Visual Tool Setters Simplify Measuring Cycle, Increase Speed

Marposs expands its Mida VTS visual tool setter family with the addition of the VTS WF45 and WF85 wide field versions. These versions are for non-contact measuring and for verifying double-sided, larger-diameter tools. The wide field versions rely on LED technology to perform both profile and surface integrity inspection of the entire tool, identifying minor faults that could affect workpiece integrity.

The tool setters accommodate tools with diameters ranging from 40 microns to 40 mm, or 2.9 mm in diameter for double-sided measurements, while achieving resolution of 0.4 micron and repeatability of 0.8 micron. They perform measurements on tool diameters of up to 5 mm in one positioning cycle and can measure the tool length, static or dynamic tool diameter, and cutting-edge TIR while compensating for machine axis thermal drift. 

Software simplifies the measuring cycle process and stores the information of the tool so that tool integrity can be checked in seconds. The software also enables the tool setters to obtain the true diameter at a faster rate than the typical measuring cycle, the company says.

The system measures a variety of tool dimensions, such as tool length, tool diameter, tool runout and cutter radius, through the processing of images taken by a charged coupled device (CCD) camera. The setter unit is installed inside the machine tool working area to monitor actual tool working conditions without any contact while the tool is rotating at full spindle speed up to 80,000 rpm. This ability is meant to reduce presetting time, improve accuracy and eliminate collision hazards.