To use a touch probe for tool setting, its length must be entered in the F4 – Tool Table in MASSO.

The method you use depends on the type of tool setter installed on your machine.

Types of Tool Setters

There are two main types:

• Plate Tool Setter
  A simple conductive plate (usually aluminium). Contact is detected when the tool completes an electrical circuit.

• Switch Tool Setter
  Uses a plunger mechanism that activates an internal switch.

Mounting the Touch Probe

The touch probe is only measured once, so it must be mounted consistently to ensure the length does not change.

• Automatic Tool Changer (ATC):
  Mount the probe in a tool holder.

• Manual Tool Change (collet):
  Insert the probe into the collet until it stops against the collet nut.
  This ensures a repeatable length each time.

Plate Tool Setter Method

This method assumes:

• A Probe input and Tool Setter input are already configured

• Both are working correctly

   

Step 1

Make sure Auto Tool Zero is set up and working.

Step 2

Home the machine.

Step 3

Load the touch probe using: Txx M6 (xx = touch probe tool number)

Step 4

Temporarily assign the probe as the tool setter:

1. Go to F1 – Setup

2. Change the Touch Probe input to Tool Setter

Before

After

Step 5

Go to F1 – Touch Probe settings and make sure no tool number is assigned.

Step 6

1. Go to F4 – Tool Table

2. Open the touch probe tool

3. Press Auto Tool Zero

The probe will:

• Move down to the tool setter

• Stop on contact

• Retract automatically

The Z offset will update to show the probe length.

Press Save

Step 7

Go back to F1 – Touch Probe settings:

• Enter the tool number of the touch probe

• Press Save

Step 8

Restore original input assignments:

• Set Tool Setter and Probe inputs back correctly

Check:

• Probe input goes HIGH when touched

• Tool setter input goes HIGH when grounded

 Touch probe calibration is now complete.

Switch Tool Setter Method

This method is different because both the tool setter and touch probe use switches.

One may trigger before the other, causing inaccurate results.

The following assumes that you are already set up with one input for Probe and another for Tool setter.

Step 1

Ensure both:

• Auto Tool Zero

• Touch Probe

are set up and working.

Step 2

Home the machine.

Step 3

Load a standard tool (e.g. end mill): Txx M6

Step 4

Set a reference surface:

• Place a block on the table

• Slowly jog the tool down using a piece of paper

• Stop when the paper just drags

Alternative Probing Method

Instead of using paper, you can use a G38.2 probing cycle.

This method is more accurate because the axis movement resolution is finer than the smallest jog increment.

To use this method, the reference block must be set up as a probing touch plate.

• The tool will descend until contact is detected and then stop

• Start close to the surface to reduce probing time

Enter the following in MDI: G38.2 Z-xxx Fxxx

• Zxxx = maximum downward travel

• Fxxx = probing feed rate

Examples:

• Metric: G38.2 Z-175 F100

• Imperial: G38.2 Z-6.9 F4.0

See G38.2 for more information on straight probing cycles.

When the tool touches the reference block:

• Probing stops

• The Z axis is set to zero

   

Step 5

Set the Z axis DRO to 0

Step 6

Load the touch probe: Txx M6

Step 7

Disable Auto Tool Zero:

1. Go to F1 – Auto Tool Zero

2. Untick the option

3. Press Save

Step 8

Set probe offset to zero:

1. Go to F4 – Tool Table

2. Open the touch probe tool

3. Set Z offset = 0

4. Press Save

Step 9

Jog the probe down to the same reference surface.

• Keep the paper in place (if used earlier)

• Stop when the probe triggers

 Watch the probe indicator on the screen

Alternative Probing Method

You can also use G38.2 instead of jogging:

• Do not use paper with this method

• The probe will descend until contact is detected and stop

• Start close to the surface to reduce probing time

Command format: G38.2 Z-xxx Fxxx

Examples:

• Metric: G38.2 Z-175 F100

• Imperial: G38.2 Z-6.9 F4.0

See G38.2 for more details.

Step 10

Read the Z axis DRO value and note it.

The negative of this value is the touch probe Z offset.

Example:

If the DRO shows 134.219, the offset is -134.219

Step 11

Go to the F4 – Tool Table and open the touch probe tool.

• Delete the current value

• Enter the new Z offset

Press Save to confirm and exit.

Step 12

If you disabled Auto Tool Zero in Step 7, enable it again.

The touch probe length is now calibrated.