Setting Tool Offsets - Which Tool Table?

[TomS]

I'm at the point in my CNC learning curve where I want to set up and use tool tables. I think I've got the data entry principles figured out. Here goes. I have a 1" travel dial indicator as my Tool 0 that I set to Z zero on my gauge block. I then load each tool and bring it down and touch off on the gauge block then enter the offset (+ or -) in one of the tool tables. When I setup to machine a part I will then set Tool 0 to top of part and zero the Z axis DRO. The tool offsets will then be set for the part. Am I headed in the right direction?

Mach 3 has it's tool table as does each of the CAM programs I use (D2NC, CamBam, Fusion 360. My question is which tool table takes precedent when running Gcode? I'm assuming it's Mach 3 but need to ask so I don't crash a tool into my vise or table. Do I need to populate all of the tool tables with data? I would prefer to use one table, if possible, so I don't have to update all four. I looked on the net but couldn't find a clear answer to my question.

Thanks,

Tom S.

 

[RJSakowski]

Mach 3 reads the offset entered into its tool table that corresponds to the specified tool number. So a block of G code like T2 G43 H2 M6 will enable tool offset and load the offset for tool #2

 

[TomS]

Mach 3 reads the offset entered into its tool table that corresponds to the specified tool number. So a block of G code like T2 G43 H2 M6 will enable tool offset and load the offset for tool #2

Thanks for your feedback. I believe I've got it. The Mach 3 tool table provides tool length offset data while the CAM tool table provides radial offset data.

Tom S.

 

[cs900]

Mach3 will also do radial tool offsets for the use with cutter comp (G41, G42) operations. I typically fill out the length and diameter column in mach3, and quite often i'll use the wear offset to make small tweaks if something is coming out of tolerance.