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  1. #1
    Just to say tar very much to you members that have helpedwith various things I now have my mill going and am very pleased with it.

    I think my next project other than learning more about Mach 3 will be to make atouch of probe that will double up as an edge finder I have a female socket inthe control box already wired into the break out board.

    It would be interesting to see what you guys think or if you have seen goodones. I don’t want a laser pointer kind of set-up. I don’t want to buy a cheap Chinesething of eBay I would rather go to the effort and make a nice one. After all Ihave the female and male socket plus some off-cuts of wire!

    All the best

    Suesi

  2. #2
    I have got some Quantum Tunnelling Compound pills. These are basically 3x3x1 mm pieces that look like black rubber, but when compressed they change from an insulator to a good conductor with a sharp transition, when I have the time I am going to play with making a touch probe with them. I am intrigued to know how sensitive and accurate they will turn out.

    Cheers,
    Rob

  3. #3
    Hi Rob,
    Very best of luck with that it sounds complex to me! I shall go for something basic.
    All the best
    Suesi

  4. #4
    What do you want to do.? Just find the edge and surfaces of parts or full 3D touch probe.?

    Edge and surface is very easy and requires nothing more than a wire and conductive plate. 3D touch probe requires more work and often work differant regards how they sense the touch.
    Simple plate wire plate setup "makes" the circuit so it goes active when High. Most touch probes work opposite and go active when circuit is "broke" or Active low.
    Depending on your setup and control software then often the Probe input pin needs to be setup one way or the other so mixing both is a pain.
    I practice you'll find the simple plate wire setup more useful has it saves so much time when finding edges and esp when setting material surface or Z height.
    I use my plate setup on every single Job and couldn't live without it but can't remember the last time I used my touch probe.!!

  5. #5
    Hi JAZZCNC,

    Thanks very much for your help here again with your posts. Yes, I just want tomake a tool to find edges and surfaces of stock perhaps later a center finderfor holes but nothing more at this stage. I am using Mach 3 by the way I justwant something for ease accuracy and to save the eye squinting / problems Icould run into.

    Thanks again

    Suesi
    Last edited by suesi34e; 13-03-2014 at 11:18 PM.

  6. #6
    I have a simple brass block with an acrylic piece bonded to it to insulate it from the workpiece. The acrylic and brass were trimmed in the lathe and then the faces of the acrylic and brass were turned parallel. the brass has a 4mm hole in the side for a banana plug to connect to the touch probe input. Mike up the block and that is the tool height offset for Mach3. The BOB has a 10k res to 5v to keep the probe input high until the tool grounds it. A simple macro in Mach3 and I have a tool height setter that is one of my cheapest and most useful accessories.
    Last edited by cropwell; 13-03-2014 at 09:10 AM.

  7. #7
    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

  8. #8
    I use both a 3D touch probe and touch plate i.e. both of the methods Jazz describes. I have a mini toggle switch rigged up to switch between the two circuits, but it does mean going into Mach3 to change from active low to active high depending on which one I am using.

    I would say the 3D probe is more convenient once its in the tool collet as my machine laying flat means I would need arms 6 feet long to click the probe button and hold the plate to the part. That said I have had to use the touch plate only and it works fine as its very simple and I still use it to set my tool height.

    The 3D probe also gives you the option of "scanning" objects into MACH3/CAD (or it would if I find time to work out how ;-) ).

  9. #9
    I have a mini toggle switch rigged up to switch between the two circuits, but it does mean going into Mach3 to change from active low to active high depending on which one I am using.
    Surely there must be a way with a simple transistor so as with the switch the probe would give out the correct level o/p. Or am I missing something? I can hear Irving's brain working in the background ..Clive

  10. #10
    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


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