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Assistance in the following matter will be greatly APRECIATED, sorry in advance as I am relatively new to this. I have been working things out slowly which has been very frustrating.
Have an Anderson twin spindle CNC Wood router that has two auto tool changers that can hold 8 tools each.
The controller is a Fanuc OM and would like information on how to setup the router tools and how to input that information into the menu offset settings section in the controller.


With thanks

I'm also new to doing setups, so hopefully this makes sense to you: the way we get our tool lengths, is we touch off the Z0 location on the fixture(if your programs are set with Z0 on the part, you will have to load a part for this). Also, we use a one inch gauge block between our touch off point and the tool(just be sure to add an inch to the length you enter).

To do this, we lower the tool to about 2" above where Z0 is located(mentioned in our work instructions), and place our gauge block down. Then we slowly lower the tool next to the block(never onto the block directly) until we can slide the block under the tool with a slight resistance. This is then entered into the offset page next to the current tool. Repeat for each tool loaded.

Another method I've seen done is to use a peice of paper, which you slide back and forth under the tool, until you have a slight resistance. Add .002-.003" to the length to compensate for the thickness of the paper, and you have your tool length.

I hope this helps.

Thankyou for the quick response.
Have a basic machine manual that is suppose to cover two models, but info for my system is vague. It touches on the setup that you have explained but it is for a different model to my machine. I do not hsve locking devices on my spindles to adjust the position of the cutters.
I have a device with a dial gauge on it. Setup of the router bit and tool holder I can do on the bench. After I fit a router bit into the tool holder and tighten it I can measure the overall length. I think the idea being is to setup all the bits to the same length where possible, but not all tools can be set the same.
The following is the confusing part for me.
For example I setup an engraving bit, which measured with the tool holder an overall length of 97mm. I presume I have to input this into the tool length offset section with a minus sign in front of it as I noticed that all the other setings have one.I believe that this is the area that the "H" code refers to. Am I going down the right path?
EG if I use Spindle 2 and tool #6 (T26) then H26 is also used which is the tool legth offset. The confusing part is that the cutter is too far away from the board with that setting. As i am not at the machine at the moment I am sure I changed the setting to -105mm to get it to contact.

To Give you an idea of the setup:
There are 2 x tool changers(one for each spindle) that hold 8 tools each
For spindle 1 it is T1 and if for example I need to use tool number 7 then I have to input T17
For spindle 2 it is T2 and if for example I need to use tool number 3 then I have to input T23
I use spindle 1 to mainly do drilling and spindle 2 does router work.
16mm Salvage board is used.

Thankyou so much and I hope I have explained it without confusing you.

I think you are thinking of something else. What I meant, was that you can look at your screen and get your offset from where ever you are manually touching the tools off of.

dude do you use the G0 G55 G43 and H commands to bring up your tool length offsets?
Im sure you do if its a Fanuc control?
Unless its simplified as just the offset page on a lathe principle where you touch first tool and enter zo input in the workshift page then each tool length is measured in the offset page by z0.0 measure.

Which way do you do have access to on your Fanuc controls?

Thanks for the reply guys.
big_hoovie - i will play around with it in the morning. Yes I can get into the Menu / offset page which is where you input/edit the sizes.

sdtasman - G00, G43 and H But G55 I was told is an option that is not activated on the machine.
It has a seperate controller with keypad and function buttons.