Burton on Trent-based Blum-Novotest (www.blum-novotest.com) has launched its ZX-Speed, which the company says is its most advanced probe yet for automatic, quick and economical tool measurement and monitoring.

Tool-length measurement and breakage-detection processes are carried out while the tool is stationary; only large tools such as face mills that must be measured off-centre are measured under rotation.

The measurements are performed, for example, after a new tool has been loaded or for control measurements between machining steps. According to Blum, this is a reliable method of avoiding costly rejects due to undetected tool breakage, wear and poorly adjusted tools.

A particular feature of the ZX-Speed is its multi-directional measuring mechanism, which allows the measurement of even very small tools (starting from 1mm in diameter) with a repeatability of 0.4μm.

The probe is available in three versions: a wired type, an infra-red type or one with a radio transmission device. The wired version is recommended if it is possible to mount the probe at a fixed location in the machine without causing interference. It is supplied as a standard unit with a cable and a 1.5m steel spiral protective hose.

If a Blum workpiece touch-probe is already fitted to the machine, or if wired installation is not possible, wireless variants using infra-red transmission are available; these can be used on machines featuring pallet changers.

Meanwhile, the ZX-Speed RC with BRC radio technology is generally used if direct line of sight between the probe and receiver cannot be guaranteed.

One advantage of this transmission technology is that every part of the radio signal runs across the entire width of the frequency band, thus making transmission particularly resistant to interference (BRC radio technology allows the sequential activation of up to six Blum radio measuring systems with one receiver, as well as the simultaneous use of two radio measuring systems on a single machine operating in duo mode).

Accessories include replaceable measuring surfaces and different mounting brackets, as well as blow nozzles for cleaning the tool and the measuring surface.