Zero touch plate

[Scott Buehler]

I have a CNC that I manually zero the z axis. I can usually get it so that I can't tell a height difference between different operations, such as clearing out a v carve with my endmill then switching to my v bit. But sometimes it is noticable. My old CNC had an auto touch plate which made it easy. My question is, how hard is it to wire a touch plate to my machine. I use Mach 3 and I know it is capable of running it, just not sure how hard it would be. Anyone done this before? My machine is the Industrial CNC, 4x8 table. 3hp spindle.

[David Buchhauser]

Hi Scott,
I am running Mach3 on one of my Avid CNC machines, and using the "touch plate" supplied by Avid. It works fine. You will need to add the "script" to interface the touch plate to you Mach3 setup. Here is the one I have.


https://www.cncrouterparts.com/auto-z-and-corner-finding-touch-plate-p-288.html?osCsid=vbcolegn9qocsqgnf9126d67c6


(https://www.cncrouterparts.com/auto-z-and-corner-finding-touch-plate-p-288.html?osCsid=vbcolegn9qocsqgnf9126d67c6)

[David Buchhauser]

Here are the instructions for Mach3.

https://www.cncrouterparts.com/auto-z-and-corner-finding-touch-plate-instructions-mach3-p-733.html?osCsid=vbcolegn9qocsqgnf9126d67c6

[Scott Buehler]

Thank you, but since my machine did not come with an auto touch plate, will I need to do any wiring?

[bobby milam]

Yes you will have to wire it so your control knows it is there and gets the signal when it touches the plate. My machine came with one that has a thick base plate with a button that is spring loaded and is wired so when the bit touches the button it sends the signal. Most people use just a plate which has one wire attached to the plate and the other is clipped onto the bit. I use a mechanical one that does the same thing but the bit actually pushes the button. I don't have to attach any clips to the spindle. This one is wireless in that the part that takes the measurement uses a RF but the receiver is still wired into my control board. Should be lots of info on a M3 forum on how to set it up.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYH4YJR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Scott Buehler]

Thanks for the replies, I will check with M3 and get wiring instructions