Axis Details Dialog

Axis details dialog can be accessed by pressing the axis label button next to the relevant axis readout on the main DRO screen. The dialogs offer some additional information and access to axis-specific functions. The information shown depends on the type of the axis. In other words, X, Y, and Z details offer different information and actions than the angular α axis.

Linear Axis Details

Linear axis readouts (X, Y, and Z) look similar to the screenshot below.

X Axis Details dialog showing position feed rate and chip load readouts with center hold and near-zero warning buttons
Fig. 1: Linear Axis Details dialog example

Readouts

Position

Position display is identical to the readout shown on the main DRO display.

Feed Rate

Feed rate is calculated using the change in position over time. It can be used to quickly verify or adjust the feed rate for the axis.

Chip Load

When a cutter is selected, the chip load is calculated using the current feed rate and RPM.

Thread Pitch and Thread Count

On a lathe, the Z axis details have one more row. It reads "Thread Pitch", in millimeters, when the axis is set to millimeters, and "Thread Count", in threads per inch, when it is set to inches. TouchDRO calculates the value from the Z feed rate and the spindle speed from the tachometer, so you can check the lead the carriage is feeding at before you cut a thread. The row reads zero while the spindle is stopped.

Action Buttons

Each of the action buttons below can be shown in one of the three configurable button positions on the main screen. In such a case, the buttons will have identical functionality.

Center Button

Center function is used to find the centerline of the workpiece. Functionally, it finds the half-way point between current position and the 0 point and sets the origin to the calculated value.

To set find the centerline, follow these steps:

  1. Indicate one edge of the workpiece (there is no need to account for the edge finder diameter)
  2. Press "Zero Set" button
  3. Indicate the opposite edge of the workpiece
  4. Press the "Center" button
  5. Exit the Axis Details dialog

By default this function uses the incremental coordinate system. In order to set the absolute origin to the center point, long-press the "Zero Set" and "Center" button, which will apply the action to the absolute coordinate system.

Zero Set Button

Zero set button sets the zero point to the current position. The button has two functions:

If you turn on "Short Press Sets Origin" in the User Interface Settings, a short press of "Zero Set" or "Center" sets the origin of the coordinate system the axis is showing, absolute or incremental, without a confirmation dialog. The long press is turned off.

Hold

Hold function is used to quickly switch cutters without losing current axis position. It works by freezing the axis readout. The function affects the currently selected coordinate system for the axis but, in most cases, the function should be used in Absolute mode.

An example workflow can be as follows (using Z axis with a manual tool height setter as an example):

  1. Place the tool height setter under the cutter
  2. Lower the cutter onto the contact area until the gauge reads "0"
  3. Press the "Hold" button; the readouts will turn gray, indicating that position refresh is paused
  4. Mount the new cutter into the spindle
  5. Lower the new cutter until the gauge reads "0"
  6. Press the "Hold" button; readout will turn green, indicating that position refresh has resumed

To cancel the Hold function, long-press the Hold button. This will resume position refresh without altering the position.

Absolute/Incremental Mode Selection

The "abs/incr" (Absolute/Incremental) button switches the axis between the two coordinate systems. If a sub-datum is active, switching to the Absolute coordinate system de-activates the sub-datum.

Inch/mm Selection

The unit selection button switches the axis between metric and imperial units.

Near-Zero Warning

This button activates audible near-zero warning. The function works as follows: When axis readout moves to within 0.100" from the 0 point (from either direction), the DRO will start emitting periodic beeps The frequency of the beeps increases as the distance to the 0 point decreases Within 0.005" from 0, the DRO will start emitting a solid beep When the readout is at 0, the continuous beep stops Please note: When the axis is not moved for 5 seconds, audible warning stops; it resumes when the axis starts moving again. When the direction of the movement changes (i.e. axis is moved away from 0), audible warning stops. Once 0 is reached, axis must move 0.005" from 0 for the warning to be re-activated Near-Zero warning can be active for a single axis at a time. Activating the function for an axis will automatically deactivate it for any other axis, if applicable.

The dialog doesn't have this button in measurement mode.

Angular Axis Details

Angular axis details dialog is similar to the linear axis details, as shown below.
The α Axis Details dialog over the main screen, with the position in degrees and the divisions-per-revolution, center, set zero, abs/incr, and deg/div buttons
Fig. 2: The angular "Axis Details" dialog

Position Readout

Position readout displays the axis readout, identical to the main screen.

Action Buttons

Center, Zero Set, and Abs/Incr buttons provide the same functionality as in the case of linear axis details dialog and are described in the previous section.

While "Rotate Part" or "Align Measurement Axes" is reading its angle from this axis (the "Encoder" angle source), the dialog shows "Rotation linked: this axis reads absolute", and the "abs/incr" button is unavailable. The function needs the absolute angle, so the axis stays in absolute mode until the function is cleared.

"Gear" Button

The "Gear" button (AKA "Divisions Per Rev." command button) is used to set the Angular axis to display arbitrary divisions. Most commonly, this function is used for cutting gears, indexing plates, etc. via a rotary table [equipped with an encoder].

To set the count, press the button. This will bring up the "Set Divisions Per Revolution" dialog shown below.

Set Divisions per Revolution dialog for the alpha axis with an empty divisions per rev field and set divisions button
Fig. 3: Dialog used to set arbitrary divisions per revolution

Degree/Division Selection

This button switches the angular axis display between degrees and arbitrary divisions set via the "Gear" function.

Set Dimension

When you know where the axis is in relation to the part, you don't have to crank it to zero to set the datum. Using the "Set Dimension" dialog, you can type the position in instead. For example, after touching off an edge with a 0.200-inch edge finder, you can enter 0.1000 and the edge becomes zero with the table where it is.

To open the dialog on the main screen, tap the readout digits of the axis. On the compact readouts in the graphical view, a tap opens "Axis Details" instead, so long-press the value there. The dialog is titled for the axis, "Set X Axis Absolute Dimension" for a linear axis and "Set α Axis Absolute Dimension" for the angular axis. The "New Dimension" field opens with the current reading selected, so what you type replaces it. The unit beside the field follows the readout: inches or millimeters on a linear axis, and degrees or divisions on the angular axis, whichever the row is switched to.

The Set α Axis Absolute Dimension dialog over the main screen, with 45.75 in the New Dimension field, degrees as the unit, and Cancel and Set Dimension buttons
Fig. 4: The "Set Dimension" dialog on the angular axis. The unit follows the readout, degrees here and divisions when the row is switched to them

To apply the value, press "Set Dimension", or press "Cancel" to leave the axis as it was. TouchDRO sets the absolute position of the axis to the value you typed. The machine doesn't move. The axis origin does, so the readout shows the new value at the current position.