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Z Axis constant ZERO mod!

Discussion in 'Original Phlatprinter MODIFICATIONS' started by tvcasualty, Feb 25, 2010.

  1. rayclark

    rayclark Member

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    That would be great. Here is the one that I have been using. Thank you very much for doing this

    Attached files Phlatprinter1024_V2.5 _light.zip (16.8 KB)Â
     
  2. Tweakie

    Tweakie Member

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    Try this Ray.

    This is a VB button and within Mach select 'Operator / Edit Button Script' and the button will flash. Click on it, delete any code that is already in the box (if any) and then paste in your chosen script then click on save and close the VB box. Clicking on the new button should now activate the script you have inserted. The LED is 'OEM Code 825' (which is the probing LED) and this should illuminate when your touch switch is closed.

    Tweakie. Attached files Phlatprinter1024_V2.5 _light2.zip (16.3 KB)Â
     
  3. rayclark

    rayclark Member

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    Thank you Tweakie for adding that. Looks good. Now I just have to figure out the script. The one I tried sort of works but not correctly. Hoping I can figure it out..just getting frustrated with it at the moment .... I seem to be going in circle.

    Thanks again for fixing my screenset.

    Ray
     
  4. Tweakie

    Tweakie Member

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    Hi Ray,

    Don't know if this helps but...
    The script basically uses the Z axis DRO to apply an offset. The variable 'Plate thickness' is the distance between the actuation point of the switch and the surface of the work (Z zero). This distance can easily be measured by touching the tool onto the work, zeroing the Z-DRO then jogging the axis until the switch activates. The 'plate thickness' setting can then be read from the Z-DRO and entered into the script. Once this has been done it does not need changing again unless you alter the height of the switch, of course.

    Tweakie.
     
  5. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    Great information Tweakie thank you for sharing. I was talking with Evil-Tunes the other night and he was working on a screen set/script for this. I am not sure where here is with it at this point.
    ET you still working on this? How far along did you get after we talked?
    Mark
     
  6. tvcasualty

    tvcasualty New Member

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    It is so cool to see how many folks are jumping on this!
    I am glad I was able to help out!
     
  7. Evil-Tunes

    Evil-Tunes Moderator Staff Member

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    I got all the buttons in and the script "needs to be modded still" and can't go any further till i set up the switch. Here is what I have so far. I also didn't get the Leds to Work yet.

    Edit: the script is in inches not mm
    Cheers
    E-T Attached files Phlatprinter1024_V2.5 _auto zero.zip (17.5 KB)Â [​IMG]
     
  8. Tweakie

    Tweakie Member

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    My apologies for jumping onto your thread but once you started the ball rolling I just couldn't help myself. :oops:

    Tweakie.
     
  9. tvcasualty

    tvcasualty New Member

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    No no, by all means expand on it! I wasn't trying to be sarcastic, I'm really glad to see everyone joining in, hopefully this really helps out. -Finding that zero has been my biggest trouble. :p
     
  10. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    Nice job ET!!! This is going to be a cool mod indeed!
    Mark
     
  11. rayclark

    rayclark Member

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    With the help from Tweakie on the script and screenset, I have this mod working well. It is definitly well worth it as it takes all the guess work out of setting the tool bit height.

    I didn't want to deal with having anything mounted to the table top, so I chose to use a touchplate instead. Doing so, also eliminates the need to determine any kind of offset because the bottom of the touch plate rest directly on the table top surface which is where it should be zero'd. But should you decide to use something mounted above the work surface you just need to edit the script file and enter the appropriate number under the PlateThickness entry

    The issue with using a touchplate though is that the tool bit must be grounded in order to complete the circuit when it touches the plate. In the case of using a dremal the bit is insulated from ground. I did not want to deal with attaching an alligator clip from ground to the tool, so I made up a fixture using an old wire brush wheel from my dremel kit. See attached picture. For the plate, I just used a piece of PCB. I wired the brush to ground, and the PCB goes to pin 15.

    For the Mach settings I went into "Ports and Pins" then "Input Signals" tab. Scroll down till you find "Probe" put a check mark in the Enable box, choose a Pin Number ( I used 15), and then put a check mark in "Active Low"


    Then using the script attached I enabled the Auto Zero Button. Tweakie added this button to the screenset I was using which is linked below. You could use the one that Evil-Tunes has posted above.
    Once you have a button to use on your screenset, attaching the script is very easy....In Mach go to the menu bar and choose the "Operator" tab, from the drop down menu choose " edit button script". This will make the editable buttons on your screen flash. Choose the button that you want to use for this script, and paste it in. Close the editor and test.
    Hope this helps others. For whatever reason i was having a heck of time getting this to work correctly, but with the help from Tweakie and finding some settings i had wrong, all is working well and it really is a pretty simple thing to do now that I understand whats going on. Attached files AutoTool Script.doc (25 KB)Â Phlatprinter1024_V2.5 _light_autotool.zip (16.3 KB)Â [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  12. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

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    Very cool Ray! Good job getting this working and thank you to all you guys who have shared, and helped this along. This is a great mod and its going to help a lot of people :)
    Ray can you show how yours works with the brush attached?
    Thank you all
    Mark
     
  13. rayclark

    rayclark Member

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    I can post some pictures .... first picture shows how the brush comes in contact with the bit. Of coarse when setting this up the plate would be flat against the top surface and the brush hangs below. I only have it raised to take the piture. Next two pictures show the autotool status LED. It is off when the bit does not touch the plate...when the bit touches the plate, the LED turns green and the Z axis is set to zero.

    Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  14. Tweakie

    Tweakie Member

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    I like the idea of using a Dremel brush Ray, solves the 'double insulated' issue.

    Just one point, worthy of note, copper tarnishes over time and the oxide produced on it's surface is a pretty good electrical insulator. I have been using a PCB copper touch plate for some time now and I just have to remember to polish it up a bit from time to time. One day I plan on getting a piece of PCB electroplated gold. :D

    Tweakie.
     
  15. 3DMON

    3DMON Moderator Staff Member

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    Great work Ray.
    I like the brush integrated on the plate.
    Thanks for sharing.
     

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