Grounding zero plate?

[Howley]

I know I was instructed to attach the grounding clip to my collets or bit when zeroing out the z axis? However if I connect the clip to the router grounding screw on the outside it seems to work fine. This is much easier than trying to work around the plastic dust collection shield that's around the bit. Any ideas, feedback? It ready does speed up the zeroing process and seems to work great!

Thanks for your replies!!!

John

[feinddj]

If it works, it works. However when it doesn't you can break bits. I check mine to see that the ground works each time I c2.

David

[myxpykalix]

When i first got my bot i read story after story about guys forgetting and leaving the clip attached to their bit and turning it on and having a disaster so what i started doing was attaching the clip to one of the bolts that holds the wheels for the Z carriage and in 7 years i've never had a issue of it not connecting to make the circuit. I've never had any false readings.:D
Plus if you ever do forget it won't mean disaster:eek:

[scottp55]

I've just got the Desktop, but a few of the guys told me if i've got a green light when I touch the plate to the bit I'm good to go.Ever since then my alligator clip has lived on a bare metal spot near the clip(the clip has shifted a couple of times onto the painted surface) I always check continuity with every C2 now but only after putting a green ribbon on the plate wire that even I can't ignore. :)

[cowboy1296]

@John, I have been using that method for 3 years now and no issues. Now that i say that, watch me have one today. You would think i could remember this but on a couple occasions where i litterly did not attach the clip, i think the bot gave me an error. It did not put the bit down through the plate. Its early here and i am working on my first cup but i think that is what happened.

[coryatjohn]

@John, I have been using that method for 3 years now and no issues. Now that i say that, watch me have one today. You would think i could remember this but on a couple occasions where i litterly did not attach the clip, i think the bot gave me an error. It did not put the bit down through the plate. Its early here and i am working on my first cup but i think that is what happened.

I was working with a particularly gummy wood that had left a coating on the collet nut that prevented the clip from making a circuit. I did a c2 and the bit just stopped at the plate with an error message. Wiggling the clip solved the problem.

I'm going to try the clip in a "permanent" location like others in this thread are doing. That's one less thing to do and one less possible thing to screw up!

[dlcw]

I tied my alligator clip wire into the ground system that the zero plate is tied into. I haven't used the alligator clip in years and only once in a while does the shopbot have a brain fart when zeroing. It will drop the bit to the zero plate and just sit there and not jump back up. I stop the operation, restart C2 and everything works fine the second time. Never had to restart more then once.

Not sure why the Shopbot brain farts like this once every couple of weeks or so. :mad:

[kern]

My Alpha Buddy came with the alligator clip, clipped to the Al+++ channel on the side of the machine and I have never moved it in 5 years. And so far it has worked every time. Am I living on borrowed time? Kern

[Bob Eustace]

I tied my alligator clip wire into the ground system that the zero plate is tied into. I haven't used the alligator clip in years and only once in a while does the shopbot have a brain fart when zeroing. It will drop the bit to the zero plate and just sit there and not jump back up. I stop the operation, restart C2 and everything works fine the second time. Never had to restart more then once.

Not sure why the Shopbot brain farts like this once every couple of weeks or so. :mad:

Don I have found wiping the plate with a bit of emery paper usually cures this problem. Its only 5 volts so it probably doesnt take much to upset it.

[dlcw]

Thanks Bob! I will give it a try.

[Hoytbasses]

so what i started doing was attaching the clip to one of the bolts that holds the wheels for the Z carriage and in 7 years i've never had a issue of it not connecting to make the circuit.

I'm having trouble visualizing where you're talking about. can you zap a picture? having an alternative to clipping to the bit would be good in a classroom where any of 100 kids will be using the Bot and the probability of someone spinning the alligator clip is pretty high!

thanks

Karl Hoyt
Nauset Regional High School.

[myxpykalix]

I have a 2006 PRT Alpha. Here are a couple pics

[Hoytbasses]

sorry it took a couple days to get back to you. Now I understand the concept: as long as there is electrical continuity between the place you choose to clip the grounding alligator clip and the bit, it will serve the same function! AHA!

So I can experiment with grounding points on the machine and as long as there is continuity, I should be good to go.

This would be great in that this is a high school shop, and clipping the clip to the bit will sooner or later spell disaster ...... At least if the kids press 'go' when it's clipped to a bolt on the machine, it won't become a projectile.

I'll have to experiment tomorrow. Thanks for the feedback.

Karl

[myxpykalix]

yes. If you notice there are a couple allen head screws holding the router in and that might be a more direct and safe place to attach.

[waterwheelman]

I have my zero plate permanently wired to the shopbots ground, similar to what Don has described. It has worked with very little problem for about 10 years. I have a plastic sleeve mounted on the z axis for holding the plate when not in use. It also isolates the plate from touching any of the grounded metal while the ShopBot is cutting.

[bcondon]

I have been following the grounding conversation for a few years and
even though my machine is grounded, I never had any grounding problems.

In my setup, I bolted the controller box right to the frame with steel nuts and bolts. Additionally, I hit the frame with the grinder to clear a small section of blue paint off the frame where I bolted the control box to the frame.

I did ground the control box to the power panel.

All of my wires are under the table which are tied neatly.

I have never had a communication issue with this setup.
I did ground my overhead dust collection hose (internal wire) to the gantry.

I have never had to use the ground clip with the zplate. I just leave the clip laying on the table not touching the plate. I have a 2.2 spindle... I do know that if you use a router, you need the clip (something I learned on the desktop unit!)

I am curious... do folks bolt the controller to the wall or their frame.

My only limitation is building a dovetail fixture (Gary Campbell) would need to be mounted on the far end of the table.

The control box top gives me a great surface to set my wrenches and bits/collets that are being used.

Thanks

Bob COndon