Inconsistent behavior with bitsetter

Sometimes when starting a job it’ll come to the front, ask for a new bit, I hit resume, and it goes and taps the bitsetter. Sometimes it needs me to click resume, and then click start again. Which is correct and what might be causing this?

Depending on when you load a tool it may need to do a redundant measurement. So long as you are always using the interface for tool changes it should be fine.

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When you initialize with a BitSetter the machine homes and comes to the front and asks the operator to insert a Tool (any tool). Then it moves to the Bitsetter and sets zero for the tool in the router with reference to the last time the Z was zeroed.

When you start a job the router moves to the front and a specific tool is asked for. Then the router moves to the BitSetter and sets the tool zero with reference to the last time you zeroed the Z axis.

So when you initialize the machine after turning it on the previous time you st zero is the reference that is comparing the bit to. So if the last job was 1/4 inch and you had the zero set on top of the 1/4 inch material the bit loaded into the router will be set for 1/4 inch above the spoil board.

If you change the tool without being prompted the bit that was removed was referenced for 1/4 inch above the spoil board. However the bit you put in without going through the software may be longer or shorter and your reference is no longer true and the results will be Z zero is no longer reliably set. To get your zero set correctly you must manually zero the bit and then the Shapeoko will have a reliable reference for zero with respect to the bit installed. All of this can be avoided by always using the “Change Tool” button to change a bit and never just jog your machine to the front and change the bit.

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