I’ve followed all instructions, etc. And i cannot for the life of me get the probe to anything close to accurate. This is causing major issues when flipping a part to OP2 and touching off. I have stopped using it all together and instead am using a wiggler.
But I want this probe to work. How!? Please see video to see just how bad it is… i have not crashed this and taken very good care of it since it arrived a couple of weeks ago.
Can anyone help?
To get it close initially, spin it around so that you can see the general travel path along one axis. Then get something to be at the center of that path, and then tune the axis so it is at the center of that path. Or if it is really bad, you can trace out the circle path underneath, figure out where the center is, and then adjust the set screws one axis at a time so it gets close to that center dot.
Once you have gotten it pretty close to where you want it to be so it doesn’t swing too far away from the dial indicator, then focus on one axis at a time. Focus on just adjusting the set screw and its opposite set screw on the other side.
The problem is the set screws really don’t seem to do anything…
What is the repeatability on these anyway? Judging by other posts, guys are saying they have to recalibrate everytime they use it? Not trying to be a cynic, but these seem kind of pointless to have?
Loosen the clamp bolts:
Loosen the clamping bolts that hold the probe body in position. Then snug them back up so there’s zero play, but still loose enough for the set screws to move the body slightly.
Set up your indicator:
Mount a dial test indicator so the tip contacts the ball of the probe.
Take measurements:
Slowly rotate the spindle and note the indicator reading at each set screw location.
Adjust the high side:
Identify the side farthest from center (the high reading) and tighten that set screw slightly.
Relieve the opposite side:
Loosen the set screw on the opposite side—you’ll see the probe move toward center.
Repeat the process:
Continue adjusting opposite pairs of set screws until zero runout is shown on the dial indicator.
Lock it down:
Once centered, tighten the four clamping bolts that secure the body in place.
Verify alignment:
Rotate the spindle again to confirm there’s still zero runout.
If runout appears:
If the indicator shows any movement, your clamping bolts were too loose during the initial adjustment. Start over from Step 1.
hi. i had the same problem a couple days ago.
you need to crack the hex bolts on the top of the probe loose, and only have them finger tight. then zero in your probe and retighten the hex screws when you are done.
Thanks! I think my problem though is my indicator tip is angle slightly, not just offcenter. It’s not 90deg straight down…it’s angled a bit. This wont help that will it?
centering the probe will take away that angle, yes.
a little bit of runout in the spindle/collet will affect probing unless you can get the spindle, collet and probe lined up the same every time.(not likely)
what i generally do is locate the feature, note down the machine location, turn the spindle 180* repeat the probe and take the average of the 2 machine locations.