new Z zero device

[Ajcoholic]

http://www.shopbotblog.com/2016/02/new-shopbot-accessory-the-pressure-sensitive-z-zero-plate/

[coryatjohn]

That looks groovy.

[James M]

Question, is how you adapt the output from the Z zero device every time you re-surface your spoilboard.

[steve_g]

James…
You have to change the “thickness” setting in the setup. I know its actual thickness didn’t change, but its effective thickness does when you surface the spoilboard…

I would think someone will automate this process by taking a reading in its “home” position and comparing it to a reading in the “field” and changing the thickness setting automatically.
SG

[James M]

Steve,

Thanks for that. I didn't see anything in the link that would suggest that.

Maybe there is a routine where you use the "puck" to zero the bit and the regular method to get the table surface height relative to the "puck".


James

[coryatjohn]

Then there's the situation when you're zeroing from the material top. Same problems as the plate except no alligator clamp. I'll stick with my method. It's predictable and works every time.

[tlempicke]

Is it available yet? Price?

[scottp55]

Tom, Here's a copy of the designer's (David Preiss) response to some of my Desktop questions about it;

Hey Scott,



Glad to hear you’re interested. The plate is 0.828” from the aluminum base to the top of each of the 6 button head bolts above the blue HDPE cap. Base to the HDPE cap is 0.72.” If you don’t mind I’d be interested in hearing how height factors into your decision as we have plenty of time to make design changes and could probably accommodate what you’re after? I will get on updating the blog to include this.



We are setting the price at $150.



Also I saw from your forum post the question about disabling limit switches. There are some strange cases here but essentially on a desktop the limit switches are by default only considered homing switches, so they won’t act as true limit switches (there’s also only one per axis unlike a bigger tool). So on a desktop you can crash the tool in the X and Y without the software stopping you. This behavior is determined with a VN and then setting limits to off or on. On all of our other tools the limit switches act as true software limits (mounted ~.125 from their hard stops) and then the C3 offset covers the rest of the over-travel. So a desktop is the only place that your negative X and Y values could potentially be triggering a switch and they are by default setup to not interrupt a cut. Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions!



David Preiss

ShopBot Tools

3333 Industrial Drive

Durham, NC 27704

(919) 680 4800 x 131

[rb99]

It doesn't have the bottom edges that let you quickly square up to the corner of a sheet.

[scottp55]

No, That would be this one;
http://store.shopbottools.com/collections/accessories/products/3-axis-zero-plate
I think it might be good for an FTC like Randall was looking for;
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?22513-Setting-up-FTC-%28Fast-Tool-Change%29-on-Desktop&p=187757#post187757

[bleeth]

So supposing you took the current "new" design and put threads on the bottom and a female threaded base that you attached to your table. A simple jig would allow you to raise or lower it to match your spoilboard surface as you cleaned it.

"Home made" versions of this have been made for years but without the soft pad sensor for protecting fine bits from a bolt and some nuts and washers.

[Ajcoholic]

So supposing you took the current "new" design and put threads on the bottom and a female threaded base that you attached to your table. A simple jig would allow you to raise or lower it to match your spoilboard surface as you cleaned it.

"Home made" versions of this have been made for years but without the soft pad sensor for protecting fine bits from a bolt and some nuts and washers.

The thing I think most are overlooking is the fact this device doesn't need to be hooked up via a second wire to the bit. And a lot of people claim to have issues Z-zeroing due to that problem.

If I understand it correctly, it just replaces the aluminum plate, with no other wire required. And uses a different program/routine or whatever it's called.

I thought it might be interesting to the guys having issues.

[bleeth]

I didn't overlook it. I work off an older plate with no clip. That was introduced much later.
I forget why but a lot of guys with larger machines don't use it or need to. I think it has to do with how well or not you are grounded.

[Ajcoholic]

Not you specifically - but I thought (when I saw it on the blog) there would be more people who would appreciate the fact that it doesnt need the electrical path through the bit.

Just look how many threads (one is going on currently) about this have been started in the past several years.

Personally, I have my alligator clip on the back of my Z carriage, and never check if it is making contact or not. I use my machine a fair bit and have not had any issues with the zero routine.

But, one less thing to potentially go wrong (clip coming off, making poor contact, or for those forgetting to use it) might be worth the $150 if it saves you a few broken bits.

[coryatjohn]

Spindles don't ground directly through the shaft of the motor like routers sometimes can. The clip is required for spindle equipped machines.

Another place the existing plate doesn't work (at least on my machine) is when cutting metal on top of a metal table. I have an area on one side of my machine that's made from 8020 extrusions. If I'm cutting aluminum and using the extrusion part of the table, the plate is grounded and I need to put some sort of insulator between the plate and the material or it just shorts (grounds?) out.

[scottp55]

May be required John, but luckily for Desktoppers that doesn't mean you ever have to touch it:)
2 Desktops 4+ years and never even used it on a bit or collet:)
Good thing for lazy people like me.
Always check for the input 1 light Every time though.
Thanks for the folks that gave me the tip....probably saved me a week in 2 years.
I know what you meant though, and just ran across that second issue on the second Desktop which is bare extrusions at the moment.
scott

[srwtlc]

It's actually the other way around, with a spindle you don't need it and a router you do, or should, due to wearing of brushes and possible positioning of the brushes themselves.

I've used both router and spindle for 15+ years and have never needed the clip and have never damaged a tool either. I've not always checked to see if input 1 lights up, but due to some other unrelated issues, I have modified my z zero file so that it won't proceed to touch the plate until after I touch the plate to the tool and connection is verified.

[coryatjohn]

I have the HST 4hp spindle and it doesn't ground. no clip, no worky. I can't vouch for any other installation type though.

[srwtlc]

Mine is a 4hp HSD also. I'd try backtracking to see where it gets lost/insulated. Perhaps you have ceramic bearings?

[Plyoboxwarehouse]

This little gadget looks interesting. Unfortunately I use a 2.5" fly cutter to surface my spoilboard and the pad is recessed in a 2" opening. No good for me.... oh well!

[coryatjohn]

Mine is a 4hp HSD also. I'd try backtracking to see where it gets lost/insulated. Perhaps you have ceramic bearings?

I don't know. I tried to not use the clip years ago and it didn't work out. I've seen where there was some buildup on the collet and it wouldn't zero unless I wiggled the clip around to get to metal. That's part of why I abandoned the clip and plate method. The other is that it's another step that adds error into the job.

[jerry_stanek]

It depends on the spindle some have ceramic bearings and some have metal

[PNast]

I ordered one as soon as I found out it was available, been using it for about 2 weeks now and it is 100% on the money every time! I have consistently had problems zeroing from a 1/4" end mill to a 1/16" end mill, always off and needed to be nudged. Right now I am zeroing to the table top but I am trying to figure out a way to permanently mount it. I am extremely happy with how accurate it is!

[woodshop]

We are two weeks into the new Pressure Sensitive Z Zero device.
Wow! What an improvement over the old alligator clip system.
Safety: By eliminating the alligator clip, we have one less step to worry about.
Accuracy: Spot on.
Efficiency: As a production shop, we (think) our setup time has dropped.
We z zero from the material top.

We consider this a must-have add on to our Shopbot.