Hoss

Thanks a lot for this great time saver! It works great on my X2 Mill.

But now I'm spoiled! and want to use it on my mini lathe as well.

I've cnc'd both and drive them from the same controller - only have to switch the cables and start Mach up for the correct machine.

I've modified an electronic edgefinder to use as probe and want to use that in my lathe to set the X axis.

If I knew how, I would have copied your screen and modified the X and Z buttons to work on the lathe, but it is beyond my abilities.

Could I beg this off you?

By the way, your videos are great!

I think you could make some money if you made cnc instruction videos - for beginners. I like to make some of the things you've done, but as a beginner I need to learn how to do basic steps first.

I've watched a few instructional videos - but they are all for manual work (I could new spin those axis by hand for hours!) and why do these instructors speak so slow? I battle to stay awake!

Thanks again

I've done tool probing on my lathe, it's pretty neat. The probe gets wired up just like a limit switch, although you use alligator clips to ground the tool and another clip to wire the signal to the part in the chuck (which is in a plastic sleeve). When I did it I think I was able to use the home button to slowly jog the axis until it touched. However for the last few months I've just been manually zeroing my lathe tools. The nylon sleeve that I made isn't the most accurate, so I was getting some slop. I've found that it's quick enough to use a 0.002" feeler gauge then slowly jog the tool until it touches, then zero minus 2 thou (4 thou for X in diameter mode!). Then do a test cut in some aluminum to verify, edit the offsets as necessary. My probe wasn't repeatable enough, so I stopped using it. It really is worth the effort to get the offsets perfectly bang on.

Hoss it's time to CNC your G0602!!!

Hoss

I've basterdized your screen to make it work on the lathe!

How do I attach the file here, so others can use & improve the .LSET ?

Hoss

Sorry, but I can't find an attach button. What does it look like? Where do I find it?

No luck! I don't have that button?

Here is the zipped file at long last! .

Copy the LatheProbe1.lset file to your Mach3 folder and the bitmaps to mach3\bitmaps\turnbitmaps.

Then run machturn and click; "View", "load screens" then find the LatheProbe1.lset file.

At the bottom right is a button called "Offset" to take you to the magic place! "Main" button will bring you back.

First chuck a modified electronic edge finder that is set up to light the green LED when touched by the tool.

Enter the edge finder diameter in the tool diameter DRO.

Move your tool close (0.5inch) to the edge finder in the X- (or X+ for boring or internal thread cutting tool). Click the X- to have it find the edge finder and set the DRO at 1/2 the edge finder diameter (assuming you are working in Radius mode).

Enter thickness of PCB in Plate thickness DRO.

Thereafter chuck your work and hold a piece PCB board (connected the your probe wire) to the Z end and move your tool close. Hit Z- and hold steady till it finds the PCB and sets the DRO at Plate thickness.

Hope this works as well for you!

File Attachment(s):
LatheProbe.zip (96kb) downloaded 61 time(s).