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Author Topic: Laser detector for tool setter  (Read 3364 times)

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Laser detector for tool setter
« on: August 09, 2008, 05:15:33 PM »
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

Offline jimpinder

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Re: Laser detector for tool setter
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2008, 11:01:19 AM »
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.
« Last Edit: August 10, 2008, 11:03:29 AM by jimpinder »
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Offline budman68

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Re: Laser detector for tool setter
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2008, 11:08:07 AM »
Any pics of your setup, Jim? Sounds exellent -  :)
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Re: Laser detector for tool setter
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2008, 02:50:27 PM »
I don't ask for accuracy, I ask for some kind of detector.