Older Haas DIY cheap Probe - Guide with pics and video

Hi!

My first post on this forum. But been reading for quite some time, and this forum got a lot of useful information for a n00b like me :)

First off. sorry for my bad english :)


So the story goes -> built a mach 3 cnc mill and got tierd of it.. Came across a haas 1996 vf-2 for a reasonable price, and ended up buying and restoring it.
One thing i really loved about the mach 3 setup was the probe stuff. It made it so simple to probe a bore or position the rotary table and set work offsets, so i was really missing the probe on the haas.
Since i bought the machine for like 6000$ USD including the 4th axsis rotary table, you get that the budget is not to high, as it`s more of a hobby machine for me now, then anything else.

I did look into the reneshaw probing systems and stuff, and that would kinda blow my whole "tooling budget". So i was looking for a cheaper option.

There`s not a problem finding useful information about the reneshaw stuff, but the DIY stuff is much harder to find on these machines, since they are mostly in production compared to mach3 hobby machines.


So here goes:

Fist off, i had to figure out the SKIP signal stuff. Since i did not know anything about the skip function, i had to collect the information here and there. So for you out there that`s in the same boat as me, and know nothing about the SKIP , I`ll quickly explain.
The SKIP signal is an input signal used i combination with some Gcodes, to stop the machine when the SKIP signal is broken or recived (depending on inverted signal or not)
So the Gcode: G54 G36 X10.0 F50 will move the probe to X10 or stop the probe if it touch something. It then automatically ZERO your G54 at this spot.


So what I did was to find two wires, connect them to the SKIP input pins on the I/O board and short the wires together, when watching the SKIP input

Here you can see where to connect the pins. I just stole the "connector" from an old CPU computer fan i had. It fits right on there
It`s marked 1070 P47 on the I/O board, on the backside of the connector not shown in the pic, it`s says "skip"
Attachment 334726

Watching the skip-signal change when shorting the wires together - you will find this under diagnostics -> descrete inputs
Attachment 334724

You can invert the skip signal, depending on what style probe you got.
Attachment 334728

I Just bought a cheap one off ebay called TP-1000 . I liked the design of the adjusting screws on this one, so that`s my only reason for buing it compared to anyother I found out there.
Attachment 334730

Next step was to wire up the probe. I simply did that by using some "ev1 injector connectors" i had laying around the shop. My plan was to use a minijack, but could not find one, and did not feel like going to the store :)
Attachment 334732
Attachment 334734

Almost eveywhere I was reading regarding probe stuff, Macros where mentioned. So I was a bit confued whether or not i needed the macro option installed to get this to work properly. I dont have the macro option installed on my machine.

So far so good, I manage to use the G-codes without any Macros, alteast to do the most common probing stuff like bore center and simple work offsets.


Here`s a small video showing the probe in action:
https://youtu.be/tLi1rmDhHI4


And I`ll end this with some code exampels:

G31 (stores the probed point to memory, used with M75)
G36 Automatic work offset measurement
G37 Automatic tool length offset measurement
G136 is verry useful. Uses the value stored with G31 M75, and the value meassured with G136, and dived`s that in two. to find the center point.

SO to find center of X in a bore and store that as G54 (I run Metric on my machine, so just a note if the speeds looks a bit off):

%
o00002
G91
G54

G31 X30. F1000. (runs in x axis and stop when probe touched something, or 30mm is reached)
G01 X-1. F200. (goes back to clear the workpice befor a slow measurement is done)
G31 X1.5 F20. M75 (does the measurement at slow speed, and stores the meassured X value in the memory to be used for later)
G01 X-1. F200. (clear workpice again)
;
;
G31 X-60. F1000. (rapids over to the other side of the bore, and stops when probe touches)
G01 X1. F200. (clear workpice)
G136 X-1.5 F20. (slowly meassure workpice and automatically set the work offset to center of the two sides meassured, using the M75 stored value from the opposite side)
G01 X1.0 F200. (Clear workpice)
G90;
G01 X0. F500. ( travel to center of what`s just meassured)
M30
%

Repeat the process for the Y axsis if you want to find the center of a bore/pocket/slot

For finding an edge or corner of the workpice, use G36, as this will set the work offset directly when the probe touch. Remeber to set the stylus offset under settings 59-62.
Attachment 334766

Hope some will find this usefull :)

Sorry for all the photos beeing flipped sideways allmost breaking your neck :)

That is really, really good work! My hat is off to you. For all the flash and show along with the price tags that accompany those set ups, for you to have accomplished this the way you have is very good work! Kudos to you. I have a Haimer 3D Taster for an older Haas that they said could not support their probe kit. After reading this, I may just do what you have outlined. Again - Well done.

Thanks :)
You should go ahead and do it yourself. It takes 1hr to do it, when you know how. And 14 days when you dont :p

I`m allso using the 3D taster. What i actually do when probing, is that I offset the probed Z value with the length difference using the G10. So when I put in the 3d taster and jog to Z0, the 3d taster shows 0 aswell. This is nice since all my tool-lengths are based on the 3d taster (tool one) :)

This thread is so great.

