Advancements in edge finders: General Industry Coverage
Some might argue that edge finders, center finders and wigglers, which have been used for decades to touch off workpieces during machine setup, are a bit too analog for today's…
Edge finders, center finders and wigglers have been used for decades to touch off workpieces during machine setup. They’re inexpensive and simple to use.
Simply mount one in a machine spindle with a collet or drill chuck, engage the spindle to around 600 rpm, and gently touch the device to the workpiece or vise until the finder end “pops off.” Subtract half the diameter of the finder’s tip to determine the zero position for that axis. Repeat the process in the other axis direction. Aside from finding the top of the workpiece, which is something conventional edge finders cannot do, you’re now ready to make some parts.
Haimer’s 3D-Sensor is a waterproof, shock-resistant measuring device for aligning spindles to workpiece edges and reference edges. Image courtesy of Haimer USA.
Yet some might argue that these old-fashioned devices are a bit too analog for today’s digital world. Drew Strauchen thinks so. The vice president of marketing and business development at Haimer USA LLC, Villa Park, Ill., said the company offers an assortment of 3D-Sensor measuring instruments that not only simplify the edge-finding procedure, but also find the top of the workpiece.
“In addition, a lot of our customers use them to measure parts directly in the machine,” he said.
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