Edge Finding For Newbies

[h4ppy-chris]

thanks Phil that helped me

You draw your part in CAD then create a Gcode file using a CAM program

The attached pic is drawn in the lower R/H corner this is X Plus Y Minus

The piece is 100 mm square and you want to put a 20mm hole in the centre

This assume your machine is perfectly set up, no backlash etc

You only have simple equipment no edge finders of any type

You will hold this in a vice clamped to the table with the back edge running perfectly parallel to the X axis

Have the part stick out say 10mm on the left hand side

You can use a dowel of 6mm dia or a cutter mounted in your collet upside down

Bring the dowel up on the left hand side so it is just touching you can use a feeler gauge to do this but you have to add the feeler gauge thickness to the DRO's setting

Once you have TOUCHED OFF set the DRO to the correct dimension then raise the Z and move the table to Zero it should be obvious if the dowel looks correctly on the centreline

Then you repeat for the other axis

Using this method you should be able to be accurate to 0.02mm

You could also have other holes, recesses shapes in the plate but the edge finding is the same



HTH
Phil