[mccafferty]

I have a cnc router on its way from China that uses the Taiwan LNC MW2200 controller. It has ATC and auto tool measure. I want to add a sensor so I can do a touch off to set Z0. The machine manufacturer doesn’t seem to understand what I am wanting or why. They keep saying to use the wheel and bring tool 1 down until it touches the workpiece and set it. I do not want to do this. We make production parts and this isn’t efficient. I want to buy a sensor that can be placed on the workpiece. Position tool 1 over it and have it automatically set Z0.

Does anyone know if that controller can do this?

Thanks for any input

[CNC_Checker88]

We use touch probe for similar situations. Look on production of company Renishaw. We use those probes in most CNC machines.

[digicomimaging]

I have a cnc router on its way from China that uses the Taiwan LNC MW2200 controller. It has ATC and auto tool measure. I want to add a sensor so I can do a touch off to set Z0. The machine manufacturer doesn’t seem to understand what I am wanting or why. They keep saying to use the wheel and bring tool 1 down until it touches the workpiece and set it. I do not want to do this. We make production parts and this isn’t efficient. I want to buy a sensor that can be placed on the workpiece. Position tool 1 over it and have it automatically set Z0.

Does anyone know if that controller can do this?

Thanks for any input

I am running my CNC with the LNC MW2200 and while it works well, it's not the most intuitive. In all my discussions with my Chinese friends, they don't know of a way to attach a probe and have it Z0 the bit. They view this as a production machine where you do not change substrates much and don't need a touch-off probe. I have configured a sensor attached to a voltmeter and this works well in determining the Z0. I touch the bit on the sensor, the voltmeter beeps and I add the thickness of the sensor to the bit height, then lower the bit to that height and click Z SET on the LNC. It's not automatic, but it only takes 30-45 sec and it does the same thing. You can pickup a sensor on Amazon for $20.

[sawdustandcoffee]

I got my machine the other day, I had them install a probe for touching off the material as well.
Currently i know how to measure tools with the probe attached to the machine near the ATC rack. I am currently in discussion with the manufacturer to understand how to use the second probe to measure material thickness/height/Z0 position. The first attempt they sent me a video of the same process for measuring a tool and it had a cut scene to show the sensor on the bed...which i had to explain to them that i dont have one or the other.. i have both.. so we will see how tonight goes. (im 12 hours behind them, so the weekend wasnt super productive other than getting things setup and playing around with the controller basics.

Ill report back when i have some info and i can share some photos of where my probe is connected etc. Not sure about what software changes you might need, or if its just knowing the right gcode commands

[sawdustandcoffee]

Ok, good news and bad news.

I know how to use my z sensor to set z0.

Bad news is that it looks like there is a button on the screen to toggle between the rear tool measuing sensor and the portable sensor. Thats bad news because there must be some logic setup.

as the actual process is identical to measuring a tool, except for this one button that toggles which sensor to use. So there is some logic that says if its using the portable sensor, we are setting z and if its using the "refernce" sensor we are measuring a tool.

I can probably figure out how to get the software from mine copied somewhere and share it for adventurous people or anyone with the same setup as me.

[mccafferty]

I now have the machine. I am still having difficulty communicating the need to have touch-off setting of Z0. I did find a screen that implies the controller should handle using a 3D probe to set X, y, and z. I can’t seem to paste a photo of the screen here. It’s a display where you select which side of the object the probe is on and select to set that coordinate. The probe moves to the object, subtracts the radios of the probe, and sets the coordinate. The program doesn’t seem enabled as it doesn’t do anything when I select a function. I need to know how to enable, which input the probe uses, and where to enter the diameter of the probe.
Ugh…

My Acorn controller on my mill implements the same thing nicely.

[RaderSidetrack]

I can’t seem to paste a photo of the screen here.

I'm not surprised pasting an image doesn't work.

There are two options for images: post a link to an image hosted elsewhere (Flickr, Imgur, Postimages.org, etc) or use the Go Advanced button, then do an Attachment (upload your image file).

[sawdustandcoffee]

I now have the machine. I am still having difficulty communicating the need to have touch-off setting of Z0. I did find a screen that implies the controller should handle using a 3D probe to set X, y, and z. I can’t seem to paste a photo of the screen here. It’s a display where you select which side of the object the probe is on and select to set that coordinate. The probe moves to the object, subtracts the radios of the probe, and sets the coordinate. The program doesn’t seem enabled as it doesn’t do anything when I select a function. I need to know how to enable, which input the probe uses, and where to enter the diameter of the probe.
Ugh…

My Acorn controller on my mill implements the same thing nicely.

Shoot me an email

Jason@sawdustandcoffee.com

I have been working with my manufacturer quite a bit over the last month or so, I'm sure I can help get it sorted out for you and then one of us can make some instructions or videos and drop them here in the thread.