Installing a Z-probe

Irrespective of your end-stops, your end mills are going to be of different lengths and if you replace the spindle with the drag knife or pen holder, then the starting point for machining (i.e., where you set Z = 0) will change. This is why I like to have some sort of Z-probe to set the top limit of my Z-axis with every job. That’s the job of the Z-probe. You can buy these just about anywhere, and they look something like the following:

Figure 6.11 – A Z-probe just as it comes out of the packaging

On my controller, there is a connector for this, and there should be one for yours as well. This is where your connector will go. My Z-probe did not come with a connector, but you can make a suitable connector using a jumper wire or a suitable two-pin connector for your board. I find that using a probe is my preferred way to “zero” my end mill and toolhead. The procedure is very simple after you have wired in a...