While browsing through the posts of Practical Machinist, I stumbled upon this amazing project. This individual utilized an EDM, a mill, and a lathe to craft a high-quality tool height setter.
There are EDM's that use the method of plunging a conductive electrode into material, and there are those that use wires. The latter functions much like an incredibly precise scroll saw.
Despite being a slow process, EDM offers the unique capability of creating shapes that would be nearly unattainable with other techniques. Furthermore, it can be employed to slice incredibly hard materials, a feature exploited for this particular project with the use of carbide.
A Tool Height Setter is used to measure the height of your tools so you can fill in the tool table on the CNC to adjust for that height. Some use electronic touch sensors, and some use an indicator like this one.
Check out the link. Here are some sample pix from the article:
First, use a Wire EDM to cut all the parts out. EDM is slow, but can do things that just can't be done any other way...
For example, how about wire cutting a circular touch pad out of a brazed carbide tool so your endmills would nick the tool pad?
Bearing base provides three points of contact so the tool setter sits flat on the machine table and is less prone to cocking if there is a chip there...
The finished Tool Setter is a gorgeous piece of shopmade tooling...
Lots more pictures of the build over on PM!
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