Application: Straightness and linear measurement solutions for CNC equipment
Aligning most CNC machinery can be critical for proper performance. If your goals in aligning CNC mills, lathes and gantries is to ensure accuracy or simply to prevent machine tool wear, a laser alignment system is the most precise way to do this. Alignment in setting up a new machine, working on sub-assemblies and even day-to-day machine tool applications cause workplace stress to compile because the more responsibilities you have, the more likely you are to make mistakes. Aligning and measuring projects may follow a well-conceived alignment process, but the very machine you are working on has multiple components that must be in specification to prevent errors, and if several people have access to your CNC machine, there is higher likelihood that the machine will fall out of alignent.
A Good Alignment Makes a Difference
This is where a good alignment system makes a difference. Using alignment accessories with a laser alignment system and checking machine ways, beds and machine travel for straightness are the bridges between your work being completed accurately, on time and you getting out of work at a reasonable hour! Maybe you have to check straightness of a spindle on your machine as it travels or maybe your team is concerned with machine run out. Don’t guess at what you expect to find, test, test, and test!
Machine shops turn to Pinpoint because of the success that these laser alignment system have with measuring runout on CNC machining centers. A slide system or the moving stage of a CNC machine produces too many sources of error with optical tools and dial indicators. A Pinpoint alignment tool is the smartest way to measure and captures bed shifts and travel distortions based on vertical direction to the micron level. Once the measurements of a machine are retrieved, the readout on a Pinpoint laser alignment system is downloaded into Pinpoint’s Capture™ alignment software that details what the measurer should do with the data. Now, setting up a CNC machine requires proper alignment but this alignment process is also enhanced with a Pinpoint alignment system.
Technical Support
Pinpoint has Technical Support staff that walk your team through using your own Pinpoint laser alignment systems. You never have to hypothesize on whether or not you are going to run into problems. The Pinpoint laser alignment systems are intuitive enough to use without complex instruction, although guidance and supports are provided with every alignment kit. The important thing to remember is that reaching out to Pinpoint to have an alignment system and alignment accessories is easy. If you already have damaged CNC equipment, bring them back to life and put them to work on the line where they belong!
Whether you realize it or not, everything is measurable. Between Pinpoint’s products, accessories, alignment software and Technical Support team, your alignment needs can be covered if you invest in the right products and consult with our alignment specialists on what your measuring and aligning process should look like.
Being able to extend machinery life while hitting high accuracy on every job is an achievable goal with a high-grade laser alignment system. Measuring CNC routers and other machine tools with a Pinpoint laser alignment system is as easy as putting a center finder in a collet chuck – so call Pinpoint today (978-532-8001) or email us to find out more about aligning your machine tools.
