Digitizing Newbie - has a lot of questions...

[CNC-Joe]

Hello Group,

I am new to digitizing, but not so new to CNC.
I am using Mach3 on my CNC Mills and CNC Router.
I recently built a Triangular touch probe from some files and information that were available out on the internet. It does work and provides a switch like input.

I know how to wire this up as an input to my milling machine, and how to configure an input in Mach3.

I downloaded a Plug-In from Mach3: ArtSoft USA - Plugins

A couple of basic questions:
1) How do I install this PlugIn in Mach3? So that Mach3 knows that its there?

2) How do I configure this as an input in Mach3 ? (I assume its a lot like my Z-zero plate, just hard wire it to an input on my Break-Out Board (a CNC4PC break out board), set the state in the Mach3: Config-> Ports & Pins-->Input Signals-->Probe.... )

3) After I get this puppy working - and collect a point cloud from digitizing an object.... what software is everybody using to convert the point cloud to an STL or ??? file?

4) After I have the solid model, I can use one of several softwares to create a tool path and machine the object (( Cut3D, Visual Mill, etc. )) - What software is everybody using? And how do you like it?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Joe

[CNC-Joe]

Ok - here's what I've learned so far....

INSTALLATION:
- First download the digitizing file from Mach's website:
ArtSoft USA - Plugins

- it is called: Mach3 Digitizing Plug In Probing.m3p
- Double click on this - and get this will convert to:
Mach3 Digitizing Plug In Probing.dll

Which is a .dll file
-Copy this file to c:/mach3/PlugIns directory

Next - fire up Mach3
- use "Config" --> Config PlugIns --Enable it there

- Next "Config" --> Ports& Pins --> Input Signals --> Probe - and enable that to active low on whichever input port you have physically installed the hardware...

My Next Question: I can't find it under the PlugIns menu ?

Help?

[CNC-Joe]

Ok, Re-booted the computer, restarted Mach...and now there is a

"3D Probing" menu option!!

Now to get digitizing and collecting some point clouds...

Next Question: What software to use to mesh the point cloud, to get it into a solid model format ?

Thanks for any help.
(hope this amusing if nothing else)

Joe

[ger21]

Joe, try MachCloud from the Machsupport Downloads page.

[CNC-Joe]

Thanks Ger! You're the man!