-The current touch plate kit needs significantly longer wires. So they reach from a full sized LowRider to the control board.
I don’t ever use the clamp, so maybe just a magnet? Anyone use the clamp? Any suggestions for wire to magnet connection?
A quick release would be cool, eg. pogo pin/magnet (I have some samples already).
longer touch plate would require different material, PCB? or keep the small 0.5mm stainless ones? If we use pcb it would require soldering, or an expensive connector. Options?
My magnet connection has a cheap (some vaguely magnetic?) crimped spade terminal sandwiched between two magnets. I tried alum and brass terminals and couldn’t find any real difference in performance (I didn’t measure current - just on and off!)
It prints without support - just bridges the top gap, thread the wire, crimp, pull back and plonk a magnet each side. I never did get around to sharing it, so if you want the file just yell.
I have a pogo pin in mind - the radio socket was in my parts bin, and not my favourite thing. The loose wires don’t need to be long, just a second set to get to the core.
I like the coiled cable because it’s rather hard to forget.
I’m like Dreyfus, counter sunk magnets with a screw into a 3d printed hole holder. I’ve switched to using a large washer. Works much better for me. Also put a connector on it so I can switch out to either type probe or easy replacement option.
Thin so it can bend and be easily pressed flat from either side. If you have a rigid material you have to design in the side that will be used and shape it that way, think small spatula. The only reason it is that short is it is made by a business card manufacturer, , I liked my biz cards so much I kept using that company.
That was the plan originally but it still requires a crimp, screw, nut and magnet. If you over tighten, that magnet will shatter so I vetoed that idea. I am not fully against it though, now.
Shoot, I like that. Two magnets, why bother with the spade at all?
I like the current thin touchplate since it can flex a little bit. I tried the clamp when I first started but switched to the magnet for convenience and I do not plan to go back.
I use the magnet, but I am thinking of switching to the clamp because I can’t seem to get very good conductivity. I must hold the clamp/magnet to the bit to make sure it makes good contact. It gets awkward.
Thanks for reminding me actually. I was using the clamp onto the endmill for a while, until I saw a post where the magnet was clamped and just stuck to the collet.
Since then, I replaced the magnet with these much stronger ones
I lost my original V1E touch plate somewhere in the clutter of my garage, and I also found the size, shape and flex of the original to be a bit of a bother.
I had a spare piece of aluminum on hand, so I drilled and tapped a small hole and attached a short section of wire with a screw and ring terminal. A spade terminal allows me to remove and attach it as needed, and the wire it attaches to is easily contained by the alligator clip on the other lead.
I use foil tape for edge finding and profile probing. Ryan’s works great also but for z probing I think a stiffer flat piece that can’t curl would work more reliability. I like the washer or ring too never needed to find the center but maybe one day I will
The spade locates the wire - it can’t pull out of the housing (I will dig it out and check but I think I trimmed it down to magnet size). I didn’t trust soldering onto the magnets, and wanted that nice clean no visible connections kind of look. The nice thing about magnets is that if it’s not strong enough, you just add more (like @srcnet above!).
, I liked my biz cards so much I kept using that company.
