I am new to forums so please forgive me for faux paux.
I am new to milling and I am having problems consistently engraving at a uniform depth. Here is my setup, Rhino 5 to created DXF file, Sheet cam to generate gcode, mach3 mill to feed a Chinese 6040 router. (Router is surprisingly stiff) .
Here is my problem, my material height varies slightly from the table due to material warpage. The solution I wish to implement is a follows: I am using a 3/8" pvc backer board, an insulating material, I will clamp my brass to be engraved to the backer board with small pieces of plastic to insulate the brass from the clamp. I will sense the continuity between the engraving cutter and the brass thus detecting when the cutter first touches the brass, I can use the detection to make an input to Mach3.
I need help on the gcode. I need a snippet of code that I would put before each G01 Z-<engrave depth I had put in>. I can use find and replace in word pad to insert the gcode snippet. Upon sensing, the gcode would set Z=0 (Top of material) and then set engraving cut depth.
The gcode then looks at an input to Mach3 and resets Z=0. Thus my question is, what gcode do I use to look at the input activated by the continuity and set the Z=0?
If all this works I will share my results. Thanks guys!