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  1. #11
    Hi cropwell
    The tool you have and what you say makes sence many thanks for your help and the info. I hope to make the little tool soon, should be good I hope!
    Many thanks
    suesi

  2. #12
    Hi Washout,

    Many thanks for your help. It sound like you have a good size machine and I seewhy you would need long arms!
    I shall just make a little touch plate to start with and see what trouble I getinto with that. I think that will be ample for my need at the minute.

    All the best

    Suesi


  3. #13
    Hi Guys,
    I am back again in need of a bit more help on a zero out tool come edge finder.Thanks very much for the help already. Here is a pic of a male connector I wantto use it is 6 pin male, I have the female in my control box wired up.
    I was thinking of using a banana plug as suggested, I hope that would allow meto switch between tools physically and when using mach 3.


    I am stuck on what spec wire to use and is single core suitable?
    Also can some help me write a macro or point me in the right direction? I wouldnot now where to start. I am still trying to learn the G code! I have got mymill going well I am cautiously cutting squares in a piece of Perspex.
    I look forward to seeing what you guys can help me with as I know you give goodadvice.
    Many thanks
    Suesi

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  4. Don't use single core, it'll fracture eventually. Depending on how many cores you need, any lightweight signal cable/hookup wire will suffice, 7/0.2 or 16/0.2 (strands/cross-section in mm^2), or bit of overkill, some spare CY.
    Last edited by irving2008; 17-03-2014 at 08:07 PM.

  5. #15
    The wire I use (simply because I had it spare) is a grounding wire from an anti-static wrist strap. It has a banana plug pre-moulded on it and is the extra-flex type with a very flexible silicone rubber sheath. If you make a tool height setting block, let me know and I will send you the Mach3 Macro and some instructions on how to adapt it for your own needs. I did not write the macro, just furtled it a bit. I might just post it on the forum, but don't hold your breath, I've never been so busy since I retired.
    .
    BTW, you need to check that the tool in the spindle connects through to ground on the BOB, otherwise you will need to put a croc clip on it with a connection to the BOB ground.
    .
    Cheers,
    Rob

  6. #16
    Hi irving2008,

    Many thanks for the reply I have goggled CY cable so OK there thanks. The thingis how do I determine how many core I need. I am sorry if I misunderstandmatters but do you mean don’t use a single core cable for strength reasons,perhaps I still use just one cable core for the circuit?

    Many thanks

    Kind regards

    Suesi


  7. If you only need one connection you need use only 1 core of a multicore like CY. The confusion comes from the loose use of the word 'core'. Technically 'single core' means 1 wire, stranded or solid. if its solid its 1 strand, so you can have multi-cored solid cable (phone cable being a good example) which is fine for static use.

  8. #18
    Hi irving, thank you for your msg. I think I see what you mean about stranded and single core. I just need to find out how many conections I need to make in the male plug.

    Many thanks

    Suesi

  9. If I understand what you're proposing you only need 1 connection so you need only wire up one core of a multi-core cable, however I'd do at least 2 for resilience. In this situation I'd use a cable that fits the cable restraints in the connector for mechanical stability. I only suggested CY if you had some left over from wiring up steppers or vfd, I wouldn't buy it specifically for this.

  10. #20
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    Hi,
    Have a look at these files.
    Copy the code below into your clipboard.
    Graphic 1 is the Offsets screen where you put in the plate height, in my case 23.97mm
    On the main screen as shown in graphic 2 it shows the drop down 'Operator' and from that list select 'Edit Button Script'
    Various buttons on the screen will flash, Click on 'Auto Tool Zero'
    a window will open and whatever is in it select it all and paste over it with the clipboard contents from step 1. This is shown below. File, Save and Close the Script window.
    'Tool Zero Setting Macro

    ' Change the following three lines to suit your machine
    PlateThickness = GetOEMDRO(1001) ' Thickness of touch plate - leave this line, it is the value in the gage block height
    RetractClearance = 10 ' Clearance above touch plate to retract to
    ProbeFeed = 20 ' Feedrate to use for probing

    ' Define some constants
    ZDRO = 2 ' Z Axis DRO
    AbsoluteModeLED = 48 ' Absolute Coordinate Mode LED
    IncrementalModeLED = 49 ' Incremental Coordinate Mode LED
    FeedrateDRO = 818 ' OEM code for feedrate DRO
    ProbeLED = 825 ' OEM code for probe input LED
    ZTouchDRO = 2002 ' OEM code for DRO that holds Z touch position

    ' Do nothing if probe is already grounded
    If GetOemLed(ProbeLED) = 0 Then

    ' Wait a few seconds for user to get touchplate in place
    Code "G4 P2"

    ' Save current feedrate
    CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(FeedrateDRO)

    ' Save current coordinate mode
    AbsMode = GetOemLED(AbsoluteModeLED)

    ' Set absolute coordinate mode
    Code "G90"

    ' Zero Z DRO
    Call SetDro (ZDRO, 0.0000)

    ' Pause for DRO to update
    Code "G4 P0.5"

    ' Do the touch move
    Code "G31 Z-20 F" & ProbeFeed

    ' Wait for it to complete
    While IsMoving()
    Wend

    ' Delay a bit for
    Code "G4 P0.25"

    ' Get the Z position where probe input triggered
    ZProbePos = GetVar(ZTouchDRO)

    ' Go back to touch position (G31 backs off after touch)
    Code "G0 Z" & ZProbePos

    ' Wait for it to complete
    While IsMoving ()
    Wend

    ' Set Z DRO to touch plate thickness
    Call SetDro (ZDRO, PlateThickness)

    ' Pause for DRO to update
    'Code "G4 P0.5"

    ' Retract Z to SafeZ, if enabled, else to RetractClearance above plate
    If(IsSafeZ() = 1) Then
    SafeZ = GetSafeZ
    If SafeZ > PlateThickness Then
    GotoSafeZ()
    End If
    Else
    RetractHeight = PlateThickness + RetractClearance
    Code "G0 Z" & RetractHeight
    End If

    ' Tell user we're done
    Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)"

    ' Reset feedrate to original value
    Code "F" & CurrentFeed

    ' Reset coordinate mode to original value
    If AbsMode = 0 Then
    Code "G91"
    End If
    Else
    Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)"
    End If

    Exit Sub

    .............
    I have assumed a certain level of knowledge of Mach3 and Windows.
    Remember you have the emergency stop if you think it is going wrong when you test.

    Best regards,

    Rob Townshend

    I still remember what it was like when I was first learning Mach3 and CNC

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