3D kinematic probe

thingiverse

This design was inspired by Andy Pugh's videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ia1_NKQJKs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvBcecJ3Fg I am making my own tips with a 4mm thread and 3mm tip following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59q8fZ9GV8E In my design, I added adjustment screws to the center hub for aligning concentricity of the tip. I like to 3d print designs that are complicated before I build them on the mill or lathe. When I printed the housing, I intended to use the 3d print simply to verify the drill/ream hole setup for the pins. The print looked good so I did a cleanup pass of the shaft on the lathe and had a working probe! When I used the mill to drill/ream some delrin, one of the six drill/ream positions was off a little. End result is my 3d print "prototype" 3d probe is more concentric than my milled delrin probe. I had some spare 5mm pins but needed to use a dremel to rough cut the length the pin lengths are not critical in this design. You may want to redesign or use Andy's files to use smaller pins. I used a center hub made from delrin. I added adjustment screws that slightly bend the delrin to center the tip. I think this would be ok with abs or nylon. Not sure about other printed plastics. (It doesn't require much adjustment but you are adding stress.)