[pippin88]

I've written a guide for using a touch plate in LinuxCNC. Surprisingly hard to find how to get it going (I searched a lot) when it's fairly simple really.

7xcnc.com/software/probing/

[heliwill10]

We have wired a touch plate to our controller and it checks out in diagnostics.

However, we used "index#1" instead of "probe" for the ports and pins......

Will this code still work?

I know it's been asked before on this thread, but I couldn't follow.

Many thanks we are very, very green.

[ger21]

No, it won't work unless you assign it to the probe input.

[heliwill10]

Ok, thanks!

I've seen countless scripts on here, what post has the current script people are using?

Also, do we need to load the 1024.set for the script to work correctly?

I saw a post about a script that tones instead of blinks, did that come to fruition?

[sale030]

Hi to all.
I ask for an urgent help. The script from this forum is working "properly" for me, except that when I'm a starting Probing button, Z axis going up (counter shows the movement in the negative direction also). I note that the Z motor configuration in my Mach 3 is opposite of Y and X motors, ie + is moving downwards, which is working properly in Jogging also (Up button means moving in + ie downwards). Where is the mistake??
Much thanks in advanced.

[ger21]

Go to Config > Homing/Limits and check the Reverse column for the Z axis.

Z+ should be up.
Z- is moving down.

[sale030]

Thank you for your response Gerry, but I'm probably making a mistake somewhere. When I check reverse Z in Homing/Limits , then Z Probing going in the right direction but Jogging iz wrong. I think that Z + has to go down, or I'm making a mistake?

[ger21]

I think that Z + has to go down, or I'm making a mistake?

No, Z+ goes up.

[dsage]

Hi Guys:

I thought I posted this earlier but it seems to have not shown up. Sorry if this is a repeat.

Mach 4 is coming soon !!

Can we count on one of you experts to write a new tool setter for Mach4. It's been fabulous for so many years I don't think I could do without it if / when I switch to Mach 4.

Thanks


Sage

[ger21]

Mach 4 is coming soon !!

I personally think it's at least 6 more months away from being a usable option for the masses, and I won't even think about developing anything for it until then.

[dsage]

Yeah. Your probably right. I'm playing with the demo version and helping Art a bit with troubleshooting his PP driver. I believe you are as well ?. And you are right, it seems from what they've released there is quite a way to go.
In any case as I understand it, the programming of screens etc. is completely different so it may take some time to learn that language. I actually might get into it this time. I never bothered much with it in Mach3 because it seemed to do everything I needed (except your touch off feature) Out of the box.
Also it seems like they are going to leave a lot of little things up the user to write. I understand even homing the axis is only going to go part way requiring the user to write something to do the final positioning and DRO settings to complete the process.

I've also been wondering about my ShuttlePro. I can't do without it and I won't go to Mach4 without it. I'm sure writing that interface is going to be way beyond most people. Certainly me for sure. So it may be a show stopper to my using Mach4.

Thanks

Sage

[ger21]

I think that Art wrote the plugin for the Shuttle. Maybe you can persuade him to write one for Mach4.

[nlancaster]

After way to long without having one of these, I finally assembled one for my new CRP4848. Works wonderfully. I also created a XY zero pod as well. Currently I am using BigTexs mach3 blue, anyone know how to get the XY and Z zeroign controllable from a XBOX 360 controller? I have the only XBOX 360 plugin from the mach3 site, and having the controller is cool.

[ozzyFMC]

With the type of things I am doing on my router I find I very often need to set my Z axis zero on the top of the material.

What I have been doing to set tool zero to the top of material is to use a 123 block as a known height gauge.

Put it under the tool and jog down to it, using step jog when close, 0.01mm per step, then manualy entering 25.4mm (1") into the Z axis DRO.

There's got to be a better way! (nuts)


Well there is. And lots of people have done this already. No original ideas here.

This is what I did. With the help of some people on the Artsoft forum. Mostly Scott. Thanks Scott.:cheers:

Put a user DRO on the screen using Mach's screen utility, Screen4. Assigned it OEM code 1151

Also put a LED for Probe and one for Pause or Dwell. These I will explain later. See the screen grab below as pic.

Assigned the following macro to the "Auto Tool Zero" button.

PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO

If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty
DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here
Code "G4 P5" ' this delay gives me time to get from computer to hold probe in place
Code "G31Z-40 F500" 'probing move, can set the feed rate here as well as how far to move
While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens
Wend
ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the axact point the probe was hit
Code "G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness) 'set the Z axis DRO to whatever is set as plate thickness
Code "G4 P0.25" 'Pause for Dro to update.
Code "G0 Z25.4" 'put the Z retract height you want here
Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)" 'puts this message in the status bar
Else
Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if aplicable
Exit Sub
End If

EDIT: This is in metric. You will have to change some numbers if you still live in the Middle Ages. .......END EDIT

Made a probe touch pad from a scrap of copper clad PCB material. See pic below.

