Questions on using a moving gantry style mini-mill...

[Davek0974]

Dave do your self a Favor and Buy Gerry's (Ger21) Screen set and make touch plate. Worth every penny and will save you hours of messing around with setting Z height etc. Much much nicer than 1024 screen set.

You'll find link at bottom Gerry's post.

Watched the videos, nicely presented and explained, looks a great screen set, can't wait to get my hands on it ;)

[routercnc]

Been using it for ages as well and it's well worth it.

The probe function page is great with everything you can think of.

Just watch your monitor size - mine is 15" and the fonts can be a bit fuzzy. This is explained in the link and there is a preferred monitor/resolution size if I remember correctly. Even fuzzy it's still a good screenset.

[Ger21]

Turn off Auto screen enlarge and they won't be fuzzy. I use an old 15" monitor myself.

[Davek0974]

Arrived last night, looks money well spent, nice one.

Day off today, out in the shop, get the thing going :)

[Davek0974]

This 2010 screen-set is nothing short of brilliant!

A couple of questions...

Workflow, does this seem correct?
Mount the work,
Mount Tool 1,
Set X&Y zero position,
Run initial auto zero,
Cut job.

Probing...
What is needed in order to use the X&Y probing routines - what is the 'probe'?

Tools...
If tool 2 is longer than tool 1, will it hit the fixed probe plate?
i.e do we need to try and get the tools similar in stick-out?
Not tried this yet - just looking to learn.

Thanks

[Ger21]

The "probe" is usually the tool. Actually, to use the screenset as is, it needs to be the tool.

Make sure that you set the Clearance Plane to a high enough value so that all tools will clear the plates, and buy a safe margin. There's some info on this in the 2010 manual.

Keep in mind that the maximum probing distance is coded at 150mm (assuming you're using metric). If you need more, I can tell you how to change it.

[Davek0974]

Ok, I will increase my clearance plane, manual only advises 3mm i think above fixed plate - thats what made me ask:)

The probe i am asking about is the one used when running the X & Y probing wizards - if the tool is grounded and the work (being metal) is grounded it cannot work, one needs to be isolated? Also the sides of an end-mill would not be accurate enough to probe an edge with?

I think 150mm is fine as thats all the Z i have.