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Debate: Manual tool touch-off vs. using a probe for every job
I run a Haas VF-2 in a small shop and for years I just used a 1-2-3 block to set tools by hand. My boss wanted to buy a Blum probe system, saying it would save setup time. I argued the old way was fine and the probe was just another thing to break. We got the probe six months ago, and honestly, it cut my first-part times by almost 15 minutes on a complex aluminum housing. But I still don't trust it for heavy roughing tools. Do you guys use a probe for everything, or keep some manual steps?
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carr.brooke1mo ago
Watched my buddy's Renishaw probe get wrecked by a 3/4" rougher last month. The tool had a tiny chip on the edge, and it gave a bad reading that crashed the probe arm. He still uses it for finish tools and locating, but anything over 1/2" he touches off by hand now.
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hugo82528d ago
That's usually the point where the Renishaw becomes a paperweight.
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