The pocket nc v2 50 milling machine has a 1/8" or 3 mm collet in the spindle. The best solution I could find for edge finding was to put a pin in the spindle and measure with a gauge block between the part and the pin. That's ssssslllloooooooooowwwwwwww. I'm integrating a Renishaw TP-20 touch probe.
A Renishaw TP-20 extended force touch probe was purchased. It came in two parts. The two parts mate together with balls, slots, magnets and spring pins. I cut apart the base part and was able to use parts from it to make a mechanical adaptor.
I found the pin on the BeagleboneBlack in the pocket nc that's hooked up to the tool height probe signal. I ran some G38.n gcodes, general straight probing gcodes. They all responded properly if I pushed the tool height probe by hand. I determined that by pulling down pin 22 on the BeagleboneBlack the probe signal could be actuated. I bread boarded a circuit to pull down the pin and to interface to the probe.
I ordered some connectors.
The next steps are to add transient voltage suppression measures into the circuit, to make the circuit more permanent, enclose the circuit (probably will make a new cover for the PocketNC electronics bay), and add strain relief on the probe end of the probe cable.
Great idea! I covet a PocketNC machine -they actually make them over in Bozeman, MT, not too far from where I live. Maybe I'll go there sometime and dumpster-dive. Suppose I'd need some Dave Jones level luck for that to pay off.
Interested to see how this turns out. Keep us posted.
Great idea! I covet a PocketNC machine -they actually make them over in Bozeman, MT, not too far from where I live. Maybe I'll go there sometime and dumpster-dive. Suppose I'd need some Dave Jones level luck for that to pay off.
Interested to see how this turns out. Keep us posted.