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Just realized that switching from manual tool offsets to using the probe on our old VMC cut my setup time by half on a 50-piece aluminum job.
The probe let me set all six tools in under 3 minutes, while the old method of touching off with a shim stock had me at the machine for nearly 6 minutes, plus the risk of a fat-finger error on the offset page.
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sean_murray2mo ago
Respect your take on probes being pricey, but I've got to push back a bit. In my experience, that probe setup time adds up quick when you're running repeat jobs. I've got a 20-year-old VMC and I knocked out a 100-piece run last month where the probe saved me nearly 20 minutes each time I swapped a tool. Yeah, the software calibration was a pain the first time, but once it's dialed in it's pretty bulletproof. That shim stock method works fine until you're trying to hold .001 on a critical bore and your finger twitches. Your mileage may vary, but for me the probe pays for itself after a few bigger jobs.
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craig.reese3mo ago
Probes sound great until you factor in the cost and setup time for the software. That old shim stock method works every single time without any fancy calibration. Sometimes the simple way is just more reliable for small shops.
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