Mike's CNC Router Adventure

[mikes]

Setting up the tool touch off was a bit of a learning experience. I assumed that using a TTO device was a somewhat canned feature you can adjust via the Wizard. That was not the case for my setup. I am using the TTO to set the Z0 of a part, for the given tool being used. If I was using a ATC then it looks like Centroid provides the features (tool table, measuring macros, etc), but when you have a simple spindle motor or woodworking router and have to change tools manually, there is nothing canned to start from. Reading the support forum provided a number of documents to help with the setup, but ultimately, it requires you to add an M6 macro (mfunc6.mac) that is called when a tool change is needed. this began my first look at the Centroid macro language and macro usage with CNC12. It wasn't hard, just not what I was expecting. I think Centroid could provide a somewhat generic M6 macro, and have the Wizard install it, if the user selects a manual tool change to be used.

I'm using an inexpensive TTO device I got from AliExpress, pictured below:

I created a separate thread with a video of the macro in action, so please link over to have a look at the details and attached macro file.

[ShawnM]

Not sure what you mean, there's a canned button on the VCP that says "auto z to plate" and it does exactly what you want it to do. It's all setup in the wizard.

[mikes]

Not sure what you mean, there's a canned button on the VCP that says "auto z to plate" and it does exactly what you want it to do. It's all setup in the wizard.

Shawn,

That must be in the Router version, I’m using the Mill. I tried using that macro (after changing the VCP to one that was designed for Router), and it required setup of the touch “plate” to be configured via the Wizard. However, that is not available in the Mill version. All that is available in Mill is the touch probe, and tool touch off, no plate. I think all three are in the Router version.

That said, I am not sure what the workflow would be for each tool changed needed in a job. It may allow you to just run the “auto z to plate” button, I don’t know.

[robtown]

I’ve mounted my vfd outside my control box as well.

That little enclosure you’ve got there under your vfd. What is that?

[ShawnM]

Not sure what you mean, there's a canned button on the VCP that says "auto z to plate" and it does exactly what you want it to do. It's all setup in the wizard.

Shawn,

That must be in the Router version, I’m using the Mill. I tried using that macro (after changing the VCP to one that was designed for Router), and it required setup of the touch “plate” to be configured via the Wizard. However, that is not available in the Mill version. All that is available in Mill is the touch probe, and tool touch off, no plate. I think all three are in the Router version.

That said, I am not sure what the workflow would be for each tool changed needed in a job. It may allow you to just run the “auto z to plate” button, I don’t know.

The title of your topic is "Mike's CNC ROUTER Adventure", I'm not sure why would you install the Mill version for a router? The mill version will create a VCP with many useless buttons for a router. There are so many CANNED features on the router VCP that are already done for you that you are struggling with. Installing MILL on a ROUTER creates a lot of extra work. With a few mouse clicks your tool touch off would be working. You can set up your tool touch off to do exactly what you want. You don't have to use a "plate" for the Auto Z to Plate. It's a bad description on the button. You can use any tool touch off device with that button. I would highly suggest NEVER use a solid plate to touch tools off on. You can quickly ruin very expensive bits.

I install two tool touch off devices on my routers. A fixed and movable one. This make tool changes inside jobs that have all tool paths in one file very easy. There are some who create individual tool paths for each tool and load them one at a time. This is a lot more work and very time consuming to me. With two touch off devices, doesn't matter what kind you have, you can have the tool changes semi automated for you in multiple tool jobs. I have two post processors I create for each system I build, one for single tool jobs and one for multiple tool jobs.

There are many examples on the forum on how to do tool changes for non ATC machines with two touch off devices. You can simply tweak the code for your specific machine as no two machines will be the same.

[mikes]

The title of your topic is "Mike's CNC ROUTER Adventure", I'm not sure why would you install the Mill version for a router? The mill version will create a VCP with many useless buttons for a router. There are so many CANNED features on the router VCP that are already done for you that you are struggling with. Installing MILL on a ROUTER creates a lot of extra work. With a few mouse clicks your tool touch off would be working. You can set up your tool touch off to do exactly what you want. You don't have to use a "plate" for the Auto Z to Plate. It's a bad description on the button. You can use any tool touch off device with that button. I would highly suggest NEVER use a solid plate to touch tools off on. You can quickly ruin very expensive bits.

I install two tool touch off devices on my routers. A fixed and movable one. This make tool changes inside jobs that have all tool paths in one file very easy. There are some who create individual tool paths for each tool and load them one at a time. This is a lot more work and very time consuming to me. With two touch off devices, doesn't matter what kind you have, you can have the tool changes semi automated for you in multiple tool jobs. I have two post processors I create for each system I build, one for single tool jobs and one for multiple tool jobs.

