Hi Guys.
I am new to probing, so I have a few questions.
First why probe something? I have a fantasy in my mind that I can probe a complex object and end up with a compleate 3D model, which I’m sure doesn’t happen.
Second how does the probe work? It must have some sort of limit switch that makes contact as the probe contacts the object.
Last question. What software runs the operation? Is there a conversion wizard that drives the operation? Or something else that records the data points and creates a table of the probed points?
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HardtailSr.
You may have misunderstood my question. This has nothing to do with the tool setter, rather a probe tool.
A probe is a spindle mounted “switch” with a ruby bead on its tip. The probe bit has the ability to indicate when it touches the side or top of an object being measured, and hopefully record the X,Y,Z coordinates.
The OneFinity has all the hardware needed to completely measure and store all the 3D points in a solid object, we only need software that records a mesh of 3D points and drives the probe to the next point so a X,Y,Z measurement may be taken.
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I sent the link for the probe as well.
the touch probe for the onefinity does not have the ruby tip. It is a different animal entirely from what you would use as a machinist. just watch the video. you will see what i mean.
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Allen,
What you are looking for would not be referred to as probing. I think what you want is 3D digitizing. The Masso controller does support probing for the following operations:
You may be able to digitize a part by writing Gcode using the G38.6 code to log probe data. I don’t know of an automatic digitizing solution for the Masso controller.
I hope that this helps you in your quest.
Best wishes!
Dirkus (Dirk)
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Most Onefinity users will understand probing using their machines as a means to register a single X, single Y, and single Z coordinate, for the purposes of positioning a home position precisely relative to the workpiece when running a part. Probing is done with the aluminum block provided by Onefinity, and uses an electrical connection to the cutter in the spindle of the machine. The Masso controllers have a nice little probing utility that makes the process very easy.
Your “fantasy”, is using a probe like a coordinate measuring machine. I’m pretty sure this is possible with the Onefinity machines, but would take a pretty high understanding to set it up. The aluminum block provided by Onefinity would not be ideal for this. I saw a video from UglyDog workshop where he installed a probe with what looked like a ruby tip. Very interesting.
I have no idea what software would be needed to generate a point cloud and export back to a CAD software. My guess is it’s probably expensive.
A third use-case for a probe is to use a ruby-tip probe in a G-code program. A program can be written such that the machine makes a cut with a cutter, then switches to the probe to see where the cut landed, and using some programming wizardry, cut more material if required. This technique is used more on a high tolerance machine with challenging specs. I doubt many people, if any, use this on a Onefinity machine.
I haven’t tried this but there does look like a way to use the Masso to do this
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I used to have a Shopbot that had the option to do that using Vectric. I don’t recall it being insanely expensive but enough that I didn’t want to add it to an already $10K machine as I was just starting out playing with CNC. Checking on what they have might provide a way to add that feature to a OneF.
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Hi Mike.
Thanks for weighing in on this topic.
GREAT NEWS! In my “fantasy”. The Masso website has a section on probing, and to top it off the machine will do exactly what I am researching, and the software is available, best of all the software as some predicted to be very expensive is FREE!
The file is called “AutolevellerAE-0.9.5u2exe” the link is on the Masso website and downloadable. its located on the probing page and the link is called “Autoleveller”
It sounds like it will automatically build the point mesh for probing. I have downloaded it already but haven’t installed it yet, so I can’t comment on its functionality.
allen
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I can’t see Masso being able to probe complex models. There probably is not enough memory to hold the millions of data points it would require. The AutoLeveler software looks like it is meant only to do some rudimentary bed leveling functions, not “Scan” 3d models.
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Would love to hear how this works.
Like Avocado (Scott), It looked like a surface calibration thing?
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Hi Guys.
As others have said, this is a complex question. And yes it is possible with a very expensive program. BUT it looks like Masso has left us an out to develop our own hybrid solution on how to solve this conundrum.
Myself I have been a half full glass person rather than a half empty glass person. So personally I’m working on a way forward to solve this “fantasy” than to just give up, just because I didn’t have a solution to buy. Will it ever rival the expensive solution? NO! I am a coder at heart, and I know unless profits are at the bottom line we will never have a solution that rivals the for profit operations. So I’m willing to organize a group of willing coders to do the heavy lifting to get this done.
How the data from this coding gets used in the next higher level program is not important now, one inch or 25.4mm is not important. Rather being able to generate the measurements is the goal.
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I know that Centroid has what you are looking for, a digitizing program, maybe you can manipulate its to work on Masso.
Pat
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Hi Pat.
Thanks for the information. Can you point out a link to the software? I have found the home page however after that the waters are muddied. They are pushing their cnc controller in three or more variants, but I can’t find a link to the software.
Allen Jarosz
I googled “centroid digitizing software” it is all there except pricing, have to call to get it, they may not sell if you don’t have their hardware, no sure, we have it at work but don’t use it I may be able to get it, I will let you know.
Thanks, Pat
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I think you need this info: G38.6 - Digitizing Probing Cycle
And then this: Auto Levelling using G38.6
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Hey, so I have been doing something similar to this. I picked up this probe a month ago. I’m also running the newest firmware on the masso. I haven’t had any issues so far. Calibrating the probe when you have a tool setter can be a pain. I’m using the probing function on the masso; The new firmware adds an option to save the probe data to a file. The file has the X,Y, and Z coordinates and a description of the probing direction (TOP, LEFTSIDE, etc)
Right now, I’m using a Python script to convert it to a DXF so I get a 2d view in Fusion360. You can use Meshmixer to convert it to a surface map.
AutolevellerAE is more about adjusting the z-axis of existing g-code to compensate for a non-planer work surface. It didn’t do what I wanted, and I couldn’t get it to generate a probe file.
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You only need a touch probe that advanced for a 5 axis machine, for the onefinity and the type of machining we do it is all taken from a single datum point and generally you are not moving the stock, you are moving the head relative to the stock,
The Renishaw probe you describe is for advanced industrial machining and does the same job a touch probe does but with a greater level of accuracy and with the addition of working in conjunction with a rotary table or 5th axis,
Really that technology is not appropriate to 3 axis CNC machining, its like asking about the SR71 engine in a model RC car forum.
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Thank you for your point of view.
I was unaware that everyone was working on perfectly flat dimensional lumber.
I have been working on locally sourced irregularly shaped slabs and fitting a design to the wood works for me. Now you are going to have to forgive me if I don’t know all the correct machining or woodworking terms. I’m a simple programmer and gamer, and I’m not up to speed on all the terminology for my hobby.
The customer wanted some large charcutery boards cut out of this piece of lumber, and the main requirement was that the finished products needed to use the crotch and fit together.
Yes, I could have put a vBit in my router, and I could have moved it over each point and written it down. Then, I manually entered each point into my CAD package, made the polygon, and designed the shape. I did this on my first few projects, and it takes a lot of hours. With the probe, it took 30 minutes from when the slab was secured to when it was in F360.
Is it overkill, probably. Should I have used the CNC to make templates that could be placed on the material and used a flush trim bit on my router to do the cuts? Yes, I could have done that as well.
Do I use the probe when checking dimensional lumber? Nope.
Do I feel comfortable taking an oddly shaped project, putting it back on my machine, and adding a feature to it? Yes, yes, I am.
Thank you, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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