I came across another issue, is there any way to add larger end mill sizes to the probe utility? It only goes to 1/4”. Sometimes I use 3/8, or 1/2” end mils. Thanks again for all your help!
That is one of the Todo items for a future firmware update For now, probe XY with, for example, a 1/4" (other endmill, broken shaft, or high precision gauge rod VERMONT GAGE 911225000 Class ZZ No-Go Pin Gauge Tol 0.00020 in 662631915445 | eBay for example) - gives you a perfect XY. Then fit the bigger endmill, and probe Z only. PS: having a gauge pin in your toolset is very useful for probing before using single flute endmills too, where they arent really concentric and not suitable to probe against
That's a great idea! Thanks. I tried this out but I ran into a different problem. I have my machine Z axis travel limit setup so that I do not plunge into my spoil board too far due to aluminum T slots recessed in the board. When I went to probe Z by itself with the XYZ touch probe plus, I got an error. Basically the probe command wanted to extend down past my travel limit. The problem with this lies with cutting thin material. IE, 1/16" Styrene. A solution to this is to extend the Z axis travel, however this now brings the possibility plunging too deep into my T-slots. (In the event of a crash or program error...) I don't want to do that! The only other solution that I can find would be to start the probe higher above the plate. This brings my question, is there a way to reduce the travel that the probe wants to move? this would allow me to position the bit closer to plate, and but not have to worry about being up high enough? I Hope that all makes sense. Thanks again.
Home to the Top, configure Soft Limits and set Max Travel gnea/grbl correctly to avoid crashes Hard limits at the bottom are mostly pointless because of varying tool lengths
Right, that is what I currently have, Soft limits turned on, with Max travel set so I don't plunge into the T-Slot tracks. Have to home on startup etc. The problem is the thickness of the material, IE 1/16" + the probe thickness requires the probe to start high enough so as to not go past the limits, but not too far away so as to actually hit the probe. This requires I set the starting point of the probe within 1/16 to 1/8" of its maximum probe length which is too hard to try and eyball. If the probe depth was shorter, this would allow me to position the start of the endmill just above the plate, I can eye ball 1/8" a lot easier than say 1". Does that make more sense now? So can the probe utility be edited to shorten the z probe height?
I might need a picture, but lets move this unrelated conversation to a new thread please, its not Interface related.
Peter, This is what I'm referring to. The more I thought about this as I was drawing this image, it occurred to me that if the probe distance was not deeper than the probe itself, there would be no way for the probe to extend past the limits. The way it is now, if you place the probe directly on the build platform and position the starting point just above the plate, then it wants to travel down below the spoil board because the travel is set so deep. (Not sure what the max travel is). This is what's throwing the error. Its because my travel limits are set to just below or right at the spoil board and it was given a command to go past the limit, so it errors out. Here is a drawing, I'm not sure if it will help or confuse you more.
Yes, but when you issue the probe command, if its too close to the limit, then it will throw and error, because it thinks you are trying to move past the limit.
I think I see what you mean, Soft Limits kicks in BEFORE the probe moves, because it it is keeping you safe, because you COULD possibly hit the Soft Limit / Max Travel if it misses the plate and keeps on going. It aint wrong... So, consider a Macro to help you position it. G53 Z move to put it at Max travel - 26mm (or more - for arguments sake - the actual max move is 25mm, with 1.5mm stock + 6mm plate you can go to 25+1.5+6mm-(1mm allowance) and still hit target Assign it to a keyboard shortcut. Rough position, hit your macro to put it in the right spot, and go for it. I will say though that bottom soft limit is going to be more of a frustration I think. While safety is good, if safety causes frustration, it is not. Spoilboards are there to spoil, you accidentally plunge it someday, it happens
Thanks Peter, I'm sorry to be such a PITA. Yeah, it sounds like you understand what I'm running into. Unfortunately, I'm using the Interface controller, so I can't run macros. Is it difficult to edit the script that runs the probing, or is there some other reason it can't be changed? I realize that this is a special case, and won't apply to everyone.
Put the gcode in a text file, and put in on the USB Name it something you'll recognise or use folders to organise so its easy to find again On interface its actually easy, text files, on the USB. Have you considered a second Hard limit on X and Y, disable Soft Limits, and accept that Z bottom is what it is?
I got the interface installed yesterday and noticed that when I to the X and Y axis prob it off sets my 0,0 1" to the left and 1" to the front. When I control it through my laptop the probing works perfect, is there a setting on the Interface that I can change? I also have the problem when jogging on the Interface that it starts and stops instead of smoothly moving.
PC and Interface both just send the G38 command. No difference at all between the two. Interface Firmware up to date? You are using our Probe right? Did you edit the Macros? (not supposed to, but if you did and added any offsets...) Machine calibrated? Firmware up to date? (v1.4)
I made sure it was updated again last night and haven't modified anything. The probe had worked normally when I had controlled things from my computer
Tonight I hooked up my laptop to the interface and everything works great from the laptop. I used the mobile app to move things and everything was smooth. When I try to move from the interface the movement is very jerky. I performed a full XYZ probe from the interface and everything is correct. I tried just probing in the Y axis and it read +.43 after it was done probing and when I moved my bit towards the edge of the material it went up to 1". I'll try and get a video and included it in this thread
OpenBuildsCONTROL > Grbl Settings > Backup Settings Thanks, investigating a possible bug: Does it also happen for X-only probes?
It happens on X and Y probe but not with the XYZ probe process. I attached the back up the Grbl settings from the OpenBuildsCONTROL on my laptop. I don't have a "Grbl Settings" sub folder in my OpenBuildsCONTROL folder, am I missing something?
Inside the application. Where you loaded your machine profile when you first set it up... Run CONTROL, Open it. With the application open, connect to the BlackBox. Click connect. Wait for it to connect. GRBL settings tab appears. Click on it. There's a toolbar across the top, on it, a button called Backup Settings
Control 1.0.303 will be out soon (today or tomorrow) Use it to re-prepare your Flashdrive as per docs:interface:prepare-usb-drive [OpenBuilds Documentation] - using v1.0.303 will copy updated Macro files Thanks
I redid the file transfer onto the thumb drive and made sure that all the software was updated. I still get the same 1" off when probing in the X or Y axis. If I do the XYZ probe it still works correctly.
Are you sure you updated to CONTROL V1.0.303 (And might help to delete the old PROBE folder first too)
