Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Questions, information, project pics and more relating to plate markers, engravers, and scribes.
kkroger
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Update!

Post by kkroger »

Corfabrication wrote:i can send you some push on air tubing, if you get in a pinch.
No worries, should be here tomorrow... by 8PM according to OOps website...
From McMaster Shipped out last week some time from Chicago.

I have it all except the fittings for the tubing and the tubing to be honest.
Waiting on the TUBING is what I am doing now. What is one more day?
Motion tests worked out fine, I tested the Indian Scribe and it works great too. For what it is.
Last edited by kkroger on Sun Apr 19, 2015 7:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by kkroger »

Z Installation Blue Line goes to the Lubricator, the two Black Lines are the Lift and Deploy signals to the Thruster.
Image
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by TJS »

Thanks for putting the build back up. How do you attach the aluminum block to the slide bars. Got any pics of that.
T.J.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by kkroger »

TJS wrote:Thanks for putting the build back up. How do you attach the aluminum block to the slide bars. Got any pics of that.
T.J.
I presume you are talking about the Scribe Mounted to the Slide?
the Slide has a steel block on the ends of the guide and operating rods.
there are 10-32UNF threaded holes in the 4 corners, so it was drilled on the drill press and a 3/4" 10-32 SS Socket/Button Head Cap Screw bolts it on. the mount is made from 1/2" x 3" 6061 Flat bar cut to the width of the slide on the Band Saw the Bore for the Scribe is a 43/64 Drill Hole Drilled on the Drill Press, the slot is cut on the band saw with two parallel cuts either side of a standard sharpie mark with a 14 Tooth blade running at 200 FPM...
Then it was deep drilled with a 13/64 tap drill then counter bored to the saw cut with a 1/4, then tapped with a hand tap to accept a 1/4-20 socket head cap screw, inch and a quarter in length. I'll take a pic of the bottom side of the slide/scribe after while. By the way, Inda Scribe handle works FINE, Scribe TIP not so much... it shucked the diamond pretty early on but I reground the point and pressed on.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by TJS »

kkroger,
Thanks for the reply. I just could not see how that alum block you made attaches to the operating rods. Thanks for the explaination. Pics would be cool. I am bookmarking this.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by kkroger »

From the bottom as mounted
Image
From the top
Image
Last edited by kkroger on Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by grindergary »

Thank you for putting your post back up!

Hopefully I can get some time this weekend to write it down.

Thank you

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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by kkroger »

Here is a current link to the CandCNC posts that will work.
http://candcnc.net/images/downloads/AdvancedPOSTS.zip
You will need to set YOUR offsets in the Post Processor.
The post I am using is Rev 9
the settings as it comes are as follows, You will need to make your adjustments accordingly. You can edit this in Sheetcam. You can measure your X and Y offsets by punching a hole manually in a piece of scrap or a drop Zero X&Y then driving the scribe tip to drop into that hole You don't need the air connected for this. Read the DROs in MACH to see your offsets. This is just helpful information, Doesn't have a lot to do with the nature of this project. Just something you will have to do for YOUR installation of a scribe.
--************************************************
--*** Set these values up to suit your machine ***
--************************************************

--this is the distance between each torch reference in MILLIMETRES
refDistance = 0
switchOffset = 0 -- default touch0ff swtich offset
minLength = 0 -- default minumum length of cut for DTHC operation (set dynamically)
refFeed = 508 --this is the reference feed rate in mm/min NOTE Does not work with Z homing (touch off)


--Scriber X,Y,Z offsets in MILLIMETRES. Do not use inches here even if you want inch code
--For the marker use the scriber Z as the offset from Z zero you want the Z to move to during a scribe.
--Change these values to suit your scriber setup
scriberX = 50.8
scriberY = 50.8
scriberZ = 36.4

--scriber axis. Leave this as nil if the scriber is fixed to the same axis as the torch
scriberAxis = nil

--If this value is set to true then use G28 (home) for the Z reference
--Set it to false for G31 probe
refHome = true

--this value when set to "true" will set the Z to lift to rapid height between paths when using the marker tool.
--if false it will not lift the Z between paths but will at the end
markerZ = true
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by _Ogre »

does that rev9 post turn off the scribe at end of scribe cycle?
i've have to add the m09 command before the x0,y0 move.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by kkroger »

_Ogre wrote:does that rev9 post turn off the scribe at end of scribe cycle?
i've have to add the m09 command before the x0,y0 move.
On mine it does... now Oddly if I do a combination operation with a Scribe Function and a Plasma Function I have an odd bit of code in there that stops everything and sits there and does NOTHING... I have to manually advance the code and set the next line then hit Go again and it runs the entire programs pausing prior to the Plasma...
Also a nattering little thing it doesn't seem to complete a pattern, leaves an open section of the shape. no idea why.
Stylus doesn't last too long "Re-Ground" either. I may swing by Lowes or the Depot tomorrow and see if I can score a Dremel Electric scribe to play with. How did you mount yours?

