Probing and Tool Setting
With the completion of the conversion I had promised myself a digitizing probe. During the course of the conversion (8 months) Centroid released a new more price friendly digitizing probe, the KP-3. I ordered and received it in July.
The probe is everything I could have wished for and is quite the piece of technology. From Centroid's website:
This probe more than meets my accuracy needs for sure and a price that is more than reasonable for what you are getting. The Pro or Digitizing Bundle licenses are required.
Here are a couple of videos I made of mine "in action":
Hook up and configuration is pretty straight forward and the usage & setup instructions (including diagrams) can be found here. There are a lot of canned probing cycles built into teh Centroid milling software that will meet any need you have. Quick, easy and really fun to watch!
Tool Setter
I also desired a tool setting device and through some discussions with others settled on one of these devices. Just about everyone sells this device, make sure you get one that has Normally Closed contacts! I removed the air jet nozzle and wired it to use the Centroid standard 8 pin Amp/TE circular connector. Parts for this can be found at the Mouser Electronics website. Here are the parts you would need to install this connector:
Housing 571-2064341 Shell 571-1-206062-6 Pins 571-665069
To keep from having to chase the tool setter around on the mill table I went to CMS Magnetics and got some really small Neodymium Cup Magnets These have a pulling force of 4.2 pounds, just enough to keep it in place, but allowing easy removal.
I am using the KP-3 as my Master tool and when setting other tools I mount the tool setter on the table and then use the KP-3 to touch off on the top. From there I swap the connections from KP-3 to the tool setter and go to town using the software to set the various offsets. The repeatability of the tool setter is well within my needs and thus far has proven to be a good purchase. The combination of these two devices makes setting tools simple and easy!
I laser cut an insert for one of my plastic cases to safely store the probe and cord when not in use. The probe has been mounted to one of my Kingman-White quick change tool holders.
I elected to add an extension to the Probe socket on the control cabinet to make connecting the probes easier. It was more convenient to add the extension to constantly walk around the table and drive motor each time to make a connection.
The two ends of the extension cable. The mounting plate doubles as the protective shield for the live lines in the control panel.
Conveniently located Probe connection and the tool touch off installed.