Pro tip: A crash at a job in Tacoma made me check my tool offsets differently

I was running a big batch of 6061 parts and the machine just ate a tool. My lead said to start checking the offset with a shim stock pull test before every run, not just the first part. Anyone else have a specific pre-run check they swear by now?

3 comments

3 Comments

mila_craig43mo ago

Man, that's rough. I started doing a quick visual on the tool holder for any chips or grit after a similar crash. Found a tiny piece of swarf once that would've messed up the offset. What kind of shim stock do you use?

olivia_webb3mo ago

Actually, shim stock pull tests can wear down your tool tip over time.

spencer_sanchez671mo ago

Wait, five thousandths of an inch of wear off your tool tip from just a few pull tests? I mean, I've seen some wear and tear from doing those tests but that sounds like a lot. Idk, maybe it's just me but I figured those tests were pretty standard for checking your tool retention. I usually run a test every ten or fifteen setups and I haven't noticed anything that drastic on my end. Maybe the type of shim stock or how much pressure you're pulling with makes a bigger difference than I thought.