Conected to a spare input on my BOB. Mine needed a pull up resistor.

Assigned it in "Ports and Pins" as "Probe" Set as "Active Low"

The first one I made had a clip to go onto the tool. I found it worked faultlessly without it. So I ditched it. KISS

Re, my screen changes.

The "plate Thickness" DRO should be self explanatory.

The Probe LED I made big so I could see it from the machine.

My fear was that if an electrical fault happened and Mach did not stop the probe move then my spindle would drive on relentless. Causing mayhem.

So I just touch the plate to the tool and see the LED light up, before running the macro to satisfy myself that all is good.

The Pause LED just flashes during the 5 second pause I have set to give me time to get from computer to holding the plate in place.

Now you can put these items (only the DRO if that's all you want) anywhere on the screen that suits you.

I chose the area usually used for spindle control. Because I don't use it. YET!!!

Now I will repeat, this is not my idea. Lots of people use this type of device

I hope this inspires a few more to give this a try. Very useful on my type of machine. It really is easy.

Greg

Loaded this code. It seems to work sometimes. Others not so much. The plate i have (came with my cnc) at least registers when it touches the bit. I have tested that part and every time without fail, when it touches the plate, it stops.

I hit the auto tool zero button:
* Sometimes It hits the plate, stops, then goes up a bit and marks Z correctly. If i remove the plate and hit "goto zero", the bit ends up perfectly on top of the work piece
* Other times It hits the plate, stops, then goes up a bit, pauses, then goes up another bit and marks Z incorrectly. When i remove the plate and hit "goto zero", the bit ends up some distance above the work piece.
* Other times, (more rare - and i have busted 2 bits because of this) It hits the plate, stops, then instead of going up, it goes down into the plate and snaps the bit.

I am using mach3 in mm and have hard coded PlateThickness = 19.26 (which is the measured height of my plate) - as i say, sometimes it works just like it should.

any thoughts as to why this would be happening?. For the time being i have gone back to the "jog down to paper" method, but would love to rely on using this, and not be breaking bits.

Cheers

[jalessi]

OzzyFMC,

Are you attaching a ground wire directly to the end mill or are you relying the spindle motor to complete the touch plate circuit?

Jeff...

[daniellyall]

it happens because there is no retract code in it I seem to be giving this answer at less 2 x a month.

for it to not go down after it hits the plate the machine home needs to be more than 25 mm above work zero (top of work piece)

if you look in big tex screen set post`s there's a code in there what fixs the problem

[jalessi]

Daniellyall,

Are you referring to this:

Code "G1 Z" &PlateThickness + RetractStroke &" F" &RetractFeedRate 'retract

Jeff...

[daniellyall]

post all the code I be able to answer then

[jalessi]

DownStroke = -25 'Set the down stroke to find probe
DownFeedRate = 100 'Set the down FeedRate
RetractStroke = 10 'Set the retract Stroke
RetractFeedRate = 300 'Set the retract FeedRate

CurrentFeed = GetOemDRO(818) 'Get the current feedrate to return to later
CurrentAbsInc = GetOemLED(48) 'Get the current G90/G91 state
CurrentGmode = GetOemDRO(819) 'Get the current G0/G1 state
PlateThickness = GetUserDRO(1151) 'Z-plate thickness DRO

If GetOemLed (825)=0 Then 'Check to see if the probe is already grounded or faulty
DoOEMButton (1010) 'zero the Z axis so the probe move will start from here
Code "G4 P2" ' this delay gives me time to get from computer to hold probe in place
Code "G90 G31 Z" &DownStroke &" F" &DownFeedRate 'probing move
While IsMoving() 'wait while it happens
Wend
ZProbePos = GetVar(2002) 'get the axact point the probe was hit
If Abs(ZprobePos) <= Abs(DownStroke)-0.1 Then 'Check if the probe has been found
Code "G0 Z" &ZProbePos 'go back to that point, always a very small amount of overrun
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Call SetDro (2, PlateThickness) 'set the Z axis DRO to whatever is set as plate thickness
Code "G4 P0.25" 'Pause for Dro to update.
Code "G1 Z" &PlateThickness + RetractStroke &" F" &RetractFeedRate 'retract
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "(Z axis is now zeroed)" 'puts this message in the status bar
Else
Code "G0 Z0" 'retract to start pos
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "(Z-Plate not found, check connection or stroke and try again)" 'puts this message in the status bar
End If
Else
Code "(Z-Plate is grounded, check connection and try again)" 'this goes in the status bar if aplicable
End If
Code "F" &CurrentFeed 'Returns to prior feed rate
If CurrentAbsInc = 0 Then 'if G91 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G91"
End If
If CurrentGMode = 0 Then 'if G0 was in effect before then return to it
Code "G0"
End If
Exit Sub

[daniellyall]

I think that's it will double check tomorrow