Manual Touchplate

X-Carve Upgrades
1

My current project is what I’m calling a manual touchplate. Eventually I’ll wire up a normal z-axis touchplate, but for now I’m testing a manual version. I’m currently using a 1-2-3 Block, a continuity tester, and some alligator clips. If I like the results I’ll likely refine it a bit later down-the-road (solder the contacts and such).

Basically, I just connect the clip to the bit and the use Easel to manually (SLOWLY) jog the Z-axis closer until the LED lights up. Once that’s done, since I’m using a 1-2-3 Block I know I’l exactly 1 inch from the board. I can then set the distance to 1 inch and lower the bit exactly to the board.

Thoughts?

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I was thinking about using the same kinda set up with a 1-2-3 block also

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Clever. It’s good to have options when you need them.
You should still use the same setup, but hook the probe up to your G-Shield.
Once you do that, it’s real simple to issue g-code commands via Easel to zero the axis.

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Actually, you connect one side of the probe to pin A5 on the Arduino Uno and the other to ground. Grbl G38.2 and other commands make it happen.

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Thanks for those important details.
I knew about the wiring / probing details, but I hope @NAM37 and others now do :smile:

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I set up a macro in UGS. Here’s the one that makes this work for me:

G20 G38.2 Z-.5 F2; G92 Z.5; G91; G0 Z0.25; G90

Breaking it down:

G20 = set system to inches

G38.2 Z-.5 F2; = move Z down to Z-0.5 at 2ipm until it touches the plate (it never reaches -0.5, of course)

G92 Z.5; = set the coordinate offset to 0.5", the thickness of my plate

G91; G0 Z0.25; = set to relative mode and raise Z by 0.25" for clearance

G90 = set system back to absolute mode

3 Likes
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What would this process be in Easel?

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Yes it is definitely possible.
See Macros like in UGS - #9 by JeremyJohnstone

Possible, but not ideal. Still better than nothing.
Once Easel has macros or native probing it will be much easier.