Here is the last operation snippet in G-Code
N4470 M08
N4480 G01 X4.1433 Y8.4181
N4490 G02 X3.5756 Y8.8472 I0.0133 J0.6077
N4500 G01 X13.5889 Y8.8471
N4510 X13.5822 Y-1.1992
N4520 G02 X13.2098 Y-0.7241 I0.1124 J0.4716
N4530 G01 X13.2112 Y2.4840
N4540 G02 X7.2227 Y8.4196 I-4.1058 J1.8463
N4550 M09
N4560 G00 Z0.5000
N4570 X0.0000 Y0.0000
N4580 S900
N4590 M22
N4600 S10 (DTHC is off)
N4610 M22
N4620 M05 M30
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by _Ogre »

i tried a scribe/plasma combo one time. it messed up on the scribe and i kept stopping it.
i do so little scribing that now i scribe and cut on different gcode
my plan was to initially scribe a part number before cutting, still aiming for that goal
i'm still running a 2 year old version of sheetcam, that might be part of my problem :shock:

one thing about the electric scribes... they're cheap. 17 bucks cheap
save your receipt/packaging and return them if they quit under warranty :mrgreen:
i made a U shaped bracket that bolts to the bottom of my slide,
a hose clamp and a wire tie keep it firmly in the U bracket

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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by _Ogre »

looking at your gcode
i have no idea what these 2 commands do
N4580 S900
N4590 M22

try deleting the s900 line on a simple program and see what it does
run it and keep your finger close to the stop button
i'm no gcode pro, just now figuring out what does what to what :mrgreen:
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build

Post by kkroger »

S code is speed
M code is Miscellaneous Function.

So it is setting speed 900 for function M22...

M22 is "Mirror Y Axis"
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by kkroger »

Couple things,
Switched to the CP scribe which is made in HUNGARY...
Gesswein had a super deal on them at $234 plus shipping and the stylus for them at $31 ea....
Shipping for the tool plus two Stylii was about $16.

Had to make another scribe holder, and the Z Bracket had to be lowered since I switched to the Machine torch on the PM65... The size of the drill hole for the scribe is 5/8" I used a Milwaukee S&D Twist Drill from Home Depot...
Not bad... But my other larger size drills are a LOT better...

Ogre was opining that his Z was jumping up and down During the Scribe...
It is your "Rapid" height in Sheetcam (I presume you are Sheetcaming) Either way if you set the Rapid Height closer to your Z offset for the scribe it will stop that crap. mine was set to half inch and my scribe offset was a LOT more than that, I set the offset close to my Z offset and the bobbing stopped.

I think 30 or 35 IPM is appropriate for the scribe.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by whiskeymike »

K, any updates on this? Did you get it working the way you wanted?
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by kkroger »

It works but the quality of the scribing SUCKS compared to my Router engraving... But it is just a scribe...
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by motoguy »

I'm trying to decide between scribe (drag-only tool), plate marker (what I refer to as an 'engraver' tool, rapid up/down oscillation at the tip), or just using a router. Does anyone have input on comparison of these three methods?
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by _Ogre »

drag only wouldn't show up at all and you'd have to program your own post processor
plate marker barely shows up (see 2 post up from here or my plate marker thread)
kkroger's router engraving shows up well and can be programmed at any depth/width

maybe using a router post with a dremel type rotary tool might be a good balance between full router and plate marker
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by Chrissi »

I'm interested in this purely as an automated center punch so that I can go back and drill a hole with a precise relationship to other drilled holes, do you feel this setup would do the job well enough?
Thanks, Chrissi
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by tcaudle »

You have to setup a Drill tool to do a centerpunch operation. It has to find the center of te holes you have on the drawing and move to that spot and just peck the home. Its a bit ricky because you still have have it apply the offsets for the plate marker so you have to "test" for the tool NAME "Centermarker" (as a drill tool) and treat it like a plate marker so it will apply the offsets and turn on the marker with the m7 and off with m9
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by tnbndr »

I'm interested in this purely as an automated center punch
I have used my scribe like this on several occasions. I just draw a very small circle (.0125 dia) at the center of the hole location and have it scribe that circle which results in a prick point basically. Now it probably is not as fast as you would like but it works for me on occassion and I haven't had to be super precise either.
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by Chrissi »

tcaudle wrote:You have to setup a Drill tool to do a centerpunch operation. It has to find the center of te holes you have on the drawing and move to that spot and just peck the home. Its a bit ricky because you still have have it apply the offsets for the plate marker so you have to "test" for the tool NAME "Centermarker" (as a drill tool) and treat it like a plate marker so it will apply the offsets and turn on the marker with the m7 and off with m9
So you're saying something like a dremel on an air slide? Actually a Fordom tool might be a better choice and easier to hold
Thanks!
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by Chrissi »

tnbndr wrote:
I'm interested in this purely as an automated center punch
I have used my scribe like this on several occasions. I just draw a very small circle (.0125 dia) at the center of the hole location and have it scribe that circle which results in a prick point basically. Now it probably is not as fast as you would like but it works for me on occassion and I haven't had to be super precise either.
Ack, hadn't thought of that, guess it does not have a static gcode command to go to one spot and turn on.
Thanks!
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Re: Low Buck Air Scribe (Plate Marker) build Updated

Post by Frank W »

Thanks for all the information on this post!

I think it was Tom I saw somewhere that said not to set up the scribe on the floating z axis and then I saw somewhere else that someone was having trouble with too much down pressure so they attached to the floating z and that took care of that issue.

Did you guys mount to the floating z or just to the z?

I'll have to change my torch mount if I need to avoid attaching to the floating z. I've been sourcing parts and pieces and hope to have it installed next weekend.
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