![cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing](http://cncmaskiner.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/20180306_154012.jpg)
- #CNC TOUCH PLATE FOR Z AXIS ZEROING MANUAL#
- #CNC TOUCH PLATE FOR Z AXIS ZEROING SOFTWARE#
- #CNC TOUCH PLATE FOR Z AXIS ZEROING CODE#
I can see the digitize light is green when active low enabled. BUT- –I can only use the auto tool zero if I have my active low unchecked as soon as I check the active low setting in ports and pins input for the probe it doesn't work. Well all this began because I wanted to use my touchplate probe… I can press the auto tool zero button- but I doesn't stop it movement down the z-axis when it touches the plate. I can move my cnc, run programs and stuff- spindle works, but when I go to Mach3 Diagnostics there are no green lights showing at Port 1 pins current state? How is that? I ran a monitor program to check my ports activity and could see there were some ports that were red and some were green. I have used many hours and now I thought it was time to reach out ! I've got a CNCz 6040 China Machine, Mach3 and a windows 7 computer.
#CNC TOUCH PLATE FOR Z AXIS ZEROING MANUAL#
Much easier than manual zeroing and I don’t have to worry about breaking small diameter tools or chipping the carbide on bigger ones.Thanks a lot for your wonderful content. I had to convert from metric to inch measurements for the movements and enter the height of my touch plate (.487″).
#CNC TOUCH PLATE FOR Z AXIS ZEROING CODE#
Searching for help on the Mach4 forums I came across a thread on this topic and some script code from another user “DazTheGas” see the message thread. This is one of the points where having an active user community helps tremendously. So I had to modify the UI / Screen set, add a new button and some scripting to do this.
#CNC TOUCH PLATE FOR Z AXIS ZEROING SOFTWARE#
This is all great in concept but the Mach4 software does not complete this for you. Once complete, the height of the touch plate is subtracted off and you now have the height of your base (spoil) board on which the project will rest. The idea is to drive the Z axis down at modest speed until it touches the plate, and then it backs off slightly (~0.1″) and then moves downward very slowly to touch again for the final height. The router spindle itself is grounded for safety and this conveniently completes the circuit for the touch plate. The touch plate is simply a block of acrylic plastic about 3/8″ thick with a sheet of brass mounted on top and connected to the “Probe” input. It requires at least version 2803 of the Mach 4 software which I am using with the Ethernet Smooth Stepper (ESS) version 130 software.
![cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71cQadG5GNL._AC_SS450_.jpg)
First was getting the Mach 4 “Probe” input working. So I was determined to set up a touch plate and have that working with the Mach 4 controller software. This has to be done after each tool change and is just plain tedious. The hard part has been easily zeroing out for cutter height. I measure from the stops / fence to the home position and modify the zero references and I am off and running for several projects. The way I am currently setting up my fixturing on the CNC table, I have a left size (x axis work zero) fence and some movable stops from Rockler in the table slots.
![cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing](https://image.made-in-china.com/202f0j00pMzfPqKcOabu/Olearn-CNC-Z-Axis-Tool-Setting-Probe.jpg)
2″ diameter touch) are bit small for woodworking due to the rougher surface of the wood and the large ones seem to be easier for me without false indications of the edge. I particularly like the 1/2 inch diameter ones like this one: Brown & Sharpe 599-792 Edge Finder Single. X and Y i have been doing with a standard edge finder. One of the hard parts has been zeroing out each of the axis.
![cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing cnc touch plate for z axis zeroing](https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FZQ/W6BM/GS4EJ2KT/FZQW6BMGS4EJ2KT.jpg)
These can be furniture pieces or parts for the router or other tools. That is I can now with modest effort actually make useful things. The CNC router has achieved functional status.