I am ordering 2 TP-100's right now. I am thinking I can wire them up in parallel to the SKIPS as you have and use one for Tool setter and 1 for probing.

I do not have macros either so I am super curious if this works for both.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reidar85

Hi!

My first post on this forum. But been reading for quite some time, and this forum got a lot of useful information for a n00b like me :)

First off. sorry for my bad english :)


So the story goes -> built a mach 3 cnc mill and got tierd of it.. Came across a haas 1996 vf-2 for a reasonable price, and ended up buying and restoring it.
One thing i really loved about the mach 3 setup was the probe stuff. It made it so simple to probe a bore or position the rotary table and set work offsets, so i was really missing the probe on the haas.
Since i bought the machine for like 6000$ USD including the 4th axsis rotary table, you get that the budget is not to high, as it`s more of a hobby machine for me now, then anything else.

I did look into the reneshaw probing systems and stuff, and that would kinda blow my whole "tooling budget". So i was looking for a cheaper option.

There`s not a problem finding useful information about the reneshaw stuff, but the DIY stuff is much harder to find on these machines, since they are mostly in production compared to mach3 hobby machines.


So here goes:

Fist off, i had to figure out the SKIP signal stuff. Since i did not know anything about the skip function, i had to collect the information here and there. So for you out there that`s in the same boat as me, and know nothing about the SKIP , I`ll quickly explain.
The SKIP signal is an input signal used i combination with some Gcodes, to stop the machine when the SKIP signal is broken or recived (depending on inverted signal or not)
So the Gcode: G54 G36 X10.0 F50 will move the probe to X10 or stop the probe if it touch something. It then automatically ZERO your G54 at this spot.


So what I did was to find two wires, connect them to the SKIP input pins on the I/O board and short the wires together, when watching the SKIP input

Here you can see where to connect the pins. I just stole the "connector" from an old CPU computer fan i had. It fits right on there
It`s marked 1070 P47 on the I/O board, on the backside of the connector not shown in the pic, it`s says "skip"
Attachment 334726

Watching the skip-signal change when shorting the wires together - you will find this under diagnostics -> descrete inputs
Attachment 334724

You can invert the skip signal, depending on what style probe you got.
Attachment 334728

I Just bought a cheap one off ebay called TP-1000 . I liked the design of the adjusting screws on this one, so that`s my only reason for buing it compared to anyother I found out there.
Attachment 334730

Next step was to wire up the probe. I simply did that by using some "ev1 injector connectors" i had laying around the shop. My plan was to use a minijack, but could not find one, and did not feel like going to the store :)
Attachment 334732
Attachment 334734

Almost eveywhere I was reading regarding probe stuff, Macros where mentioned. So I was a bit confued whether or not i needed the macro option installed to get this to work properly. I dont have the macro option installed on my machine.

So far so good, I manage to use the G-codes without any Macros, alteast to do the most common probing stuff like bore center and simple work offsets.


Here`s a small video showing the probe in action:
https://youtu.be/tLi1rmDhHI4


And I`ll end this with some code exampels:

G31 (stores the probed point to memory, used with M75)
G36 Automatic work offset measurement
G37 Automatic tool length offset measurement
G136 is verry useful. Uses the value stored with G31 M75, and the value meassured with G136, and dived`s that in two. to find the center point.

SO to find center of X in a bore and store that as G54 (I run Metric on my machine, so just a note if the speeds looks a bit off):

%
o00002
G91
G54

G31 X30. F1000. (runs in x axis and stop when probe touched something, or 30mm is reached)
G01 X-1. F200. (goes back to clear the workpice befor a slow measurement is done)
G31 X1.5 F20. M75 (does the measurement at slow speed, and stores the meassured X value in the memory to be used for later)
G01 X-1. F200. (clear workpice again)
;
;
G31 X-60. F1000. (rapids over to the other side of the bore, and stops when probe touches)
G01 X1. F200. (clear workpice)
G136 X-1.5 F20. (slowly meassure workpice and automatically set the work offset to center of the two sides meassured, using the M75 stored value from the opposite side)
G01 X1.0 F200. (Clear workpice)
G90;
G01 X0. F500. ( travel to center of what`s just meassured)
M30
%

Repeat the process for the Y axsis if you want to find the center of a bore/pocket/slot

For finding an edge or corner of the workpice, use G36, as this will set the work offset directly when the probe touch. Remeber to set the stylus offset under settings 59-62.
Attachment 334766

Hope some will find this usefull :)

Sorry for all the photos beeing flipped sideways allmost breaking your neck :)

---

Hi! I know im picking up on an old thread but i see you connected 3 wires while mentioning you only had to short two. What is this third wire used for? And which of the three are used for the switch?
My haas motherboard has a 4 pin connector for skip signal, do you perhaps know the pinout for this?
Thanks!

This thread was immensely helpful in setting up a cheapo probe on my 2013 VF1 (no macro option). Rather than drop the $8k to the HFO for a renishaw I figured I'd try this out.
I also used one of those magnetic usb connectors - so I could leave the probe in the tool changer and just magnetically connect it to the wire.

