Overview

There are a number of ways to use the touch-off plate. In this article, we go through the process of using the touch-off plate to accurately identify and set the appropriate offsets for your tools.

If you do not have the touch-off plate, please contact support@diabasemachines.com.

NOTE: For the best experience and results in setting your offsets, make sure your H-series firmware, software, and configurations are up to date. See Upgrading Firmware: Fully Combined Upgrade for upgrade instructions.

Installing the Touch-Off Plate

Mechanical attachment of the touch-off plate to the print bed is achieved by using the outermost screw positions on the touch-off plate. Other holes are for use with other setups such as the dovetail bed or rotary vise. Tighten the screws finger-tight so that the touch-off plate is firmly clamped to the bed.  Use the supplied M3 thumbscrews to fasten the touch-off plate to the print bed and the supplied M4 thumbscrews for the dovetail bed.

Connect the three-pin connector to the mating connector on the back of the left side of the machine base. If you have already installed the x-axis bellows, you might need to move them aside to access the connector.

If you plan to leave the cable in place when the touch plate is not in use, make sure it is secured along the back of the base as shown below so that the X-bellows covers do not snag and rub across the cable. It is not recommended that you leave the touch plate attached to the bed when running the machine, especially during milling cycles. Chips, dust, and vibration will interfere with the proper function of the device.

Access the Diabase Web Control interface for your machine and navigate to Control > Offsets. Ensure that the touch-off plate installation is recognized in the Touch-off Plate section before proceeding with the calibration.

Using the Probe to Locate the Touch-Off Plate

Now that the touch-off plate is attached to the machine, we need to accurately identify its location on the bed. Specifically, we will use the probe to help us configure the parameters for a Work Coordinate System (WCS) that we will use to help us measure the tool offsets for each individual tool.

Set WCS Origin for Z-Axis

1. If already attached, unscrew and remove the touch-off cup from the touch-off plate stud.
2. Using the Diabase Web Control interface, Navigate to Control > Dashboard and click "Home All" to home all axes of the machine and select the probe as the active tool.
3. Jog machine in X, Y, and Z to position the tip of the probe approximately 5mm above and roughly centered on the touch-off plate stud.
4. Scroll down on the Control > Offsets panel to the Workpiece Coordinate Offsets section.  For the touch-off plate operations, we will use WCS 9 (G59.3). Select it by clicking the "Change to" icon on the bottom row.
5. Click the  Z⤓ button to begin a "probe z" operation. The probe will move down and stop when it contacts a surface or has traveled 10mm. The probe operation should end with the tip of the probe just barely touching the top surface of the touch-off plate stud.
6. Click the Set to Current Value button in the Z column. Note that the Tool Position in the Z axis is now 0.000.
7. Carefully jog the probe to a safe height above the touch-off plate stud (approximately 50mm).

Set WCS Origin for X- and Y-Axes

1. Install the touch-off cup by threading it on to the touch-off plate stud.
2. Carefully jog the probe in X, Y, and Z to position the tip of the probe roughly centered and just inside the rim of the touch-off cup.
3. Click the “Find Center of Cavity” button to begin the XY probing operation. The machine will probe in the positive and negative X directions, followed by a probe in the positive and negative Y directions, and then a second probe in the positive and negative X direction for fine adjustment.
4. Click the Set to Current Value buttons in the X and Y columns of the 9 (G59.3) row of the Workplace Coordinate Offsets section. Note that the Tool Positions of the X and Y axes are now 0.000.
5. Carefully jog the probe to a safe height above the touch-off plate cup (approximately 50mm).

Setting Tool Offsets

We’ve now configured WCS 9 (G59.3) to have its origin (X=0, Y=0, and Z=0) located at the precise center of the top surface of the touch-off probe stud and we’re ready to configure tool offsets in all three axes.

Setting Z-Axis Tool Offsets

1. Unscrew and remove the touch-off cup from the touch-off plate stud.
2. Activate the tool for which you want to set the tool length offset.
3. Carefully jog the tool down (-Z) to position it about 5mm above the touch-off plate stud.
   
4. Find the Touch-off Plate panel in the Diabase Web Interface by navigating to Control > Offsets and click the “Touch-Off Z” button. This removes the existing Z-axis offset for the currently selected tool and begins moving the tool toward the touch-off plate stud.
5. The tool will move down and stop when it contacts the touch-off plate stud or has traveled 10mm. The touch-off operation should end with the tip of the probe just barely touching the top surface of the touch-off plate stud.
6. In the Tool Offsets panel, click the “Set to current value” button in the Z column of the row for the currently selected tool.
7. Repeat this process for all other tools as needed.

Setting the X- and Y-Axis Tool Offsets

1. Install the touch-off cup by threading it on to the touch-off plate stud.
2. Activate the tool for which you want to set the X- and Y-axis tool length offsets.
3. Carefully jog the tool in X, Y, and Z to position the tip of the tool roughly centered and just inside the rim of the touch-off cup.
4. If you’re setting the X- and Y-axis offsets of an extrusion nozzle, proceed to the next step. If you’re setting the X- and Y-axis offsets of a spindle, the tool needs to be rotating for accurate measurement. Click the “Run Spindle Backwards” button to start a relatively low-speed rotation. If you’re using an H4 machine, your spindle will rotate in a forward direction despite the button’s name.
   
5. Click the “Touch-Off X-Y” button. This removes the existing X- and Y-axis offsets for the currently selected tool and begins the touch-off X-Y process. The machine will move the tool in the positive and negative X directions, followed by a move in the positive and negative Y directions, and then a second move in the positive and negative X direction for fine adjustment before stopping in the center of the cup.
6. If you’re setting the X- and Y-axis offsets of an extrusion nozzle, proceed to the next step. If you’re setting the X- and Y-axis offsets of a spindle, click the “Turn Off Tool” button.
7. In the Tool Offsets panel, click the “Set to current value” button in the X and Y columns of the row for the currently selected tool.
8. Repeat this process for all other tools as needed.