Swing in Tool Probe

[nlancaster]

So about to setup Screenset2010 from Gerry.

Is it possible to build a tool probe that swings in from the gantry for the tool change probing?

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[skubajon]

I've been very curious output having a probe that is able to be out of way when machining, and then swing drop or rotate into a accurate repeatable place each time.. I just haven't messed around to much with any concepts. I am curious to see what others say

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[ger21]

Do you mean a plate mounted to the gantry?

I know that one 2010 user mounted his fixed plate to the gantry, and modified the macro so it only moved along the gantry.

[nlancaster]

Yes and no Gerry.

I have seen that thread with the touch plate mounted on the gantry, thats what made me start thinking about this.

My CNCRouterparts Standard can't quite place the tool over the gantry base/rail area.

But I would like to mount the tool plate in that area and then, when needed have it automatically swing/slide into position to probe for tool changes.

[alan_3301]

Why not have a hole in the spoilboard that is a little larger than the largest bit you will probe, and mount the probe to the bottom of the spoilboard.

It will be out of the way, like a swing in probe, but much less complex in mounting and operation. It would need any chips brushed off before probing, so I guess not fully automatic.

[nlancaster]

Alan,

The CNC Routerparts machine only have a working area of 49x97. So it would be possibly to just barely sneak it in on one side or the other, would be awesome to have it swing in and work for the bigger tools.

[ger21]

It's definitely possible to make something like that.
You'd probably need to mount it to the side of the gantry. It needs to swing under the spindle, but also completely out of the way.
It would need to be rigid, with zero slop.

I'm thinking that the plate would be mounted to a shaft with bearings, which would be mounted to the gantry sides with some brackets.

You could use a pneumatic cylinder to swing it out and back, and automate the process with the macro.

[nlancaster]

Exactly Gerry!

I am confifident of designing something with zero slop, and the mechanics of moving it in and out of position. Just wondering how to setup mach3 to do that.

PMDX-126, with ESS is the control hardware.

[nlancaster]

I knew I had seen something like I am talking about here on CNCZone.

[ger21]

Just wondering how to setup mach3 to do that.

It depends on how you are swinging the arm. If you used a pneumatic cylinder, you'd just toggle an output pin in your auto zero macro. You'd have the output pin activate a relay to control a solenoid valve.

[nlancaster]

I currently don't have any air to the machine, and my compressor and 2.2kw run off the same 220v circuit....

How about a 12v linear actuator?

And what coding would I add to a macro to activate it?

[ger21]

ActivateSignal()

VB Constants for Signal Names - Mach3Wiki