Re: Touch Probe Tips

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, R Rogers <rogersmach@y...>
wrote:

> Now, if this is for mapping a 3-D surface and building a program

from that data, I'll be all over that :-) It'd also be good for
setting up your tooling in holders and measuring their lengths. Stand
the probe up on table and touch off with all your different cutters
in holders for a particular program . Storing that info in your tool
library for CAM generation. I dont know if Mach2 has that capability.
Calling out a tool number in the program and it automatically
calculates the cutting depth. Some of the CAM softwares do.

>
> To take this a step further we could come up with a spindle mounted

probe that is telescopic and compression spring loaded, mount a small
linear encoder within it. Move the probe about any 3-dimensional
surface and map its features. Using the X-Y-Z data collected to build
a wireframe that could then be generated into a part program. That'd
be nice.

You just described the probe and software capabiity of DeskCNC

http://www.imsrv.com/deskcnc/probe.htm

The software automatically compensates for the probe tip diameter,
smoothes/filters the resulting 3D surface and saves it as an .STL
file, ready for a CAM program to create 3D surface toolpaths ( which
DeskCNC can also do)

$225 with DeskCNC.

Fred Smith - IMService

http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/hobby