormach 2015
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[@falsedragon33]

That stepper noise.... I forget how nice the clearpaths are.

[@benjamintaylor4559]

Pro tip! Don't lift the z axis all the way up with the spindle door swung opened. It hits the enclosure ceiling.

[@henryhbk]

Or on the 440 don't LOWER the z-column with the door open or it will tear the acrylic top window right out; ask me how I know...

[@falsedragon33]

I always run my circle center probe twice. If you pay atttention to the measurement on the screen, the first probing is usually wrong. But it gets you very close to the center for the next probing to be exact. Play with a percision hole, and you will see what i mean.

[@Alex-us2vw]

Can the PathPilot probing software work with 3rd party wireless probes like a Heidenhain probe or similar? Or would it that require the Heidenhain NC controller if that’s compatible. Would be nice to have a wireless probe in the tool changer to help with automating the finding the work offset.

[@anthonylodi8980]

I am relatively new a cnc machining and was wondering why someone would choose a Bridgeport type mill over the Tormach. Everyone I talk to says you never touch the angle of the spindle on the knee mill so what’s the advantage other than sheer power and table size? Thank you

[@tormachinc]

Many of us at Tormach are very familiar with Bridgeport milling machines, but they aren't CNC at all, so they don't have the same repeatability. Since Bridgeports are manual mills, repeatability would be dependent on the skill of the machinist. Bridgeports do allow you to have quick setup for angled milling and drilling. You can achieve the same on our Tormach's with fixturing.

[@OakwoodMachineWorks]

Will it write angles to the machine and then rotate the coordinate system?

[@tormachinc]

PathPilot will not allow for rotation of the coordinate system.

[@hudmut]

Can we have a more up to date and in depth video on how to use PP Iv had my machine 3 years and still don't know how to use half of it. And as PP has very much moved on this is out of date.

[@tormachinc]

Hi Hudmut, Please check out the Tormach Technical Channel and the PathPilot playlist for more recent PathPilot videos. kzbin.info

[@rerikm]

what's the difference between passive probe and digitiser?

[@tormachinc]

They are essentially the same. The main difference is that the digitizing probes have sealed components and do not need maintenance. This makes digitizers more costly. On the other hand, passive probes are more economical since their components are not sealed. It is recommended to clean the contacts at least every six months, and more if you live closer to a salty environment.

[@rerikm]

@@tormachinc got it, thanks!!