EDIT removed Z12 from second to last line as this had the potential to cause a crash if using machine bed for zero
Howdy Folks,
Start with thanks to Warren Brown for reposting from Bulidbotics forum on this subject.
I’ve managed to write a tool change that mimicks a bit setter. There seems to have been some interest from some people out there on this. It works a bit differently than Carbide Motion but gets the job done, drawback to this is you have to probe both tools on every tool change, but don’t have to probe the first tool on the bit setter before zeroing work piece as is the case in Carbide Motion. I’ve tested this with Vectric and it works in all situations that I’ve attempted for different size materials etc. I’m just using the 1F probe flipped upside down no other probe or bit setter required.
Need to be careful and make sure you attach the magnet when prompted as this is set to seek all the way to the bottom of the Z slider. Also, if working with very thick material if the Z offset after you zero the Z to work piece is more than -25.4mm or -1 inch when I say more than I’m meaning 0 to -25.4mm or -1 inch, it will error as an over. I’ve tested with up to 2 1/4" thick material with Z slider on the lowest mounting point and 3/4" wasteboard.
This will make for very simple tool changes where the material is unlikely to be in the way. If you’re working with a large piece and need to set the probe on top somewhere you may run into an issue with height to change the bit. The code is mostly done in absolute values so I recommend trying to work from the area that I’ve specified but you can, of course, modify to your liking.
Here’s the code that I’ve entered into the Controller>Settings>tool-change dialogue box with some explanations in { } DO NOT ENTER these parentheses or anything between these parentheses!
BACKUP YOUR CONFIG before doing this. THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Also this is for the Woodworker, the machinist would need different X value on line #6.
I’ve tested it in as many different configurations as I can think of and it has worked for all of them. Once I had the controller pause when touching the probe and wouldn’t continue, but I’ve had that happen a couple times on a regular probe so feel it is likely a little hiccup with the controller.
M70 {Pause modal}
S0 {Spinle to zero}
G21 G40 G49 {Metric, cancel tool offsets}
G17 G90 {XY, Absolute Coordinates}
G53 G0 Z-10 {Move to 10mm below absolute zero}
G53 G0 X800 Y15 {Move to bottom right, you may need to change these coordinates if you
pocket a hole for probe}
G92.2 {Temporarily suspend offsets}
G53 G0 Z-70 {Move to -70MM absolute}
M0 (MSG, Wait for the spindle to stop. Attach Probe, Click “Continue”) {Prompt for 1st probe cycle}
G38.2 Z-133 F100 {First probe}
#5000=#<_Z> {Store Value from first probe}
G53 G0 Z-70 {Move to -70 absolute}
M0 (MSG, Change Tool, Attach Probe. Click “Continue”) {Prompt for tool change and attach magnet}
G38.2 Z-133 F100 {Second Probe with new tool}
#4999=#<_Z> {Store Value from second probe}
G92.3 {Restore original offsets}
G0 Z25.4 {Move to 25.4mm above original Z}
G92 Z[#5000-#4999+25.4] {Calculate diff in tool height, set new Z0}
G53 G0 Z-10 {Move 10mm below absolute zero}
M0(MSG, REMOVE MAGNET!!! Click “Continue”) {Don’t forget this}
G0 X0 Y0 {Return to Workpiece XY 0}
M72 {Restore modal}
Trying to post a video as well but am having trouble getting it to email from my phone. Feel free to send me any questions, I’ll do my best to answer them. And again a big shout out to Warren Brown!!
Here’s the code again without explanations so you can copy and paste.
M70
S0
G21 G40 G49
G17 G90
G53 G0 Z-10
G53 G0 X800 Y15
G92.2
G53 G0 Z-70
M0 (MSG, Wait for the spindle to stop. Attach Probe, Click “Continue”)
G38.2 Z-133 F100
#5000=#<_Z>
G53 G0 Z-70
M0 (MSG, Change Tool, Attach Probe. Click “Continue”)
G38.2 Z-133 F100
#4999=#<_Z>
G92.3
G0 Z25.4
G92 Z[#5000-#4999+25.4]
G53 G0 Z-10
M0(MSG, REMOVE MAGNET!!! Click “Continue”)
G0 X0 Y0
M72