CNC Router Parts - Z Touch Plate gets ported to Mach4

[@cryptojunkie5875]

Appreciate you doing these videos. Would love to see more setup, cutting and project videos from you. Great job, keep em coming,

[@jeromeherron4195]

Very good video. I am using Mach3 with a home made plat. I have found when using a bit over and over they can get a build on them and will not conduct, so be sure to all way clean your bit before starting.

[@paulalbertine5177]

is this still an open thread, just moved to Mach4 after a HD failure running Mach3. My problem is that changing the input signal to active low doesn't 'stay' reverts back to the big red x.. my probe signals when it contacts the Z touch plate, hesitates and then continues down... history only says it has a hit.. any guidance?

[@CNCPRINTBLOGSPOT]

nice job, ive actually a problem with the G31.1..2 ..3...4.. Just a hint: If you are using more than 1 probe and the first is a 3d probe and the second a touch plate. the touch off ui from Mach4 wont work properly. it just wont stop by hitting the G31.1 probe plate...

[@yvindnilsen94]

3:40 what is the bad thing that happens if you dont check the thing off to pull active low?

[@buildbug3979]

The probe needs to be set up correctly or the tool will simply NOT stop moving. This can break a bit, the touchplate, and/or the z-axis depending on how powerful your stepper motor is. The probe signal is what tells Mach4 to stop. Checking the 'active low' in this case is simply telling Mach4 that our probe will signal contact by pulling 'Input #6' to ground (i.e. low). With the box un-checked, you are telling Mach4 to expect a +5V signal when the tool touches the plate. There may be other touchplates or probes in the world that signal using +5V, but the AVID CNC's Touchplate uses a ground signal thus requires us to select 'active low'. I hope that makes sense.

[@yvindnilsen94]

@@buildbug3979 hm.. well.. just set up an avid cnc and using all the guides i can find on mach 4.. the touchplate should work from the outset, but it dont.. the probe-speed is set slow at less than 5 mm pr second(kinda wierd that it is set by minutes but anyways), and the return after a probe is 2,5 cm.. when jog-ing the bit to less than 5 cm over the touchplate and pressing the button to do the probe, the machine seems to go full speed onto the touchplate and depresses the springloaded plate on the center of it, then it retracts all the way up to the stop-sensor at the top of that axis.. i am guessing that is a response to the steppermotor getting more resistance than expected.. but i cant figure out why it goes so fast.. even if the active low checkmark isnt checked, should the steppermotor go full speed?

[@buildbug3979]

@@yvindnilsen94 While my machine may look like an AVID CNC Pro 4x4, it isn't. I do not have nor use AVID CNC's controller electronics so any help I can provide will be very general. I would take a step back and verify the basic Mach4 configurations. - Are the stepper motors setup correctly? (Axis mappings, Counts/unit, units/min, direction of motion etc.) - Is the Mach4 profile you are using based on a Mill and not a lathe or something else? - Make sure the probe signal is working. Mach4 "Machine Diagnostics" tab's red "Probe" light. If this doesn't work there's no point in attempting any probing motion. The touchplate is just a normally open switch, it's the design of the electronics within the controller that determine whether the signal uses +5V, or a ground signal. You'll need to confer with AVID CNC to know which is required for their controller. - If you believe all the config is correct AND the probe signal is working then you might check Mach4's "Status Bar" (above the "History" button in the bottom left corner). The status bar echos what modal gcodes are in effect at any given time. There are many modal gcodes that can result in unexpected behavior when activated. e.g. G90 vs G91, G93 vs G94 vs G95

[@yvindnilsen94]

@@buildbug3979 thank you for giving inputs in this.. all axis seem to be correct and the limit switches work.. including the touchplate.. when i watch the lights on the program that is.. the machine homes itself with no issue.. got a mail from avid telling me to reinstall mach4.. but i find it spooky to do the test when the machine just goes full force and pushes down so fast i cant stop it