[Squid]

Having had the machine for over a year now, making some basic parts, its time to get stuck into some heavier projects. and start to work with more precision.

And being a Noobie to all thing CNC and Metal working, i need some help.

What we have is pritty rough and ready but does the job for what we have done so far, Cheap Dial indicator, 40 dollars, (feels like its accurate to about 0.25mm) and a cheap light up touch probe thing with the ball onthe end, and a 10mm touch off shim, for tool height. (dont know the right terms)

On my list of things to buy are:
something for clocking round parts
some sort of edge finder
and something for testing the vertical height of tools on the machine i think.

I know there is Reinshaw, and there fully automatic system, but they are expensive for my little budget.

What would you guys recomend as a good platform for becoming more accurate.
Looking at the Heisen 3D tester, and their Centro tool. As an example. is this somethign i should consider, or is there cheaper/better or cheaper/equal. No idea.

There is me, me and me in this workshop, so take it easy on the gargon, i dont have to talk to others, so ive not picked up the terms.

(i soo need a term dictionary lol)

[BigNizzy]

I use...

A finger clock, I use a mitutoyo one they are less fragile than the rest I have tried.

A monkey, basically an arm that will fit in a collete/chuck in the spindle and allow the finger clock to move out and clock round parts. it's hard to explain/I am rubbish at explaining

A 0.25mm / 0.01" feeler I use this for setting tools directly on a job

An edge finder like your bleepy one is fine (I made an inverted h one with a magnet as an aprentice that allows you to clock an edge.

A roller with a dowel in it, think of a ground plate with a magnet on it (rubbish if your not working in ferrous metals) with a dowel attached this allows you to get a position on angled surface.

My discriptions are a bit rubbish but it's what I have used for the past 17 years.

[Chriseg1]

I really like the touch off gauge from Edge Technologies Pro Touch Off Gage
they show using 123 blocks to calibrate, but I prefer a height gauge.

And a basic edge finder McMaster-Car #20535A653

[John Crawford]

I really like the touch off gauge from Edge Technologies Pro Touch Off Gage
they show using 123 blocks to calibrate, but I prefer a height gauge.

I use the same one and like it. Works great!

[KevinWilkins]

Get a Haimer 3D analog probe. You can order them directly from Haimer in Germany. They pay for themselves the first week.

Do NOT buy a cheap copy. They are crap.