Found a ghetto way to check tool offsets without a probe

Started using a piece of cigarette paper between the tool and the part to find Z zero, way cheaper than that 3D taster I broke last week. Just jog down until the paper barely drags then add 0.1mm for the paper thickness, been surprisingly consistent on my Haas. Anyone else got janky but reliable ways to set tools when you're in a pinch?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas2752mo ago

Yeah you tried the feeler gauge trick with a cigarette paper too? I've done the same thing for years on my old Fadal, works way better than you'd think. Just make sure you're consistent with how much drag you feel, I always shoot for that barely-there resistance.

the_jason2mo ago

Man, I tried that cigarette paper trick once and ended up with a shredded mess and a feeler gauge stuck sideways in the ways. Took me 20 minutes to fish it out with a pair of tweezers and a lot of bad language. I still do the drag method too, but I've learned to use the old business card trick instead, just fold it over a couple times for a consistent thickness. You ever mark the folds on the card so you know which thickness you used last time?

clairem4727d ago

Wait, you actually got a feeler gauge stuck in the ways? That's rough, I've been there with a pry bar once and it's no fun. I've had way better luck just using a folded index card myself, no need to mark the folds or anything since I just fold it twice and call it good enough. The drag method is really all about feel anyway, like thomas275 said, you want that just barely there resistance. I've found that if you hold the card at a slight angle and slide it along the ways, you can actually feel the high spots way better than with a straight pull. Takes some practice to get the touch right, but once you dial it in it saves so much time compared to fumbling with feeler gauges.