[sumrnitz]

Hi,
Forgive the newbie questions as I've been using the search function for 4 hours now and haven't seemed to have found an answer (and it's getting a little late).
Is there a DIY laser scanner project (or low cost unit), mountable to my 3-axis CNC, that I can do 2.5D scans with? I've read tons of stuff but it all seems to be geared to the David-laser scanner, etc. type set-ups for 3D scanning and use the 90 degree board behind it.
I would like to be able to lay something flat on my CNC bed and have the machine zip back and forth, make the scan and then I import the file into Cut 3D. My machine is a CNC Shark Pro and I've pulled my hair out using the Nextwave Touch Probe (been through 2 of them now and none seem to work right, even with consulting the manufacturer).
I've seen expensive and very expensive products from companies like Scantech, etc. but they are waaaaay outside of my barebones budget.

I've also looked into video probing...maybe that's a better option?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I realize that newbie questions are headaches. Please be gentle...I may be an idiot, but a well meaning one.

The equipment that I'm using:

CNC Shark Pro
Cut 3D
V-Carve Pro 6.5
Mach 3 (not hooked up yet due to ncPod headaches)

Many Thanks!
Chris

[quniform]

You can use a 3d digitizing probe.
Accessories

[willofgod]

What is your budget?

[victorofga]

try to email this company

Laser Displacement Sensors | Displacement Sensors | Low-cost Laser Displacement Sensors

there are two type of lasersensor... one of them like this... the laser goes out in angle and sensor calculate of the angle as receiving.. this is the cheaper..
this sensorhead about 1000-1250... this actually could work like the touchprobe.... but as it doesnt contact the surface, it possible 50 times faster..
nextengine works with this type sensor..

send them email..

another type is very expenses where laser return in the emission point and vawelength converted to distance.. like electronmicroscope..
those lasers about 10K or more..

[sumrnitz]

I have a couple of 3d probes already but I've run into a problem with the probes. One, My CNC only has 4.5" of Z travel and when scanning objects that are near 2 inches tall, and having to plunge almost all the way to the table in some holes, I can't fit a probe with sufficient length to do the job (my shortest probe only has a 1/4-3/4" of headspace over the surface when attached. Second, with the current software I have it utilizes a "touch, and drag horizontally across the surface" system that seems to want to hang up in areas. I've had this happen quite a few times. So, that has me on the look for a uber-cheap DYI laser solution. I've actually wondered if video probing would be the answer but I may not have the software (or skills) needed to turn this into usable tool paths and G-Code.

Have any of you used a 3D probe with Mach 3? Does it probe in the method I described above or can it do the pin probing where it lowers, touches the object, raises back up, moves over and repeats? I've seen videos of other machines doing this and it would be a better method for my application until I can find a laser solution.

[sumrnitz]

I do have an answer on the Mach 3 question. The program natively does the method of probing I'm looking for referred to as 'Bed of Nails' probing. I'm slowly learning!

Still wondering if video probing is right for me or if a very low cost laser solution is out there................

[victorofga]

if your issue only the 2 inch depth, then i think you could try to make a longer tip to that sensor..
if you have no more room than the 4 inches, then you can remove the router to raising higher the digitizing hea..
or mount on the side of the Z axis.. for accuracy no any affect where the head placed within the Z axis...

thats only for comfortably using to put into the router collet..


by the way, ebay has one head

CNC 3D Digitizing Probe for Mach3 Stepper Motor Routers Lowest Cost Qualityprobe | eBay

if you looking for this type of digitizing head, youll find some folks make their own..
theres no limit what length you can use of the tip..
resolution migth lowering as tip is lengther..

theres one thing very important... most probe came from same manufacturer... different manufacturers, solving differently the probing..
still you can use mach3 for probing..


like shopbot, carvewrigth, cnc shark, deskcnc

http://www.imsrv.com/deskcnc/probe3.jpg


so i think you need to change the tip for a longer..

[sumrnitz]

Thanks for the reply. I already do have 2 digitizing probes, one of which came from that very same ebay seller. The 4.5" of Z travel isn't high enough for me to have 2 inch material and a probe of sufficient length. If you look at the picture of the auction that you linked to, it's not only the length of the probe pin, but also the round part of the probe holding the contact mechanism that also has to fit into the chuck......meaning a pin has to be too short to do the job I need. My other probe is from Rockler/ NextWave and that top part of the probe is very, very small....but still too tall to allow for a longer pin. It looks identical to the pic of the second probe that you linked to.

In short...if I add a longer pin...the work piece will not fit on the table under the spindle head.

Also, are you suggesting to build a fixture on the side of the router/spindle assembly to attach a probe with a longer pin? That's a very interesting concept.

[victorofga]

what i wrote above, you DONT HAVE TO put digitizing into the routercollet...
either way, removing router, or placing ""next"" router your digitizer it can be in higher position..

so, guessing you have 4.5 inch under gantry...

probe hanging down 2.125 under the lowest point, and this will be 2.125 from table top..

your issue coming from you want to put into the router collet.. that way the 2 inch doesnt work..
again, theres no any reason for this, except its comfortably ...

just think positively...

[sumrnitz]

I can easily come up with an alternative mounting solution for a longer probe. Thank you for the suggestions.