How to Calibrate your ATC Positions for WinCNC / ShopSabre

Changing ATC tool positions will impact tool changes. Our self-centering ATC Forks, precision dowel pin-aligned Bases, Risers, and Forks prevent position shifts over time. 

If you're adding our ATC Pedestals to your machine, you'll want to carefully make sure each position is where your machine thinks it is. It is not a difficult process; you need to use - surgeon-like-focus - to jog your machine to each position.

To Calibrate Positions:

View video of this process below.

1. Remove all tool holders from their forks, AND make sure there is a tool holder in the spindle.
   1. We recommend an ISO30 ER32 45 or 50mm tool holder WITHOUT the nut.
2. In WinCNC, set to tool Zero.
   1. Type L110T0 in the command line and hit ENTER.
3. In Settings, find Tool Positions to see what your current positions are set to.
   1. For the Drop-In pedestals, these positions will be very close to the new positions you will be setting for your new pedestals.
   2. The purpose of calibrating is to have the positions set exactly where they need to be.
4. Turn off Soft Limits (icon with 4 red arrows) or type L21. Please remember that this is OFF during this process.
5. Raise the tool holder in Z high enough to safely clear the pedestals/forks. 
6. Jog back as far as you can in Y without hitting the limit or running off your tracks.
   1. Ex: for us, this is roughly Y107.25 - do not use our copy number as each machine is different
   2. Consider the speed you are making these movements, Read: SLOW
   3. Write down the Y position that is your furthest distance back.
7. Jog the tool holder in X to line up the tool holder in the spindle with the center of the fork in the tool position you are calibrating. You can eyeball this step.
8. Lower the tool holder in Z to line up with the forks
   1. Making sure the tool holder will not hit the fork.
   2. Lining up in Z = The inset "female" groove of the tool holder with the "male" groove of the tool fork.
9. Slowly jog the tool holder in -Y .
   1. As it jogs, make sure it's centered on the forks in X and in Z. It helps to do this in smaller increments.
   2. When the tool holder touches the forks, make sure it touches both sides at the same time.
   3. If one side touches first, it's out of alignment in X, adjust with .001" movements to correct.
   4. When you have the tool holder in the center of the fork, spin it by hand and feel for tension.
   5. Jog in small increments in Y/-Y until you find the least amount of resistance; that's your center point.
10. Now that you have the tool holder in position, go to Tool Positions under Settings.
    1. Click on the tool position you are currently calibrating.
    2. Now click the Get Pos button (get position). *This sets the new X/Y/Z for this tool position.
11. Jog in +Y back to the furthest position again (Ex: for us, roughly Y107.25).
12. Raise tool holder in Z to safely clear the forks. You are now done with this tool position and can move on to the next.
13. Very important step: After you have calibrated and saved all of the new tool positions, and before setting any heights on z-probe, set to T1 (or to any tool position other than T0).
    1. Type L110T1 in command line and Hit Enter.
    2. Manually swap the tool to T1: Remove tool from spindle, and replace it with the tool that is in T1 or should be in T1.
14. Now it is safe to set your tool heights on the Z probe.
15. Test Auto Tool Changing with no tools in the rack and one in the spindle. If that's successful, you can move it and keep testing positions OR load up all your tools depending on your risk tolerance 😉. There should be no worries at this point.

If you have errors about "lower limit-Z" or can't reach the bed with a tool after this process, try Setting lower Soft Limits with this guide.