Back when we got our first machine with a tool probe, I thought it was just a gimmick.

I ran manual machines for over a decade and thought I could set tools just fine by feel and a dial indicator. When the shop in Toledo bought a used VMC with a Renishaw probe about 8 years ago, I ignored it for the first six months. Then we got a rush job with 15 different tools, and my boss made me use the probe cycle. It set every single tool in under 10 minutes, and the first part was within half a thou. I had to admit it saved a huge chunk of time on setups. Has anyone else had that moment where a new piece of tech won you over?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_julia11d ago

Felt the same way about our new laser level until it saved a whole foundation job lol.

fiona_reed11d ago

My buddy had the same thing with a new lathe. He swore by his old methods for years. The shop got a machine with a touch-off probe built into the turret. He called it a toy for lazy machinists. Then he ran a big batch of parts with tight tolerances. Every tool was dead on in seconds. He doesn't complain about it anymore.