Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: ostie01 on August 09, 2008, 05:15:33 PM
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I would like to install a laser detector with a laser pointer to slow down the Z axis when measuring tool length on my tool setter.
This setup would serve as a switch with mach 3.
I would add to my tool setter macro a function, G0 until laser is cut by the tip of the tool, then go G1 F3.
This would be great since tool are sometime 5 inches long and sometime 3 inches long.
Maybe a small infrared receiver could do the job.
Thanks for any advice, Jeff
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I dont see that this would be too difficult. I have lasers on my lathe/mill for positioning. The lasers shine at detectors, and are accurate to 1 thou of an inch. I dont see you are even asking for that accuracy. A laser shining across your tool height setter at a detector would be picked up when the tool broke the beam.
I wont give details of my lasr and detector, because you probably can't get them - but the laser was £10 ($20) from Maplin, and the detectors are a few pence. They are very simple - three wire +5v. 0v and output. The output goes low when the laser is detected. Scmitt trigger output means it controls the input pin directly.
I made the laser and detector a little more accurate by shining them through 1mm holes about 12 mm long.
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Any pics of your setup, Jim? Sounds exellent - :)
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I don't ask for accuracy, I ask for some kind of detector.