Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

You need to consider the resolution you'll get from digitizing with a probe. Under the best conditions, the probe tip diameter will limit the precision of your digitization. My KP-3 probe tip diameter is 0.09 inches. This is great for a lot of surfaces. But you won't catch the detail in small grooves or projections. Practically, you can make a modification in your CAD, especially if the groove is a fairly common shape (square, oval, etc). But I find there is a certain amount of trial and error to really dial in something. If it's an exterior cosmetic feature, no problem. But something with fine details and tight tolerances will need to be done with CAD.

I just noticed your reply, thanks. I'm at the very beginning basics of trying to probe. It will be for small surfaces to start...like 1" wide x 4" long with a radius of about 4". Your comment makes total sense...cannot probe a .08 slot with a .09 probe. I get it. I don't even know where to start. Seems like finding the basics how to probe is impossible. Its frustrating buying such an expensive tool and not being able to use it.

If your mill is good, no problem to digitize with less than 0.01mm deviation with the KP3 probe.

The smallest tip I use is 1mm diameter. Rhino to convert point clouds to STEP.

But you can also mill shapes without CAM if you use a round tip mill with the same diameter as the probe.

For simple shapes I use only basic probing functions and use the results for modelling in fusion on a CAM PC next to the mill.

Uwe

cdiseker wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2024 11:57 am Seems like finding the basics how to probe is impossible. Its frustrating buying such an expensive tool and not being able to use it.

There is a section (Chapter 8) in the CNC 12 mill operator's manual that covers the basics of digitizing.
Manipulating the data is going to require good software. As Uwe suggested, Rhinoceros (https://www.rhino3d.com/learn/?query=ki ... modal=null ) is probably the way to go.

If I were in your shoes, I'd start by digitizing some relatively simple things and work on manipulating them in a Trial version of Rhino.

suntravel wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2024 12:26 pm If your mill is good, no problem to digitize with less than 0.01mm deviation with the KP3 probe.

The smallest tip I use is 1mm diameter. Rhino to convert point clouds to STEP.

But you can also mill shapes without CAM if you use a round tip mill with the same diameter as the probe.

For simple shapes I use only basic probing functions and use the results for modelling in fusion on a CAM PC next to the mill.

Uwe

That is some tiny probing.

Trying to find the part 0,0,0 on the mill. After following instructions in the manual on using the probe to find part Zero X,Y and Z, I noticed there is not option to save or accept the new values. Doe CNC 12 save these new values automatically upon cycle completion?

If you are using the part setup routines, zero is set automatically (display will show 1/2 the probe value for X and Y and 0 only on Z). If you are using probe cycles (which it appears), then the part position in the current WCS is reported.

I'm using the Probe Cycle function inside of Part Setup. How are the two options you mention different?

The probing cycles, under F5/Probe on the Part Setup screen, are primarily for measurement and inspection. They locate the feature, then tell you the location and size that they found.

All of those probing cycles except F7/Single Axis can also be used for setting your X and/or Y part zero location, because when the probing cycle is done, the axes are centered on the feature. You then can go back up to Part Setup; verify that "Approach From" is set to "Center"; and press F10/Set to set part zero at the current location.

The "Single Axis" probing cycle cannot be used in that manner, because it does not leave the probe at the probed location.

That does not matter, because, back on the Part Setup screen, you also have the choice of F4/Auto (instead of F5/Probe).

F4/Auto will probe a single surface (or center between two surfaces if setting X or Y with Approach = Center), and it will automatically set part zero as soon as it has probed the surface(s). With F4/Auto, you do not need to press F10/Set.

Gotcha...this helps. Thank you!