There are many examples on the forum on how to do tool changes for non ATC machines with two touch off devices. You can simply tweak the code for your specific machine as no two machines will be the same.

Shawn,

Thanks for the feedback. I can't say I disagree with anything you said. However, please understand that I purchased the Acorn and Mill licence in 2018. The Router option was just an idea in the minds of the Centroid Team. I've toyed with purchasing the Router licence, but with the VCP swap, I was hoping to get most of what I need. As I learn and start to do more with the CNC, I may do that. I suspect I can get the "plate" macro working if I directly set the needed parameters. The notion of a touch off and plate appear redundant to me. I have seen some CNC Routers that use a very thin strip of metal, and conductively touch off. I guess that's so you can have both types available at the same time, or in your case, one fixed, and one movable.

[mikes]

I’ve mounted my vfd outside my control box as well.

That little enclosure you’ve got there under your vfd. What is that?

That's a wire box I fabricated to provides some strain relief and room to manage the high voltage wires going to/from the VFD. One of my early welding efforts on thin stock. I look at the welds now and shake my head .

[robtown]

Thank you.
I believe I will do something similar.

I have strain relief in place, but those high voltage wires are a little more exposed than I’d like.

[ShawnM]

Shawn,

Thanks for the feedback. I can't say I disagree with anything you said. However, please understand that I purchased the Acorn and Mill licence in 2018. The Router option was just an idea in the minds of the Centroid Team. I've toyed with purchasing the Router licence, but with the VCP swap, I was hoping to get most of what I need. As I learn and start to do more with the CNC, I may do that. I suspect I can get the "plate" macro working if I directly set the needed parameters. The notion of a touch off and plate appear redundant to me. I have seen some CNC Routers that use a very thin strip of metal, and conductively touch off. I guess that's so you can have both types available at the same time, or in your case, one fixed, and one movable.

I just answered this in another topic. I believe Centroid charges a small admin fee to create a router license for you to replace your mill license. I dont think you need to purchase a complete new license. I'll check with Keith on this.

There is nothing redundant about having two tool touch off devices, PERIOD. If you've ever tried it you'd never have just one on a router. They both serve different purposes and are needed on a router for quick, manual tool changes. Having a fixed and movable tool touch off is the cat's meow and very much needed if you post your jobs as one file with multiple tool changes. This makes changing tool during a job VERY FAST.

You use the movable tool touch off to set the Z0 initially. After that when you change tools in the job the machine automatically moves to your fixed tool touch off to measure the next tool and sets the new Z0 based on the offset of the new tool. It's all done for you in the macro. Doing manual tool changes any other way to me is a big waste of my time.

When running a job and a tool change is called my machine moves to a programmed "tool change position" which is at the front of the table. A message pops up tell me to change to the next tool and press cycle start. That's all I do. When I press cycle start it goes and measures the new tool on the fixed tool touch off and then goes right back to cutting. Again, I change the tool and press cycle start once, that's it. It doesn't get any easier than this.....unless you have an ATC.

[mikes]

I just answered this in another topic. I believe Centroid charges a small admin fee to create a router license for you to replace your mill license. I dont think you need to purchase a complete new license. I'll check with Keith on this.

There is nothing redundant about having two tool touch off devices, PERIOD. They both serve different purposes and are needed on a router for quick, manual tool changes. Having a fixed and movable tool touch off is the cat's meow and very much needed if you post your jobs as one file with multiple tool changes. This makes changing tool during a job VERY FAST.

You use the movable tool touch off to set the Z0 initially. After that when you change tools in the job the machine automatically moves to your fixed tool touch off to measure the next tool and sets the new Z0 based on the offset of the new tool. It's all done for you in the macro. Doing manual tool changes any other way to me is a big waste of my time.

When running a job and a tool change is called my machine moves to a programmed "tool change position" which is at the front of the table. A message pops up tell me to change to the next tool and press cycle start. That's all I do. When I press cycle start it goes and measures the new tool on the fixed tool touch off and then goes right back to cutting. Again, I change the tool and press cycle start once, that's it. It doesn't get any easier than this.....unless you have an ATC.

Shawn,

That sounds like a great setup. I'd like to know more about how you set the first Z0, and how you (the macro) manages subsequent tool changes. Are you using a standardized tool length for the first Z0? The key being how the fixed TTO height and part height are used to calculate the new Z0.