Super Zero Plate for zeroing XYZ in 1 shot

[mjindustry]

I know Morris Dovey has had his Super Zero mentioned on the forum here, that's where I learned about it. However, I think the threads are dated/archived so I wanted to make a note here for anyone looking for an innovative and versatile zeroing solution, you gotta check it out.

For complete details and ordering go here...
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/SuperZero/


38695.jpg


38696.jpg

I have been using the Super Zero for about a week and it works great. I have C1 for zeroing XYZ to the corner, then C2 for the standard Z-zero routine in case I just need to zero z. I changed the setting in "shopbot setup" to .5" for the Super Zero plate thickness. It all works perfect.

Morris is a great guy and if you happen to have an hour or so, start clicking around his website for some great reading about other things as well. He is big into developing Solar Heating solutions for your shop or home.

[khaos]

Zoinks. $250.00

It must be really good.

[mjindustry]

Hey there Joe, we don't call it "Super" for nuttin!


Seriously though here...It's the exact same price to replace your z-zero plate and x,y proximity switch from Shopbot as it is to buy a Super Zero. This was perfect for me because my bot didn't come with an x,y zeroing solution. I liked the look of the Super Zero, so's I went for it and I'm very happy that I did.

[CajunCNC]

Could you acomplish the same thing with a 1-2-3 Block & an electrical connection?

[mrdovey]

Joe...

I'll guess that you missed the original thread where I explained the motivation for offering the SuperZero to fellow 'Botters and where I asked the group what they thought would be reasonable pricing. This price does not exceed their lowest suggestion.

The SuperZero was offered to fund a project to develop a directly solar-powered (non-electric) pump that could be used for irrigation and for village water supplies. There's a bit of the rationale at

http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Journey.html

and project photos at

http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Projects/Stirling/

Nearly everything pictured was paid for with the proceeds from SuperZero sales.

Last time I checked, the going price for scrap aluminum was under $2/lb - and you can probably machine one of your own on your 'Bot - or you can hold off until Wal-Mart offers a Chinese version for $1.95

Steve...

You can if you're willing to give up the "window" with the recess that allows insertion of a reticule for digitization (the software provided with the SuperZero supports this), if you're willing to do without the convenience of the fence(s), and if you're willing to run your bits into a steel block.

The topology used allows zeroing all three axes without ever moving the probe/bit from the block's "airspace" - which is both safer and more convenient - and you can't do this with a solid block.

The banana plug connection was chosen because I have other timesavers that also use the INPUT-1 circuitry and I planned to offer those to forum members, but with the almost immediate advent of a cheap knock-off offered by a Wisconsin 'Botter, I decided that I was done doing pro bono development work for folks who'd already demonstrated they could afford to spend $15-20K on a CNC router.

Jason sent me an e-mail to let me know that he'd been happy enough with his SuperZero to post a "plug" to the forum - and I'm posting today because I was absolutely certain that there'd be at least a few folks who'd say what they could to spoil his satisfaction.

As usual, I've probably said more than I should.

...Morris

[khaos]

Morris, please don't get me wrong. I AM a capitalist, sell it for whatever you can get for it. Obviously, its more than a chunk of aluminum with some detachable rails and a hole in it.

I think the value of the tool is not easily or visually recognized in the pictures or on the site. At least in my very cursory glance, I didn't.

Constructively, here is what was swimming in my head when I went to the site:
Wow, that looks cool.
Doesn't look flimsy!
Whats the hole for?
What are the rails for?
How does it work?
How will that benefit me?

After leaving the site the only answer I had was about the rails... That could be my own mental limitation.

I would love a vid to see it in action.

Also, after Jason said it comes with proxy switches I was totally cool with the price.

I hope this clears the air.
Joe

[CajunCNC]

Thanks for the reply . . . My question was based on what I "assumed" you are doing with the tool.

I agree with the other poster that a detailed description would be nice from a marketing stand point as well as education for a non-cnc person like myself. You have to remember, lurkers like myself looking to purchase a ShopBot are just as curious as those who have been running CNC for years. By the way, your product looks very well made.

Thanks
Steve

[mjindustry]

Morris,

I don't believe that there is anything that could be said to kill my buzz that I get from using the Super Zero. My shopbot loves that thing and so do I!


Glad to hear you were able to make a bit of the capitol for your solar projects from Super Zero sales. Your sincerity comes across as 100% genuine to me. It seems like your work in the solar technology is not to get rich, but to make life better for other people and that any profit would be a byproduct of your hard work. The same seems true for your work on the Super Zero fixture.

[mrdovey]

Steve...

All it does is locate a reference corner (or point if you've made a reticule) on a workpiece to within one step (the limit of measurement on a stepper-driven CNC router) and either return the (x,y,z) coordinates of that point or make that point the new origin for subsequent machine operations.

All of this can be done without a SuperZero, of course, and the primary advantage of using it is maximum accuracy (within 1 step on all three axes) in minimum time (less than 60 seconds).

There's nothing magical or ad-tech to grasp, but it saves me about an hour a day of screwing around with other methods. I figure that if 'Bot/operator time are worth $50/hour, the SuperZero pays for itself in a single 5-day week.

The interesting question is whether most 'Botters can (or would choose to) produce their own debugged and tested version of the hardware and software in less than 5 hours. If not, then the $250 price tag might actually present a reasonable savings.


...Morris

[CajunCNC]

Hello Morris . . . .

Beyond your knowledge on this subject being 10 feet over my head . . .Is there a metalic crosshair at the center of the opening? I probably need to read the ShopBot instruction page for zeroing.

But trust me, you are on my shopping list. . . I'm shooting for mid-summer to acquire a ShopBot . . . . Now don't do like a lot of niche inventors and stop building these two months from now . . . :-)

Thanks
Steve