Cheap & simple height-probing

[dan.andersson]

I want to use the ”Etch Z adjust” with PCB-GCode. My work chain is: Eagle -> PCB-GCode -> Etch Z Adjust -> MACH3. I don’t have any problem except with the last step.

When loading the G-code file (output from Etch Z adjust) MACH3 prompts with “To many subroutine calls. Over 1000 ignored...". Then the program hangs. I have to use the Task Manager to kill the MACH3 process.

I have noted that Michael_m has made a remark (post #98) about this: “This Python script will run on Windows or Linux, but at this stage the output file is still too smart for eg Mach3 and I have only tested it to verify that it works from within EMC2 running in Ubuntu 8.04 linux.”

Is there any work around for this so I can use “probe height procedure” (Etch Z adjust or similar program) with MACH3. Does anybody have any advice or can point in any direction…

Regards

Bo, SM6FIE

Bo,

Har du Skype saa kan jag foerklara "online" och svara direkt paa di na fraagor.

//Dan, M0DFI

[bo.gardmark]

Hi Dan!

You should be able to reach me at skype: bogardmark.

Otherwise you can reach me on my mobile +46-709-92 96 00. I will do a callback.

Look forward to hear from you!

Regards

Bo, SM6FIE

[gallenat0r]

Hi Bo,

Did you ever get it to work with Mach3?
And if so, what was the trick?

Regards,
Jens

[MarcusWolschon]

Did anyone get etch_z_adjust to work under Windows with MACH3 or any other z-probing tool?
I got etch_z_adjust to run but MACH3 doesn't like the output at all.
Lots of "wrong number format".

I heard some VB-code for MACH3 exists that alters the G1/G2 moves as they are executed. Does anyone have that code?

[MarcusWolschon]

Tales of a modern life: Java program to probe Z for PCB milling

Since etch-z-adjust is EMC2 specific and doesn't run on MACH3,
I wrote a small Java program that asks the user for 3x3 z-probe meassurements and postprocesses the output of PCB2GCode (or any other such program) by:
* Adjusting Z values with a bilinear interpolation of the real Z=0 level.
* Adds adjusted Z values to X+Y moves that lack a Z.
* Breaks up long movements to follow the Z curve of the PCB.

It should work fine for small PCBs.
Maybe someone will have a look at the digitize-script in MACH3 to automate getting these values for larger PCBs with more measurements.
(Code can handly any number, not just the default 3x3 points.)
You could also change the bilinear into a bisquare (or bicubic for more points) interpolation.

It was written last night and hasn't been tested yet apart from the extensive self-test it does on every run and manual checking of the returned, altered g-code files.


PS:
what is needed to adjust etch-z-adjust to run in MACH3 too?
Just to replace all the named variables #<_name> with numerical ones #1xx ?
I tried to start that but it was way too many variables.

[MarcusWolschon]

Completely rewrote my program.
Works similar to etch-z-adjust now.
WORKS FOR MACH3.
(EMC2 can be enabled in the source code too but is untested)

Tales of a modern life: Java program to probe Z for PCB milling VERSION 2

It's an executable jar file. So just download and double click it.
It doesn't matter if you are on Windows, Linux or MacOS.

1. 5x5 grid of z probes (can be changed in source)
2. Pauses to let the user disconnect the probe before the spindle is started
3. bilinear interpolation
4. break up long movements with z<=0
5. No copy&paste required anymore
6. EMC2 instead of MACH3 can be enabled in source
7. produces extremely simple G-Code to be easily adaptable to other machines