Adding a probe to Mach3 to find centers and edges of material

[EL34]

I have been wanting to do this for a while and finally got around to it.

I set up the Probe function in Mach3 to find centers and edges of work pieces.
Man, this makes it so much easier than how I was doing it.

Check out my page here for details, bigger pics and more info
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/Cnc/CNC17.htm

Here's a YouTube video of it in action finding the Z surface and the center of a small aluminum reflector

[tubesornothing]

Nice!  I like how it rapids back to its known point before trying to find the edge for the opposite side.

[simonallaway]

Does the irregular shape of a drill bit affect the accuracy of this technique?

[EL34]

Does the irregular shape of a drill bit affect the accuracy of this technique?

I don't run drill bits, the picture is of a 1/8" diamter end mill.

Maybe a two flute bit, but remember that the tool has spirals
So as long as the spirals are deep enough down, you probably don't have to worry about it.

On the four flute bits, it's not that big of a deal at all.

Anyway, I run it twice or three times to get an average
I turn the spindle just a bit each time I run the routine.

[supro66]

As an inspector in a machine shop I have been doing the same thing for years for a set up

Zeiss CMM