The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • CNC 3018-Pro: CD Fixture Probe Camera Target

    Taping the CD fixture to the CNC 3018-Pro’s raised platform solves the repeatability problem by putting the CD at a fixed location relative to the machine’s Home coordinates. The next step puts the XY=0 coordinate origin at the exact center of the platter, so the pattern comes out exactly centered on the disc:

    CNC 3018-Pro - CD fixture
    CNC 3018-Pro – CD fixture

    The fixture has a central boss:

    Platter Fixtures - CD on 3018 - tape flange
    Platter Fixtures – CD on 3018 – tape flange

    The blue boss centers the CD’s hub hole, the red plateau supports the disc, and the white background lies 5 mm below the CD’s upper surface:

    CNC 3018-Pro - CD holder target
    CNC 3018-Pro – CD holder target

    Yup, red and blue Sharpies FTW.

    The bCNC probe camera image includes two faint cyan rings centered on the crosshair:

    CNC 3018-Pro - bCNC probe camera - red-blue CD target
    CNC 3018-Pro – bCNC probe camera – red-blue CD target

    Set the diameter to 15 mm (or a bit less), center the outer ring on the hub hole = the border between blue & red, set XY=0, and it’s within maybe ±0.1 mm of the true center.

    Done!