The touch probe functions allow you to set presets on the workpiece, measure the workpiece, and determine and compensate for workpiece misalignment.
Application
Related topics
- Automatic touch probe cycles
- Preset table
- Datum table
- Reference systems
- Preassigned variables
Programmable Touch Probe Cycles
Requirements
- Calibrated workpiece touch probe
Description of function
- The control provides the following functions for setting up the machine in the Setup application of the Manual operating mode:
- Define the workpiece preset
- Determine and compensate for workpiece misalignment
- Calibrate the workpiece touch probe
- Calibrate the tool touch probe
- Measure the tool
- Within the functions, the control provides the following probing methods:
- Manual probing method
- Automatic probing method
You position and start individual probing processes manually within a touch probe function.
Setting a preset in a linear axis
You manually position the touch probe to the first probing point before the start of the probing routine and fill out a form with the individual parameters for the respective touch probe function. When you start the touch probe function, the control automatically positions and automatically performs probing.
Determining the circle center point of a stud using the automatic probing method

Overview
The touch probe functions are structured in the following groups:
Probe the angle
The Probe the angle group contains the following touch probe functions:
Button | Function |
---|---|
Plane (PL) | Use the Plane (PL) function to determine the solid angle of a plane. You then save the values in the preset table or align the plane. |
Plane over cylinder (PLC) | Use the Plane over cylinder (PLC) function to probe one or two cylinders, each at two different heights. The control calculates the solid angle of a plane from the points probed. You then save the values in the preset table or align the plane. |
Rotation (ROT) | Use the Rotation (ROT) function to determine the skew of a workpiece using a straight line. Then save the determined skew as a basic transformation or offset in the preset table. |
Intersection point (P) | Use the Intersection point (P) function to probe four probing objects. The probing objects can be either positions or circles. The control determines the intersection of the axes and the skew of the workpiece from the objects that have been probed. You can set the intersection point as a preset. You can transfer the determined skew to the preset table as a basic transformation or as an offset. |
The control interprets a basic transformation as a basic rotation, and an offset as a table rotation.
You can compensate for the workpiece misalignment by rotating the table only if the machine is designed with a rotary table axis that is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the workpiece coordinate system W-CS.
Probe the position
The Probe the position group contains the following touch probe functions:
Button | Function |
---|---|
Position (POS) | You can use the Position (POS) function to probe a position in the X axis, Y axis or Z axis. |
Circle (CC) | The Circle (CC) function is used to determine the coordinates of a circle center point (e.g., for a hole or for a stud). Determining the circle center point of a stud using the automatic probing method |
Circle pattern (CPAT) | The Circle pattern (CPAT) function is used to determine the center point coordinates of a circle pattern. |
Centerline (CL) | The Centerline (CL) function is used to determine the center point of a ridge or slot. |
Additional functions group
The Additional functions group contains the following touch probe functions:
Button | Function |
---|---|
Calibrate touch probe | The Calibrate touch probe function is used to determine the length and radius of a workpiece touch probe. |
Measure tool | The Measure tool function allows you to measure tools by scratching. In this function, the control supports milling tools, drilling tools and turning tools. |
Set up fixtures | The Set up fixtures function is used to determine the position of a fixture in the machine’s working space using a workpiece touch probe (option 140). Integrating the fixtures into collision monitoring (option 140) |
Set up the workpiece | The Set up the workpiece function is used to determine the position of a workpiece in the machine’s working space using a workpiece touch probe (option 159). Setting up the workpiece with graphical support (option 159) |
Buttons
General buttons in the touch probe functions
The following buttons are available, depending on the selected touch probe function:
Button | Function |
---|---|
Finish the active touch probe function | |
Select the workpiece preset and the pallet presets and edit values if required Tip The control grays out this icon while a probing process takes place. In this condition, you can check the presets but you cannot edit them. You need to stop the probing process in order to edit presets. | |
Display help graphics for the selected touch probe function | |
Select the probing direction | |
Apply the actual position | |
Approaching and probing points on a straight surface manually | |
Approaching and probing points on a stud or in a hole manually | |
Approaching and probing points on a stud or in a hole automatically After the last touching process and if the opening angle contains the value 360°, the control positions the workpiece touch probe back to the position it had prior to starting the probing function. |
Calibration buttons
The control offers the following functions for calibrating a 3D touch probe:
Button | Function |
---|---|
Calibrating the length of a 3D touch probe | |
Calibrating the radius of a 3D touch probe | |
Apply calibration data | Transferring values from the calibration process into tool management |
Calibrating the workpiece touch probe
You can calibrate a 3D touch probe by using a calibration standard, such as a calibrating ring.
The control provides the following options:
Button | Function |
---|---|
Measure the radius and the center offset using a calibration ring | |
Measure the radius and the center offset using a stud or a calibration pin | |
Measure the radius and the center offset using a calibration sphere Optionally calibrating the tool touch probe in 3D (option 92) 3D radius compensation depending on the tool contact angle (option 92) |
Buttons in the Working plane is inconsistent! window
If the positions of the rotary axes do not match the tilting situation in the 3-D rotation window, the control opens the Working plane is inconsistent! window.
The control offers the following functions in the Working plane is inconsistent! window:
Button | Function |
---|---|
3-D ROT Apply status | The 3-D ROT Apply status function transfers the position of the rotary axes into the 3-D rotation window. |
3-D ROT Ignore status | The 3-D ROT Ignore status function makes the control calculate the probing results, assuming that the rotary axes are in their zero position. |
Align the rotary axes | The Align the rotary axes function aligns the rotary axes to the active tilting situation in the 3-D rotation window. |
Buttons for measured values
After executing a touch probe function, you select the desired control reaction.
The control offers the following functions:
Button | Function |
---|---|
Compensate the active preset | The Compensate the active preset function transfers the measuring result into the active line of the preset table. |
Write the datum | The Write the datum function transfers the measuring result into a desired line of the datum table. |
Align rotary table | The Align rotary table function aligns the rotary axes mechanically according to the measuring result. |
Change the preset window
In the Change the preset window you can select a preset or edit the values of a preset.
The Change the preset window provides the following buttons:
Button | Meaning |
---|---|
Reset basic rotation | The control resets the values from the columns SPA, SPB and SPC. |
Reset offsets | The control resets the values from the columns A_OFFS, B_OFFS and C_OFFS. |
Apply | The control saves the changes and the selected preset. Then the control closes the window. |
Reset | The control cancels the changes and restores the initial condition. |
Cancel | The control closes the window without saving. |
If you change a value, the control marks this value with a blue dot.
Log file of touch probe cycles
After executing the respective touch-probe cycle, the control writes the measured values to the TCHPRMAN.html file.
You can check the readings of past measurements in the TCHPRMAN.html file.
If you have not defined a path in the machine parameter FN16DefaultPath (no. 102202), the control will store the TCHPRMAN.html file directly under TNC:.
If you run several touch probes cycles in a row, the control stores the measured values below each other.
Setting a preset in a linear axis
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
![]() |
| |
| ||
| ||
| ||
![]() |
| |
Tip If you use the Write the datum function, the control also marks this row with an icon. When you have completed the probing process in the first axis, you can probe up to two additional axes using the Position (POS) probing function. | ||
|

