Now available from Tamworth-based Industrial Tooling Corporation Ltd (ITC — www.itc-ltd.co.uk) are the new Base Master Red and Base Master Mini high-precision touch sensors from BIG Kaiser. These can rapidly determine workpiece offsets and tool lengths to improve precision and repeatability, while reducing set-up times.

The Base Master Red can be used with all types of machines and materials, including non-conductive cutting tools, workpieces and machine tools; the operator can quickly ‘touch a tool’ with zero risk of damage or breakage.

Furthermore, the body set and measuring sensor are independent of each other, which simplifies maintenance by allowing the user to simply replace the measuring sensor, if an issue occurs. The Base Master Red has repeatability of ±0.001mm, as well as a solid magnetic base that mounts vertically, horizontally or at any angle the operator wants.

Meanwhile, the Base Master Mini features a compact design (it is just 10mm high), allowing it to be both fast and flexible in its application. This unit can be used with small turning centres, sliding-head lathes and other machine tools that have an extremely compact work envelope with limited working space.

For rapid reference-point detection, both the Base Master Red and the Base Master Mini are fitted with a bright-green LED light; the battery allows 10hr of continuous use.