Who want to make a touch probe?

[MrBean]

A while ago I made my own touch probe, but didn't post anything about it here.
Since this thread appeared...... Point Cloud a few people have been asking me how I made it.

The original idea came from another website, which for some reason I can no longer find. So thanks to that guy, and if anyone has the url, please post it here.

I'm still looking for a lot of the files that I used in making the probe, but I will find them all and post them here. Every part for the probe was cut using Gcode produced by 10Bulls' CamBam.

For now here's a few pics.... I'll add more stuff as I find it and as I get time.

I hope it useful to someone.

Regards Terry...

[ger21]

Originally Posted by MrBean The original idea came from another website, which for some reason I can no longer find. So thanks to that guy, and if anyone has the url, please post it here.

http://www.indoor.flyer.co.uk/probe.htm ??

There's also some info in the files section of the TurboCNC Yahoo group for a similar probe.

[jabuffi]

There was also a thread started by mikegasman:

Cheap home made Touch Probe- Cheap home made Touch Probe.

Which includes the link ger posted as well...

[jabuffi]

Anyone remember those toys that used to be around, the ones that were an array of small diameter metal pins? You could push you hand into one side and the hundreds of little pins would raise to create the 3d image of your hand on the other side... You coud put any object in it, I remember watching people hold it against their face and it would make a pretty accurate profile...

Maybe someone could think of some clever way to use one of these to speed up the pointcloud scanning process... rather than have a probe scan a single point at a time, one of these arrays could be used to get thousands at once... Just a thought, maybe it'll inspire someone...

[Fifty_ohm]

I found this in my searches for home made touch probes a while back. I still haven't made it but I almost have the thing modeled in solidworks (with sizes of ball bearings I have on hand instead of what the print shows). Aren't MM's those tasty little chocolate candies?

If anyone has g-code for a probe I'll gladly cut it out as I'm still a ways off from being able to generate code from my model.

[MrBean]

I have all the gcode files for my probe, along with dxf's and CamBam files. The CamBam files will make it easier to change cutter sizes etc, as people might not have the exact cutter sizes I used.

I will be posting all these files here. I need more time to get them all together. They seem to be all over the place at the minute.

Regards Terry.

[10bulls]

Here's the dxf, cambam and gcode for the PCB bit...

Let the probing commence!

[greybeard]

Jabuffi - Spent all the afternoon while raking up leaves about the possibilities, so I'll start a new thread.
John

[MrBean]

Ah yes... I wondered if the PCB files would appear.
Cheers 10Bulls.
I'll get the main body, upper and lower section files up later tonight.

Terry.

[MrBean]

Here's the files for the lower half of the main body.
There are 5 files in the archive:

The main DXF file.
A CamBam file for the main pockets.
A CamBam file for the Holes.
A Gcode for the main pockets, cut with a 3mm endmill.
A Gcode for the holes, cut with a 1.5875mm endmill.

The CamBam files make it easy to change tooling parameters such as the tool size etc, then regenerate a new tool path and create the newGcode file.
Just select the machining op from the tree view on the left, type in your new cutter size, then right click the maching op and choose "Generate Tool Path". The tool path should now update using the new parameters, then right click on the machining op again to "Generate Gcode File". Easy peasy.

First run the pocketing gcode, labelled 3mm cutter. Then, leaving the part in place, run the gcode for the holes.

Regards Terry.

[PIngels]

Thanks!

Please keep the files coming, I'm building each part as I get the file

Pierre

[MrBean]

Oh crap. I forgot about this thread . Got so much going on at the moment. Good job you posted, or it would have been an even longer wait.
I'll get right on with the next set of files.

I didn't think anyone was building it.
I'll be back......

Regards Terry.