Z-zero plate - an excuse to see if you can post pics on this Forum

[gerald_d]

Well, I will show you mine if you show me yours


Here is something simple enough to take a picture of, and post it here.


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All the conductors of the curly cord (from old telephone handset) are twisted together.

The lump of metal with the 1/2" thread is only a weight to hold the plate down:

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See the cushions of double-sided tabe underneath:

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This plate is 4 years old, maybe it is time for replacement? I shudder when I hear that some guys are using steel......

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The "holster" or insulated parking bay is the lid of a coffee jar. (I wonder how many guys have z-drift problems because their z-zero plates are grounding when they shouldn't?

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[stickman]

Gerald,

Fancy!

Mind telling us what that router bit is that you've got fitted in your router on the top page?

Jay

[gerald_d]

Jay, nothing fancy at all! Just some scrap and some time.... Wanted it to be small, but then the wire pulls it around - had to go for a very soft/flexible wire and a ballast weight. Then we heard how hard the bit hits it, and then added the cushions underneath.

The cutter is 1/4", single flute, spiral up, by Belin in France.

[stevem]

I just installed a Z zero plate on my machine. It’s one of those accessories that, after using it 2 or 3 times, you don’t want to remember what life was like before installing it.

Since I’m using a third party software to control the Bot, the solution was to put an additional button on the screen for use as “ Z zero” with an attached macro. The bit hits the plate at the user set speed of .1666" per second.

Still on the subject of accessories, yesterday I finished constructing my first digitizing probe. Although the probe is a prototype and is not 100% reliable, it has enabled me to design a probe that should be 100% reliable, accurate to .001" but eliminate the requirement for precise manufacturing of the electrical contact elements. Will post an update here.

[bruce_clark (Unregistered Guest)]

Steve,

Any chance that 3rd party controller is Mach2?

I saw someone just yesterday asking how could they interface Mach2 with the ShopBot controller.

Are you using the ShopBot controller/stepper drivers?

Bruce

[stevem]

Bruce,

Yes
Don't know
No

[gerald_d]

Er, gentleman, please keep to the topic: Z-zero plates.

[daveiannone]

Hi Gerald,
I use a standard zero plate, but i made a holder from sintra that it slides into...I'll try and attach a pic.
Dave

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[Scott Smith (Unregistered Guest)]

Gerald, After seeing the close-up of the nicks in your plate, I took a look at my Shopbot supplied 2 year old plate and was surprised to see the same nicks in mine. Guess I just never looked. I’m thinking when it gets worse I could surface it with the bot. Like surfacing my spoil board, just smaller.

David, Nice holder and some slick looking wire-way! Can we get a better view of the wire way? And do you have in on the X-axis also? OOPS back off the subject, sorry Gerald.

[daveiannone]

Scott
I bought this at McMaster Carr part # 5561K42 for a 6' piece and (2pcs) part # 5561K72 -- 1' extensions to give you a total of 8' --cost was about $100.00 and then I bent a "J" channel from .090 aluminum and mounted it to the X carriage.....No i do not have one on the X axis.
If you want any more info , let me know.
Dave

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