CNC Router Probe

thingiverse

I needed a way to level wooden parts on my CNC router without using shims and trial and error. I found software that makes it easier, called G Code Ripper, by using a probe with Mach3. You can find G Code Ripper here: http://www.scorchworks.com/Gcoderipper/gcoderipper.html To use the software, you'll need a probe that I designed differently than most. My idea was to be able to probe with the tool I will use when cutting the part, so that the only offset I'll need while probing is an offset for the Z. The Z offset is the length of the probe, which is the length of the bolt I used. This probe mounts on a Bosch Colt router mount from Inventables at https://www.inventables.com/technologies/bosch-colt-spindle-mount. Here's a link to a YouTube video showing the probe in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei4Fv9O2lHs&feature=youtu.be Other than the printed parts, I used wire, two 1/4-20 x 3 1/2-inch bolts, one 1/4 x 3/4 bolt, a piece of aluminum strap 1 inch wide and about 1 1/2 long, two #8 flat head screws and nuts, four springs large enough to slide over the 3 1/2 bolts, and two 1/4-inch washers. There are several YouTube videos with instructions on using G Code Ripper with Mach3 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq_j3nZeFsM. This is my first try; I'm sure I'll make improvements, and I'd like to hear from anyone who uses my idea or improves it. Two supports will need to be removed from the part that slides onto the router mount. That's not me in the instructional video - it's just a demonstration of how G Code Ripper works.