3D scanning features & measurements | digitizing with a z
Hi Guys,
I just bought a probe digitizer in the hopes of pulling some x,y,z, measurements off of parts.
Finding software to do this is hard but currently I am trialing "GRBL Plotter" with "Surface Scan".
The friendly guys at CNC3D have helped me with the nighthawk, its going well so far but this controller looks for PNP inputs (my probe is NPN). I will get a NPN-PNP converter (also conveniently available from CNC3D). The nighthawk has two inputs for "Probe" (Signal +12V | Ground), these digitizing probes have a third wire for the +12V "Power", middle wire "Signal", then "Ground"
More info here minus the background noise: https://discuss.inventables.com/t/3-wire-3d-touch-probe/140839
I hope to get this setup and working, theres not a lot of user friendly digitising programs out there but others ive heard of are bCNC and some Mach3 stuff. Cheers!
So it worked! The touch probe I used requires a higher force in the Z-direction so the part moved more before a reading was taken. I used hard foam as a bed to avoid probe damage from any stray movements, but now the program is dialed in I might be able to forego this.
The other option is to come in from the side, as these touch probes are more sensitive in the x-y direction. You are limited by geometry of the part this way, however.
Might have a go at reducing the spring tension in a probe, but bCNC and the nighthawk (with the converter) works quite well so far!! Pretty cool.