[Greolt]

I saw a post recently about laser scanning using a cheap laser line generator and this got me thinking about using a laser to set X and Y zero on a job.

Got one of these 5mw laser cross generators for less than $5. That was delivered to Australia. Pretty cheap Hey!!!

Made a mount to place it on the Z axis beside the spindle and wired it in to the controller.

I cheated and used the output for mist coolant. M7 on and M9 off.

Because it is only 5mw I power it directly from the BOB. No extra circuitry needed.

Made a button on screen to turn it on. Another button to activate a macro that moves the spindle to take up the exact position the laser was, turns the laser off and zeros the X and Y axis.

Not accurate enough for a milling machine. But very adequate for a wood router.

It works really well. Very quick and easy. And did I mention cheap.

Here's a short video.. Greg
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc-9gTFj-y4[/ame]

[dertsap]

great setup
roughly what kind of accuracy are you able obtain
also how does your tool setter work ,i really like that , is this a mach3 setting ?

[epineh]

Great work Greg ! Now I have another thing to add to the "to do" list (chair)

Now all you have to do is to turn this into a 3D laser scanning machine

Russell.

[Greolt]

great setup
roughly what kind of accuracy are you able obtain
also how does your tool setter work ,i really like that , is this a mach3 setting ?

The laser cross, I'd say about 0.010". OK for a wood router not so good for more accurate work.

The Auto Tool Zero is much more accurate. See this link for details.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36099

Greg

[dertsap]

.01 is pretty darned good for woodworking ,
this thread tweaked a few thoughts in my head last nite , i found your other thread for the tool presetter ,i recall seeing that thread before but i didn t realize you had it setup as slick as you do , also i couldn t resist buying a cross laser module off ebay

so the tool setter is pinned the same as you would with a limit switch ? am i correct ?

just what i needed , more add-ons i'm never going to make a cut

[the4thseal]

tell me more about your pendant!!!! i like it

[Greolt]

so the tool setter is pinned the same as you would with a limit switch ? am i correct ?

Yeah pretty much like limit hook up. However it needs to be low active for this.

That is it needs to be bought low by grounding the touch plate.

tell me more about your pendant!!!! i like it

Take a look at this thread http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=1220.0

[the4thseal]

thanks

[Greolt]

Just to add to this thread, when I ordered a cross laser I also ordered one from another source. It arrived today. Slow hey!!!

The first one, which is on my machine, was a 5mw and cost less than $5

This is working well and focuses a nice fine cross.

The second cost $15, is 10mw and is useless. Focus is fuzzy and would be no good for the purpose of accurately defining an edge or point.

The point I'm trying to make is that getting a well focused cross at this sort of price point is hit and miss. My experience is that 5mw is better.

Greg

[wcarrothers1]

I got one from a source on ebay. Seemed pretty good although I ended up shimming the threads with a thin washer to get the focus sharp. think it can be seen in my thread of my VFD spindle if I posted pictures.

But in any case a very great idea. I have yet to set mach up to automaticly re-zero but will get to it in time..

Thanks for posting the info though.

[Greolt]

You have pics......where do I see them?

Here is a small screen grab of my on screen buttons to control the laser. My screen layout is a bit different to the norm to make use of a touch screen.

The target symbol is the laser on/off. It flashes while laser is on.

"Laser Zero" button runs a script which moves the spindle to take up the laser position and zeros X and Y then turns the laser off. Here is my script,

Xmove = GetUserDRO(1152) 'X distance DRO
Ymove = GetUserDRO(1153) 'Y distance DRO

Code "G91 G0 X" &Xmove & "Y" &Ymove
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "G90 M9"
DoOEMButton (1008)
DoOEMButton (1009)


The M9 is to turn laser off. M7 turns it on. I cheated and used mist coolant commands to run the laser. The two "DoOEMButton" zero the X and Y.

The two DROs are to set the laser offset distance for the script. I think these are overkill.

Once this is set it does not need changing. I could just set these in the script.

Both of these buttons are repeated on my Shuttle Pro for easy use in setup.

Greg

.

[wcarrothers1]

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49312

Is the pics of the new spindle.. Also you can see the laser is on in one of the pics..

I have outputs that could turn on the laser from mach I suppose how ever right now I just have a toggle switch on the machine..


Can you post the plugin code or what ever it is that makes mach have your screen..
I've used mach for a few years but have not really taken a deep dive into making my own script or anything. Most of the time I'm a "Oh that did it." and move on type user.

b.

[Greolt]

Looks like you are powering yours with a battery and switch. Seems a perfectly good idea to me. Nice and simple.

However you really should get a button to move the spindle into position for you.

My screen is just what I made for my own needs. Mach has a screen designer program called Screen4. It's a bit clunky but does the job.

Simplest way would be to just place an extra button on the standard Mach screen to do the job. I could give you a hand with that if you like.

Just as an example the pic is of a screen grab of one I made up to show how simple it could be. The button can be put anywhere you like.

Greg

.

[Glidergider]

Greg,
Questions:
1. Your laser power is from BOB. 5v? Is the laser volt requirement 5 v too, or did you need to drop the voltage with a resistor?
2. Below you say two macros on the Shuttle. Is the second macro just a simple code Code "G90 M7"?

Great Stuff, thanks for the cool macros.
Dave

...
"Laser Zero" button runs a script which moves the spindle to take up the laser position and zeros X and Y then turns the laser off. Here is my script,

Xmove = GetUserDRO(1152) 'X distance DRO
Ymove = GetUserDRO(1153) 'Y distance DRO

Code "G91 G0 X" &Xmove & "Y" &Ymove
While IsMoving ()
Wend
Code "G90 M9"
DoOEMButton (1008)
DoOEMButton (1009)


The M9 is to turn laser off. M7 turns it on. I cheated and used mist coolant commands to run the laser. The two "DoOEMButton" zero the X and Y.
.......
Both of these buttons are repeated on my Shuttle Pro for easy use in setup.

Greg

.

[wcarrothers1]

The laser I got was 3v so runs off 2 - 1.5v AA batteries..

Greolt.. Thanks for sending me the screen with zero buttons.. Hopefully I'll learn how this is done some day..hehe

b

[joecnc2006]

Where can i get one of your laser pointers?

I would love to put one on my new 4x4 as well as the zero plate.

Thanks sooooooooo much for your contribution.

I'm sure i may ask you to provide a detailed explination maybe step by step? LOL

Thanks again, Joe

[cueshark]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5900
this is the one that some are using on the laser probe on mach. hope this helps. greg

[joecnc2006]

That says a laser dot, i was wondering about the cross hairs.

Edit found it. but the beam looks wide.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5982

Joe

[cueshark]

they have one with cross hairs for a cheaper price but i do not have a direct link. it is under electronics.
greg

[wcarrothers1]

That looks like the one I got. Only had to shim the screw on cap a very small amount to get finer cross lines from the one I got.

There is a spring inside alowing the "focus" I guess. But due to the vibration it will see on a router mill the lens needs to be screwed all the way down otherwise I'd say it would vibrate. which is why I put a thin washer shim there..

All around a great addition to the mill.