Z axis touch plate
Reply with QuoteOK, I figured it out. Boy that was tough for me, there were little pieces lying all over, it just took a while to put it all together. Here is how I did it.
First go to the Input Pins dialog in Mach3 and assign the Probe Pin. I set mine to Port1, Pin15, and Active Low. Click Apply and exit Mach3.
Run a ground wire to a clip lead and connect it (temporarily) to the router bit if you have a double insulated router.
Run another wire from pin 15 to a touch plate, mine is a piece oF 1/8” or .125” thick aluminum scrap strip.
Download the screen editor For Mach3 here: http://www.artofcnc.ca/Mach3Screen.Zip
UnZip it and run Mach3Screen.exe. File/Load the file 1024.set that is located in the Mach3 directory. Ignore everything else and double click on the button in the bottom middle of the page called Auto Tool Zero. A box will pop up with some code in it. I replaced the code with this: (I added unneeded comments)
iF IsSuchSignal (22) Then ‘this is a check to see if the probe input is defined
code "G31 Z-3 F20" ‘ this g-code will cause the Z to move down max 3” at 20ipm
While IsMoving() ‘ do nothing until the probe is sensed.
Wend ‘ when the probe is grounded, it will stop this loop
call SetDRO( 2, .125 ) ‘ set DRO2, the Z, to the thickness oF the touch plate
code "G0 Z2.5 F60" ‘ g-code to quickly go up 2.5” to get out of the way
While IsMoving() ‘ do nothing while the motor is moving up
Wend
end iF ‘ all done
I repeated it here without comments so you can cut and paste. Change the movement/thickness commands to match your system:
iF IsSuchSignal (22) Then
code "G31 Z-3 F20"
While IsMoving()
Wend
call SetDRO( 2, .125 )
code "G0 Z2.5 F60"
While IsMoving()
Wend
end iF
To use it, just raise the router a little, change bits, place the touch plate on the work piece under the router, and press the button. It will lower until it touches, Zero the Z, and then raise it self to a safe distance. Remember the clip lead on the bit.
Steve
