View Poll Results: SB Link Users: How do you Zero Your Bits?

Voters
30. You may not vote on this poll
  • To the Top of Material with no Bit Changes

    5 16.67%
  • To the Spoilboard with no Bit Changes

    9 30.00%
  • Top of Material Before and After Toolchange

    10 33.33%
  • To Spoilboard Before Toolchange and Material After

    6 20.00%
  • Separate Zero Location

    4 13.33%
Multiple Choice Poll.
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Thread: SB Link User Poll

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Marquette, MI
    Posts
    3,388

    Default SB Link User Poll

    Link Users: How do you Zero your Bits?
    Gary Campbell
    GCnC Control
    GCnC411(at)gmail(dot)com
    Servo Controller Upgrades
    http://www.youtube.com/user/Islaww1


    "We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them"
    Albert Einstein


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    , Royersford PA
    Posts
    39

    Default

    I do spoil before and material after...but intend to swap to Kenneths separate zero spot setup.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Marquette, MI
    Posts
    3,388

    Default

    I now notice I didnt add the version I will use. To the spoilboard AND a separate zero block.

    You can select more than 1 answer
    Gary Campbell
    GCnC Control
    GCnC411(at)gmail(dot)com
    Servo Controller Upgrades
    http://www.youtube.com/user/Islaww1


    "We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them"
    Albert Einstein


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    , Richmond Tx
    Posts
    1,086

    Default

    Is this a trick question?
    Kenneth

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Marquette, MI
    Posts
    3,388

    Default

    Kenneth...
    Yes... I didnt ask if your zero block is at spoilboard or material level
    Gary Campbell
    GCnC Control
    GCnC411(at)gmail(dot)com
    Servo Controller Upgrades
    http://www.youtube.com/user/Islaww1


    "We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them"
    Albert Einstein


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Diamond Lake, WA
    Posts
    1,746

    Default

    My current eCabs design strategy doesn't require me to change bits, but I would like more flexibility in this regard.

    I will be adopting Kenneth's version soon. My zero plate is already installed. Now I just have to modify my tool change files to zero at this location after a bit change.
    Don
    Diamond Lake Custom Woodworks, LLC
    www.dlwoodworks.com
    ***********************************
    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece; But to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, bank accounts empty, credit cards maxed out, defiantly shouting "Geronimo"!

    If you make something idiot proof, all they do is create a better idiot.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Waterville, Maine
    Posts
    283

    Default

    I use the method that Bill Palumbo taught at the Camp ShopBot I first attended: whichever way is best suited to any given project.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Un-Employed Westminster, Ca
    Posts
    578

    Default

    I am surprised to see so many options to do the same thing, zero your Z.
    Thermwood designed the system to zero to the bed.
    Works really well.
    Who is writing your tool changing routines to zero elsewhere?
    Is SHopBot sending out these files? Or are you guys doing the modifications?
    How do you get your joints to fit correctly by zeroing to the material?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Marquette, MI
    Posts
    3,388

    Default

    Roger...
    Unless someone adds a separate zero location, (read as Cost, expertise, wiring and programming) which all users are not able to do, how would a 4 by 8 machine be zeroed after a toolchange if not to the top of the material? And if you are going to make subsequent zeros to the material top, why not the first one? As usual, the options and methods are as varied as the ShopBotters that are using the tools.

    All of us that zero to bed... always... know there is an accuracy advantage, but all dont have that option.

    I have just finished some testing on the new machine, and it looks like my answer is..... zeros are not needed. Since I zero to bed for all files, and the SB ATC files keep track of all bit heights to the zero plate and the plate to table surface, all I have to do is keep a surfacer in the rack and voila! no more zero plate. I rewrote my surfacer routine to update the plate offset to table... and I am stylin'!

    It took a little work to get the zshift implemented and havnt heard from SB for the final word, but looks very promising. Tomorrow I will be testing Vectric posts with the z shift added.
    Gary Campbell
    GCnC Control
    GCnC411(at)gmail(dot)com
    Servo Controller Upgrades
    http://www.youtube.com/user/Islaww1


    "We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them"
    Albert Einstein


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Un-Employed Westminster, Ca
    Posts
    578

    Default

    I guess if you have to change bits in the middle of the file you are stuck zeroing to the material. I forgot about that. I don't have to change bits.

    The best way is a separate zero location. That is how Thermwood does it on there machines. A little work to get that up and working but I would think would be worth it.

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