Finally got round to making a probe so I can digitize something right on my cnc mill because I need to do some 3d engraving on a rounded object.
Design here :-
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:721620
3d printed the parts listed by scorch but I had to metrify it, and it didn't work out the box until I'd spent ages tweaking the heights of the buttonhead switch contacts, but here's the unit assembled. button contacts done by m5 stainless buttonheads, and m3 long screws right through the body to hold the unit together. My probe takes m5 probes currently, but I'm going to turn up a m5->m3 adaptor so I can use standard reinshaw rubies on it as I have a couple spare.
In a qc30 collet holder
Testing, good clean break when the end touches something after tinkering with spring pressure and shape a bit.
Its on a rca (ie household stereo) plug, and added a rca jack on the monitor connected to a spare pin on one of the io boards on the cnc control (its linuxcnc with a pc based controller), and can now 3d probe things on the machine. Its no reinshaw but if I accidentally turn the spindle on and smash it to pieces, replacement involves half a hour with the 3d printer again. Total cost, ummm, about 2 quid and a hour of my time assembling it. Who says cnc has to be expensive?
Todo, cover the wires and bolt heads underneath in sillicone to isolate it as it'll have 5v floating round on them and I don't want to short out the machines 5v rail more to the point.
Design here :-
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:721620
3d printed the parts listed by scorch but I had to metrify it, and it didn't work out the box until I'd spent ages tweaking the heights of the buttonhead switch contacts, but here's the unit assembled. button contacts done by m5 stainless buttonheads, and m3 long screws right through the body to hold the unit together. My probe takes m5 probes currently, but I'm going to turn up a m5->m3 adaptor so I can use standard reinshaw rubies on it as I have a couple spare.
In a qc30 collet holder
Testing, good clean break when the end touches something after tinkering with spring pressure and shape a bit.
Its on a rca (ie household stereo) plug, and added a rca jack on the monitor connected to a spare pin on one of the io boards on the cnc control (its linuxcnc with a pc based controller), and can now 3d probe things on the machine. Its no reinshaw but if I accidentally turn the spindle on and smash it to pieces, replacement involves half a hour with the 3d printer again. Total cost, ummm, about 2 quid and a hour of my time assembling it. Who says cnc has to be expensive?
Todo, cover the wires and bolt heads underneath in sillicone to isolate it as it'll have 5v floating round on them and I don't want to short out the machines 5v rail more to the point.