Using an Edge Finder#

0:00 - 5:22

• Put an Edge Finder in the spindle.
• Hand Jog the Edge Finder just below the surface of your edge.
• Type 750 and press the FWD button. This will start the spindle spinning forward (clockwise at 750rpm).
  • Be careful to NOT push the FWD button without first setting an rpm or the machine will use the last rpm which might be fast enough to destroy the Edge Finder.
• Flick the edge of the Edge Finder to start it wobbling.
• Hand Jog toward your stock until the tip of the Edge Finder aligns with the body of the Edge Finder.
• Continue to Hand Jog at 0.001 increments toward your stock until the Edge Finder kicks off of alignment.
  • Then Hand Jog back 1 click.
• Set your Work Offset on the Offsets page.
  • Go to G54 X Axis
  • press Part Zero Set
  • Then repeat for G54 Y axis
• Load a pointy tool (Chamfer or Drill) and Hand Jog until you are well above your stock.
• Change to MDI (Manual Data Input) mode.
• Enter the code:
  • G54 G0 G90 X0 Y0;
  • G54 sets the coordinate system to the one that we just set offsets for.
  • G0 means Rapid Motion Positioning.
  • G90 is the Absolute Position Command, meaning that all coordinates will be abolutely related to G54.
  • X0 Y0 will move the machine to G54 with zero change on X and Y;
• Press Cycle Start to run the MDI code;
• Hand Jog down on Z and notice that the point of the pointy tool is NOT over the corner. This is because we didn't account for the diameter of the Edge Finder.
• Measure the diameter of your Edge Finder.
• Hand Jog over the amount of the radius of the Edge Finder and set your Work Offset for X and Y again.

Using an Indicator#

5:22 - 8:12

• Hold something flat against the edge that extends above the edge. This will let you indicate the impossible to reach edge.
• Sweep (rotate) the spindle back and forth until you find the high spot.
• Hand Jog further in (at 0.0001 increments) toward your flat surface until the indicator reads 0.
• Choose a temporary offset that you're not using to record the current position.
  • Press Part Zero Set to record it.
• Rotate your indicator 180 degrees being careful not to bump it.
• Hand Jog over and down and in to find the same edge (from the left this time).
• Sweep the indicator until you find the high spot.
• Hand Jog in (at 0.0001 increments) toward your flat surface until the indicator reads 0.
• Choose another temporary offset that you're not using to record the current position.
  • Press Part Zero Set to record it.
• Use a calculator to calculate the average of your two temporary offsets.
  • (Temp_Offset_1 + Temp_Offset_2) / 2 = average_of_the_two
• Set this average value to be your G54 offset.
• Repeat this process for your Y axis.
• Load a pointy tool (Chamfer or Drill) and Hand Jog until you are well above your stock.
• Enter the code:
  • G54 G0 G90 X0 Y0;
• Press Cycle Start to run your MDI code;
• Hand Jog down on Z to confirm that your pointy tool is precisely above the corner of your stock.

Using a 3D Sensor#

8:12 - End

• Hand Jog down just below the edge of your stock.
• Hand Jog toward your stock until both needles land on 0.
• Press Part Zero Set and you're done, as the 3D Sensor is calibrated to account for the radius of the ball.
• Repeat for the other axis.