Things seem to work pretty well, once in a while during probing routine all the axes will move backwards, even though hand jogging works correctly.
Here are my probing routines if anyone is interested: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3irjikyol...-zw9K-9la?dl=0

Question on probing Z, using the G36 Z-1 command - is there anything special I need to do other than have the tool height set properly in the tool table?

And should the G54 Z work offset read 0, regardless of which tool is loaded up and jogged down to the top of the part?

Sorry for the newb questions.
Attachment 445666


https://vimeo.com/user62335169/revie...040/2a3aa22500

Brian,

Would this work on our Novakons as well?

You mean the quick connect - yeah for sure. Prob not as much of an issue since it doesnt have a tool changer. But on the haas its nice to leave the probe in the changer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brianbonedoc

This thread was immensely helpful in setting up a cheapo probe on my 2013 VF1 (no macro option). Rather than drop the $8k to the HFO for a renishaw I figured I'd try this out.
I also used one of those magnetic usb connectors - so I could leave the probe in the tool changer and just magnetically connect it to the wire.

Things seem to work pretty well, once in a while during probing routine all the axes will move backwards, even though hand jogging works correctly.
Here are my probing routines if anyone is interested: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3irjikyol...-zw9K-9la?dl=0

Question on probing Z, using the G36 Z-1 command - is there anything special I need to do other than have the tool height set properly in the tool table?

And should the G54 Z work offset read 0, regardless of which tool is loaded up and jogged down to the top of the part?

Sorry for the newb questions.
Attachment 445666


https://vimeo.com/user62335169/revie...040/2a3aa22500

---

How did you calibrate your probe offsets in 59-63? I cannot get the haas 9999 calibrate to function correctly on my old 1997 machine.
BTW Your dropbox programs are GREAT! Thanks!
Thanks

It was kinda ghetto, but what I did was take a know bore and probe to center it. Then manually jogged over and read how much it moved in each direction.
I entered the probe offsets x-/x+ etc, such that it when I reprobed it manually jogging would yield equal results in all directions. I think it's within 2 thou or so on my setup. For me its more about getting the corners and center of the bore, since we cant really do in program measurements without macros. But setting XYZ offsets and tool offsets is awesome. Oh yeah, I added tool length offset measurement too. https://vimeo.com/444382114

Hey Brian.

Do you have some pics of the wiring you did for the hook up on the 2013?

Brian,

If you have time a step by step on what you did on the newer haas would be awesome. Have a 2012 vf3 I would like to set this up on.

Attachment 451030

The wiring is pretty simple. P22 has 4 pins. Only the top 2 pins are needed. I think the top (Pin 1) is +12v I cant remember. Then Pin 2 is gnd - if you short the 2 pins you get the "skip signal"

For just the probe I wired the 2 wires from pin 1,2 and a attached it to a magnetic usb cable which connects to the probe. Some probes have a diode so if it doesnt work just reverse the 2 wires.

Here is my new MP3 probe which is much smoother and more consistent.

Attachment 451032

https://vimeo.com/user62335169/revie...195/55c401fc26

To add the tool setter I used the built in relay in the picture - the far right one. You can see my 3 wires attached red/grn/yellow. Attachment 451034

I took the +12v pin from P22 (pin1 I think) and sent it to the relay, the normal closed position connects it to the probe, and the NO position connects the +12v to the tool setter.
Then when you command M55 the relay switches to the tool setter, you run the code and then M56 turns the relay off setting the connection back to the probe.

Here is a sample code to measure tool height on the tool setter:

%
O03302;
(T2 Measure);
T2 M06
G00 G90 G59 X0 Y0
G43 H02
M55
G04 P0.05
G37 H02 Z0 F50. (Z0 is activated probe surface, use G59 Z offset to control probe height)
G91 G01 Z.1 F100.
G37 H02 Z0 F3.
G91 G01 Z.1 F100.
M56
G53 G0 Z10.
M30
%

Here are my probing routines. Because I dont have macros, I had to write a probing routine for each scenario, and one for each tool number to measure the tools.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3irjikyol...-zw9K-9la?dl=0

Thanks for posting that stuff. What toolsetter did you end up using?

Curious, how are you setting tool offsets with just a probe and no "tool offset" measuring device. Oh, and thanks for the great info, plan on doing the same on my 96 VF2! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gulliver22

Curious, how are you setting tool offsets with just a probe and no "tool offset" measuring device. Oh, and thanks for the great info, plan on doing the same on my 96 VF2! :)

---

I do have a tool setting device. It was one off Aliexpress I think - similar to this one as theyre all the same: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3285...archweb201603_

I used the relay built in to switch between the MP3 probe and the tool setter.

I cant' tell you how awesome it is when I change or break a tool, just to run the program to measure the new tool automatically.

Awesome! I'll get me one of those also! Thanks so much! :):)

Hi Everyone, i hope you can point me in the right direction.
I have a Haas Mini Mill Built 2002 with a CHC control and software version 11.17
im having trouble finding the SKIP input on the diagnostic screen, my display lists the discrete inputs slightly different to that shown above.
i can see the Invert skip option but not the actual input itself. i dont know if it will work without actually showing the input or not, bit scary pretending to probe something on the off chance its not there.
any help would be greatfuly accepted