3D Digitizing probe

Hi,
Taking inspiration from different ideas found here and there, I have made a sensitive contact probe which aims at detecting contours very precisely, in all directions.
This, used together with a CNC so called "bed of nail" program, allows to digitize in 3D (well, it's actually 2.5 D).
This is a quite long topic and I tried this time to explain everything in a video.
At the end, I show a practical application of the thing in the domain of musical instrument making and restoration.
This necessitate some digital post processing of the acquired data, I don't say much about that but in case someone needs details, feel free to ask.

https://youtu.be/tEZ_0vUCnb8

That is brilliant, Christophe. Loved the project details and I really appreciated the dual language subtitles. What's next: time of flight optical probe?

Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your 3D Digitizing Probe to our Electronics category,
as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-3d-digitizing-probe"> <img src="/uploads/239509/homemade-3d-digitizing-probe.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-3d-digitizing-probe">3D Digitizing Probe</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Christophe+Mineau">Christophe Mineau</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/cnc'>CNC</a>, <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/electronics'>electronics</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Congratulations Christophe Mineau - your 3D Digitizing Probe is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

This is a unique and useful build with wide-ranging applications; I suspect we'll see it in action again for future tool builds.

Some more nice builds from this week:

Mini Mill Gear Replacement by Christophe Mineau
Bench Stop by Christophe Mineau
eGas Gauge by rgsparber
Square and Tape Measure Tool by orioncons36
Zero Setting Tool by woodenworldenic
Rolling Screed by Fixitfrank
Locking Plier Eyebolts by katy
Self-Centering Doweling Jig by tiger carpenter
Mobile Tool Cabinet by fawabros
Plasma Cutting Track by bouboulas
Rifflers by Philip Davies
Height Gauge by machining 4 all
Micro Vise by universal scale models
Woodworking Machine by Vyacheslav.Nevolya
Disc Sander by HandmadeCreativeChannel

We also had a early look at an unfinished tool by CharlesWaugh: his PositionAll universal workholding rotator.

Christophe Mineau - you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

This is your 13th Homemade Tool of the Week win. Here are all of your Homemade Tool of the Week winning tools. Congrats again :thumbsup:

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Thank you very much every body for supporting my work ! This is really encouraging !
Hope this can encourage others as well to post their makings and innovations.
There is always an idea to pick in every build we see posted in HMT!
Thanks again, and thanks to Jon to maintain this great site .

Everybody should really be thanking you and others like you, that have the talent to pull off these build and document them in the videos. i can imagine that the videos are about as much work as some of the builds so yeah THANKS for taking the time.

I literally just got off a 12 hours shift, working on automation equipment, and often come to this site to wind down. All the people that post here inspire and really help to take my mind off a those bad nights when little goes right. It too bad I can't post any of the things from work, maybe I need to find some time for the home projects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau

Thank you very much every body for supporting my work ! This is really encouraging !
Hope this can encourage others as well to post their makings and innovations.
There is always an idea to pick in every build we see posted in HMT!
Thanks again, and thanks to Jon to maintain this great site .

I just bought one for my new Sidewinder printer that's hall effect. It's at the new house so I haven't gotten my hands on it yet, but I think it uses an analog sensor with a comparator...dial in the trip point.

I could be wrong on how it works, going by pictures.

I should add, it doesn't detect first touch, just a calibrated amount of overtravel.

I'm not clear what software you're using for the measurements. My understanding is that Bob's CNC, AKA BCNC, has this functionality, but I haven't gotten it to work.

Thanks very much for sharing the probe design.

Hi Elizabeth, it's just Mach3, there is a digitizing wizard included, you answer a few questions and it creates the gcode for you.
The code is made of an m40 (opens the file where to records the points) and a succession of moves and G31 which makes the measure and records the point to the file.