Warning: I keep seeing people skip the tool length offset check on the first part of a run

Just watched a guy at my shop crash a brand new end mill because he trusted the tool data from the last job. He loaded the program, hit cycle start, and the tool dove about a quarter inch too deep into the aluminum. The sound was awful (like a loud crack). I know it's tempting to save a minute, but you have to touch off that first tool on the new material, every single time. How do you guys make sure this step never gets missed?

2 comments

2 Comments

elizabethpalmer2d ago

Honestly, isn't the real problem trusting old programs without checking them first? I always review the code and tool list before anything gets loaded, that catches most issues. Touching off is just the last step of a good setup.

wren_jackson2d ago

Totally used to think touching off was the main safety step. Your point about checking the program first actually makes way more sense. It shifts the whole process to catching mistakes earlier.