Digitizing

It seems to me Roland (as well as Centroid) has the right idea.
since any digitizing to a high degree of accuracy would take a long
time due to the literally thousands of XYZ or XZA points to be
tabulated, the best solution might be to have a program work as
follows:

1. The user would plot the area to be digitized thru the simple
expedient of using jog buttons. This would indicate the starting (0-
0)and ending (#-#)points of both the X and Y (or A) axis. The
maximum up and maximum down positions for the Z axis can be set at
the same time. User also enters the desired resolution. The program
then creates an array based on the desired resolution and the area to
be digitized. The X & Y or X & A parts of the array would be
automatically filled in.

2. Program start would initially move the probe to the 0-0 position
with the probe in the home (full up) position.

3. Digitizing begins with a rapid Z move to the maximum up postion.

4. The probe now down feeds until the probe contacts the part and
breaks a circuit. This provides the Z dimension to be placed into
the array at position 0-0. The probe is returned to the max up
position.

5. Program continues indexing in steps along the X or A axis. After
each X or A move, the probe repeats step #4.

6. After all points in the array have been filled, the machine
returns to its home position.

I've watched my Roland machine work, and I've seen it make a LOT of
unnecessary moves. With a system I've just decribed, the probe
should not need all those 3D movements everyone is trying to build
in. All the probe would need is simple up and down movement.

Comments anyone?

Smoke