Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

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TReischl
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Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by TReischl »

I built a Z axis probe in the last few days. It is NOT for corner or edge finding, purely Z axis. The idea is that it can be used with something like GCode Ripper when doing non flat part surfaces. Think of something like a rifle stock.

Watched all sorts of YouTube vids and did not see anything I really liked nor was I willing to spend lots of money on something I will use infrequently.

Link to a pdf file that shows how it is put together:
Probe.pdf
(857.97 KiB) Downloaded 264 times
You can load the pdf file directly into Aspire to get all the pertinent locations and sizes. I did not go crazy with dimensioning. A pretty simple project really.

And here is a pic:
20190324_160625 1.jpg
This one is made from aluminum scrap that I got from the local scrapyard. No reason it cannot be made out of something else. Laminated wood would be a good choice or plastic. The probe itself is a 1/4 inch hex head bolt cut off and ground to suit. Nothing fancy. These things do not need to be real accurate because they do not turn. I included the info for the switch in the PDF, it uses a push button switch (momentary). If you order these switches make sure you select "High Head" so that the button sticks out.

I will use mine in the router collet so I put a shank on top. Again, this does not have be dead nuts concentric, it only goes up and down to activate the switch.

This project has been on the back burner for a while. What was holding me up was how this GCode Ripper software works. The guy's website is less than forthcoming about how it works or even how to install it. Sooo, I had a big daddy tiger talk with Mr Highpockets (John) and he 'splained what I needed to do. Thanks John! Since John was so nice about letting me pick his brain I figured I could share this design in return.

For a couple of bucks it is going to come in handy!
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns

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martin54
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by martin54 »

Not sure if it is something I will use personally Ted but downloaded he file just incase :lol: :lol:
Thanks for sharing this, sure lots of people will find it handy, both you & John (highpockets) are very helpful members of the forum :lol: :lol:

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TReischl
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by TReischl »

Thanks Martin.

The next thing I will be figuring out is how to digitize a 3D surface and then get it converted into something like an STL file. Right now the GCode Ripper software writes a XYZ file of points. Once I have that figured out then it will all come together for what I want to do. The idea is to be able to digitize something like a rifle stock (that is only an example, not something I need to do), cut the surface as a negative to hold the piece and then be able to carve on the opposite surface. I have seen that sort of thing quite often on the forum over the years.

Maybe with a bit of luck someone will come along and say "Just go over to this site and they have a piece of software to do just that." I am looking into some editing software right now, but all the videos I have seen of it seem rather complicated and no direct reference to just being able to read an XYZ point file.
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns

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mtylerfl
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by mtylerfl »

Possible software candidates for point cloud to mesh conversions:

CloudCompare

MeshLab
Michael Tyler

facebook.com/carvebuddy

-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC

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martin54
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by martin54 »

I will follow your progress with interest Ted but I already have far to much on my plate as it is without looking for new things to try :lol: :lol:
After machining some brass for a job I made a rye comment about now needing to build a foundary to recycle all the brass chippings, couple of people thought I was serious about it :lol: :lol: :lol:
Had to explain to them that I already had a long list of things to do without adding something new that I knew very little about to that list :lol:

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highpockets
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by highpockets »

WOW! Well done Ted.

Can't wait to see how you use it...
John
Maker of Chips

sseale
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by sseale »

Interested in this. Thanks for posting the probe design. I found the following links to auto-probing routines from the Probotix wiki page. Biased towards LinuxCNC and Mach3 but could be useful...I see G-code ripper in the list also.
Probing G-code Routines:

http://linuxcnc.org/docs/2.6/html/gcode ... :G38-probe
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Touch_Probe
http://www.timeguy.com/cradek/01262579508
http://lab.whitequark.org/notes/2014-07 ... -linuxcnc/
http://www.scorchworks.com/Blog/auto-pr ... de-ripper/
http://www.scorchworks.com/Gcoderipper/gcoderipper.html
https://forum.linuxcnc.org/49-basic-con ... with-probe

scott

sseale
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by sseale »

The Regular Grid Importer Gadget v1.4 can import simple X,Y,Z point clouds and create 3d components all directly in Aspire.

Scott

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TReischl
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Re: Z-Axis Probe (Plans)

Post by TReischl »

sseale wrote:The Regular Grid Importer Gadget v1.4 can import simple X,Y,Z point clouds and create 3d components all directly in Aspire.

Scott
Thanks for that tidbit of info, I rarely look at the gadgets so I was not aware of it.
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns

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