Setting Z height without probe

Machines (Elite Series)
1

How can I set top of material height (z) without using the probe block? I will be flattening a slab and using the block is not practical due to the various surface heights.
I have a elite journeyman machine with MASSO controller.

Thank you

2

OneFinity has a YT video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mhpzL1sAwo&ab_channel=OnefinityCNC

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3

Hi Roger, I did watch this video. It said it was for non-elite machines. If I can follow the same instructions for Elite Journeyman that great.
Thanks so much for responding.

4

A widely used trick to set Z0 is to slowly creep the cutter down to the material with a piece of paper between the material and the workpiece. Move the paper back and forth as you creep down and it will eventually pin the paper in place.

For many applications this method is accurate enough.

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5

I might be missing something, but have you thought of zeroing off the table? This is what I do when my top surface gets machined away and I will be switching tools. Just don’t forget to take into account tape or anything else that may be raising the material off the table surface.

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6

Ive been doing something very similar.
I have a BB controller but it should be same way.
Move your spindle to about the highest spot of the wood, turn spindle by hand and if it catches, make that your Z0. I then move the x axis around while spinning the tool to see if it catches, if its clear in select spots i then lower the z by .005 and run my program.
If the spindle catches, ill raise the z by .005… and repeat the process till its clear all the way throughout the work piece

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7

I often manually zero. I do use the probe when I can but there’s plenty of times when I can’t. The biggest thing to remember is to not drive the bit into the work when setting the Z axis. Don’t ask how I found out. It’ll dent the wood and emo the steppers (at least with the BB controller) forcing you to home all the axis and start over. It’s easy to think I can get it closer on the faster speed not realizing there’s a bit of delay when you stop.

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