Published 5/13/2011

A New Approach to Tool Presetting

This non-contact presetter has a number of design elements that enable it to perform effectively on the shop floor. It looks and operates differently than other presetters currently available, too.

Derek Korn

Editor-in-Chief, Production Machining magazine

The freely moveable sensing unit on this presetter has an air bearing so it can easily glide across the presetter’s glass plate.

The position of the presetter’s sensing unit is accurately determined by reading tiny, two-dimensional data matrix codes embedded in the glass.

The presetter’s control features an intuitive touchscreen interface and 30x magnification of the tool profile.

Using a presetter to accurately measure the true lengths and diameters of tools installed in their holders can greatly reduce setup times for new jobs. That’s because presetting tools for one job while a machine is running another eliminates the need to spend time touching off tools and running test cuts. The ROI for a presetter comes from higher spindle utilization and less machine downtime.

Shops get the most out of presetters when those measuring devices are located on the shop floor close to the machines. This minimizes tool transport time and travel throughout the shop. Knowing this, manufacturers of presetters focus their efforts on designing devices that will function accurately and reliably in environments that aren’t always the cleanest or most thermally stable.

One example is the new Airmatrix non-contact presetter for milling and turning tools from DMG/Mori Seiki. Andre Jesse, a product sales manager for the company, says the Airmatrix has a number of design elements including minimal moving parts that enable it to perform effectively on the shop floor. It looks and operates differently than other non-contact presetters currently available, too.

For instance, the sensing unit on many non-contact presetters is attached to the base of the device and travels on guideways to measure the tool installed in the device’s spindle. In most cases, the sensing unit’s horizontal and vertical position is determined by feedback from glass scales. However, the optics for the Airmatrix are contained in a freely moveable sensing unit supported by an air bearing, Mr. Jesse explains. This enables users to easily glide the sensing unit across a thermally stable, bulletproof glass plate to measure the tool mounted in a horizontally oriented spindle. The sensing unit’s position on the plate is determined by a CCD camera that reads tiny, two-dimensional data matrix codes embedded in the glass plate. In effect, the glass plate is the device’s “scale.” High positioning accuracy for the sensing unit is possible because the data matrix codes have high information storage capacity.

Because the glass plate lies flat atop the device’s cast iron bed, it is less likely to be affected by base expansion than conventional glass scales housed in aluminum bodies, Mr. Jesse says. In addition, the sensing unit’s air bearing (which activates whenever the user touches the unit to move it) helps clean the scratch-resistant glass by blowing away dirt and debris.

The Airmatrix presetter provides tool measurement accuracy of ±2 microns and is available in two sizes. One version accommodates tools as big as 200 mm in diameter and 500 mm in length. The other can measure tools as large as 400 mm in diameter and 1 meter in length. The device uses the company’s Windows-based Microvision V control. Developed specifically for the Airmatrix, this control features an intuitive, touchscreen interface and enables cutting edge inspection with live image display. Measurement routines can be performed manually or automatically in which the spindle rotates at a fixed rate. A built-in printer enables users to print labels with offset information and affix them to tools. Users also have the option of downloading tool offset information directly to the machine.