Tool Setting Options For Routers and Mills

[SteWoe]

Thanks Gary & Marty for the quick response. Will try and report back as soon as acorn and the DMM servos are installed!

[Charlie.G]

I wanted first of all to say thanks to Scott for setting this up,
it seems to work great I have one issue it seems that when the tool is going down to the
touch off plate it could be a little slower on my machine, I have slowed the jog rate
on the machine and this slowed the z axis when touching off but I was wondering
how to slow it down in the macro if that is possible.

also was wondering if there is a macro for a corner finder.
it is basically a small square with a pocket in the corner and when the macro was run
it would zero the x and y axis on the corner of the sheet to set a start point for maching
an item that was critical on starting at the x0 y0 of the material, I have looked here
but have not seen one maybe no one else uses one?
kinda a router thing...
thank you,
Charlie

[slodat]

I'm wanting to add some functionality to the tool setting macro. Something like this.

• Start job
• Go to G28
• Prompt to insert first tool
• Probe down to moveable touchoff plate that's on top of workpiece. This sets Z0 at top of material.
• Go to fixed plate position, probe down to fixed plate. Store difference between moveable plate and fixed plate.
• When M6 comes up for tool 2, go to G28
• Prompt to enter tool 2
• Go to fixed plate position
• Probe down to fixed plate.
• Set new Z zero using the difference stored before.

Thoughts? How on earth do I go about making this happen? It would save me a TON of time.. This is on a router..

[martyscncgarage]

Did you read the very first message in this thread? It works remarkably well and uses any plate of a known thickness. It should do want you are asking. Try it.

[slodat]

Of course I did. I’ve used the macro with the moveable probe. What I’m proposing is not covered in the first post of this thread... :/

What I’m wanting to do adds a whole other layer of functionality, especially in programs with multiple tools. I’m just not sure how to get this going.

[Gary Campbell]

Slodat...
"Thoughts?"

My thoughts are: 1) You are over complicating the process 2) Your process requires 2 different actions when a tool change is called 3) The stored switch height (offset) is used thousands of times a day and works very well and saves a step over your process 4) I show that process in this video, second section: (about 1:30 in) https://youtu.be/xqTpEXHOWPw
I do have an unshown section that writes the switch offset.

"How on earth do I go about making this happen?"

Copying sections of existing macros that perform the actions you desire, build a custom macro and test it

"It would save me a TON of time.. This is on a router."

If you simply went with a switch that was calibrated to the spoilboard, you would save 2 to 3 tons of time, gain accuracy due to not using a conductive switch and eliminate at least one step in the process for each file

[slodat]

ahhh!! Gary! Thank you! This is even better! Care to share details on your switch and associated macros?

[wallyblackburn]

Tried setup #2 and have a small (I hope) problem. I have somehow ended up with COM and Ground tied together. Not sure where, guess I should figure that out.

So, anyway, that means as soon as I clip the alligator clip to the bit, IN7 goes high. Is there an other way to go about this, or do I just need to take some time and make COM and GND separate?

Thanks,
Wally

[wallyblackburn]

Tried setup #2 and have a small (I hope) problem. I have somehow ended up with COM and Ground tied together. Not sure where, guess I should figure that out.

So, anyway, that means as soon as I clip the alligator clip to the bit, IN7 goes high. Is there an other way to go about this, or do I just need to take some time and make COM and GND separate?

Thanks,
Wally

Duh! Don't use the alligator clip. Even easier!

Let's just say I had a rough weekend and leave it at that, OK?

Thanks,
Wally

[SteWoe]

Just wanted to say thank you to all who helped - it all works great!

Have fun with your machines,
Stefan