touch probe/tool height setting probe for under $100 updated the pics

[zarzul]

Ray A.

Got your payment,  not sure why emails are bouncing,  I will get it shipped out right away.

Arnie

[Laserbite]

Arnie,

It looks like a nice digitizer.  I can see you have put careful work into it.

I am wondering about the centering and leveling adjustment.  Do you have to readjust every time you switch from probe to tool tip mode?  It seems from your brochure that the probe tip is centered by tilting the sensor.  But, a tilted sensor would be ineffective for sensing a tool tip.

What do you charge for the digitizer?

Does it use a standard thread so that I can buy a ruby tip probe and just screw it in?

Eric

[zarzul]

Eric,

Thanks for the nice compliments. 

Correct observation on the centering and leveling.  If you swap back and forth you will have to realign the probe/setter.
I charge $99 for the probe +$7 US shipping, it comes with both types of tips and a swarf guard for the toolsetter.
It also comes with a spare plastic piece that the tip screws into.  I can leave the spare untapped if you want a special thread.
The thread I use is a 10-24, that is what I make my tips for.
If you anticipate swapping back and forth I would recommend getting 2.

Arnie

[derekbpcnc]

Hi Arnie,

The probe looks great, do you ship to the UK? (what will the cost be)?.

Thanks,

Derek

[zarzul]

Derek,

UK shipping is only $10.40

Thanks for your interest
Arnie

[MAX711]

Just got my new probe, it's great!

Very well made, especially for the price.  Managed to get it hooked up, centered and working in about 1 hour.  Centering was a bit tricky at first but now I've got it within about 0.5 thou concentric.  Had to reverse the leads to get the input to work so now the LED doesn't but not really bothered.  Also put a smaller spring in to make it more sensitive, now triggers within 1 thou of touching surface (was about 8 thou before).

Here's a video of it edge finding a vice and set Z height.

Highly recommend this for the price.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytX1dvX3Tpg

[zarzul]

Max,

Thanks for your business and nice compliments.  The lighter spring will indeed make it more sensitive, but you can also compensate for the motion traveled by adjusting the tip diameter compensation number. 

On my machine I first started out with a lighter spring but I kept getting false trips,  traced it back to the vibration in my Z axis was setting it off, it worked fine in the x or y movement but just a 1/2" move on the Z frequently
triggered it with the light spring.

Nice video!!!  I don't recognize the software?  is that Mach3??  Have you made some special macros or what?
What kind of machine do you have?

Arnie

[MAX711]

I did initially try compensating by changing the tip diameter but found that it varied based on which direction I was approaching from.  I think this is because the pivot distance changes based on the 3 point contact geometry and therefore the forces change (drawing attached).

It's a Tormach PCNC1100 running Mach3.  The macros are written by Tormach and I just modified them slightly.

[MikeHenry]

Max,

Would you be willing to share the changed code?

I also have one of Arnie's probes and a Tormach mill, though I haven't tried out the probe yet.

Mike

[MAX711]

Max,

Would you be willing to share the changed code?

I also have one of Arnie's probes and a Tormach mill, though I haven't tried out the probe yet.

Mike

Hi Mike,

The standard Tormach probing screens work out-of-the-box with Arnie's probe.  All I did was change the one that finds the edge of the vice so that it would also set the Z height.  Just added some code on the end.  I don't think Tormach would appreciate me sharing their code but if you're really stuck PM me your email and I'll send it to you as you are a fellow Tormach customer