Determining the circle center point of a stud using the automatic probing method
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
![]() |
| |
Tip If you use the Write the datum function, the control also marks this row with an icon. | ||
|

Determining and compensating the rotation of a workpiece
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
![]() |
| |
Tip Depending on the tool axis, the measurement result can also be written to another column of the preset table (e.g., SPA). | ||
|

Using touch probe functions with mechanical probes or dial gages
If your machine does not have an electronic 3D touch probe, you can use all manual touch probe functions with manual probing methods with mechanical buttons or with scratching.
For this, the control provides the Accept position button.
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
![]() |
| |
Tip The determined angles have different effects depending on whether they are transferred as an offset or as a basic rotation to the corresponding table. | ||
|
Notes
- When you use a non-contacting tool touch probe, use touch probe, then you are using touch probe functions from the third-party manufacturer. This is the case, for example, with a laser touch probe. Refer to your machine manual.
- The accessibility of the pallet preset table in the touch probe functions depends on the machine manufacturer's configuration. Refer to your machine manual.
- The use of touch probe functions deactivates the global program settings (GPS, option 44) temporarily.
- You can use the manual touch probe functions only with restrictions in turning mode (option 50).
- You must calibrate the touch probe separately in turning mode. The factory default setting of the worktable may vary between milling mode and turning mode, which is why you must calibrate the touch probe without any center offset in turning mode. You can create a tool index for storing the additionally calibrated tool data in the same tool.
- When probing while the guard door is open and spindle orientation to probing direction is active, the number of spindle revolutions is limited. When the maximum permitted number of spindle revolutions is reached, the direction of spindle rotation changes and the control may no longer orient the spindle on the shortest path.
- If you try to set a preset in a locked axis, the control will issue either a warning or an error message, depending on what the machine manufacturer has defined.
- When writing into an empty line of the preset table, the control automatically fills the other columns with values. To define a preset completely, you must determine the values in all axes and write them into the preset table.
- If no tool touch probe is inserted, the actual position can be captured with NC START. The control displays a warning that no probing movement is carried out in that case.
- Recalibrate the workpiece touch probe in the cases below:
- Initial configuration
- Broken stylus
- Stylus replacement
- Change in the probe feed rate
- Irregularities caused, for example, when the machine heats up
- Change of active tool axis
Global Program Settings (GPS, option 44)
Definition
Spindle tracking
If the Track parameter in the touch probe table is active, the control orients the workpiece probing system so that the same position is always used for probing. By deflecting in the same direction, you can reduce the measurement error to the repeatability of the workpiece probing system. This behavior is called spindle tracking.