Implementing and Expanding Use of Presetters

Presetters measure tool offsets after a tool is fitted into its holder. Presetters provide more accuracy. The devices also can be a gateway for shops to adopt Industry 4.0 in their operations. As a result, should shops be looking at whether to bring in presetters or whether to step up their use of the technology? The answer depends, in part, on what equipment a shop already has. One key is a tool crib. A tool crib helps manage inventory, keeping “stock of all the tools, inserts and cutters,” said Patrick Cratty, technical sales specialist at BIG Daishowa Inc. (formerly BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc.), Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Presetters measure tools, “verifying nothing is wrong with it,” and make sure “there’s no issue with the toolholder,” he said. Cratty said a customer should consider different levels of presetter sophistication based on whether their shop has a tool crib. If it does, he added, a CNC presetter might be a better choice to increase the efficiency of the tool crib personnel. While the presetter is running its automatic tool inspection program, the tool crib attendant can work on other tasks.