DIY edge finder
Touching off easily
As a CNC operator, I sometimes do have to know where my workpiece ends. Therefore I need its edges’
X/Y
coordinates. I was kind of solving this problem to date by using a tapered tool which I would manually position above the workpiece corner the best I could, visually controlling its position with help of my phone’s camera zoom.
This is relatively quick to setup and accuracy is high enough for most jobs. But it depends on the line of sight where even slight deviations create large errors so you have to be pretty thorough. When I started doing double-sided workpieces like this I felt the accuracy just is not high enough anymore.
I was discussing my problem with the machine manufacturer, thinking they might hint me towards buying an edge detector “3D finder” or similar product. But wrong I was! Instead, I was able to build an edge finder that did not cost me anything at all and in no time.
Roy was like “Well, really the only thing you need is a ball bearing. Put it onto a pole and mount it like any other tool. Have the spindle turn at low RPM. Then slowly have the machine move towards the workpiece edge. Once the outer ring of the bearing stops, you’ll hear and see it, and stop the machine movement. That’s the position you are searching for. Offset it with the bearing’s radius and you’re done.”
I was intrigued by that idea. As I don’t have access to a good hardware store that sells bearings and stuff nearby, I was searching the household. And voilà, my kids own a fidget spinner they didn’t use for a while. So I… snitched it. It contains a 22mm bearing with 8mm bore. Ok next - what should I use as a shaft?
I went for a dull drill bit, cut it in half, shoved the bearing on and added a drop of glue to secure it in place - Done!
S500
G01 X5.0 F1
G92
offset to hereSimple edgefinder in action.
Touching off easily
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