Re: MDI file output

[Jon Elson <jmelson-at-artsci.wustl.edu>]

Dan Falck wrote:

> My goal is to work up a crude digitizing/CMM type package for my mill.  I
> figured out that I can get some data out to a file using commands like:
> emc_abs_act_pos

Hmm, this sounds interesting.  I have wanted to do this, also.  I was
thinking that a dial indicator or dial test indicator could have an encoder
disk attached where the pointer would normally go, and be fed back
to an encoder counter.  The CNC system could work its way along a
path described, perhaps entirely in the XY plane with G-code commands.
The CNC control would go to the next XY point, and read either the
indicator position, or move the Z axis until the indicator read a 'zero'
reference position.  Then, the Z coordinate could be stored in a file.
This would be pretty slow, maybe 5 - 10 points/minute, but it would
be fine for many home shop projects.

Jon