Board Sensor, really stupid question

[John]

I think LHR should do away it. All it does is confirm what it should all ready know. If an operator can figure out how to "build" a project with the software, surely they are capable of using a tape measure to tell the machine the correct starting size of the project. If the machine can find the top, left hand corner of the board it should be good to go. This could be easily accomplished by manually jogging the end of the board to a reference point, and then telling the machine "you're good to go." What am I missing here??

[newcarver]

I have went through several board sensors and would have to agree, or else at least design a better one. It could be made like to the probe and simply jog to the specific points on the board.

[Jeff_Birt]

The board sensor does way more than just measure the board. It also tells the machine where each edge is w.r.t. the axis encoders. BTW, they have recently been shipping SEALED board sensors. I think that is a step in the right direction.

[John]

The top edge is always at the same place. Shouldn't be too hard to find where that is without a board sensor. Just a reference point for the Y axis would work.

Calibration, you ask? Could easily be done with a test pattern like a printer does, ie. which lines, line up, A, B, or C?

[Jeff_Birt]

The top edge is always at the same place. Shouldn't be too hard to find where that is without a board sensor. Just a reference point for the Y axis would work.

?????Just watch the machine work...It finds each edge of the board. This not only tell the length both WHERE it board is W.R.T. the axis encoders. Otherwise it has no idea how big the board is or where the board is.

[John]

?????Just watch the machine work...It finds each edge of the board. This not only tell the length both WHERE it board is W.R.T. the axis encoders. Otherwise it has no idea how big the board is or where the board is.

How can I make this any easier to understand?? For argument sake, lets say a board has 4 edges. A top, a bottom, a right and a left. The top will start (and hopefully remain) against the rail on the keyboard side of the machine. The left will start at a TBD (to be determined) reference point, which will be verified by the operator. Now, for the sake of argument, this board is 10" top to bottom, and 20" right to left. Is it too much to ask for the software and hardware to figure out where 10" from the rail on the keyboard side is? Same scenario, for the right and left. The TBD reference point will be X distance from the board position sensor so with a little addition and subtraction both right and left edges should be easy to locate.

Now, I certainly don't want to insult my own intelligence, I just want to have some fun with this and try to understand why a board sensor is necessary. I can't come up with a reason / situation where one is necessary.

[newcarver]

The board sensor does way more than just measure the board. It also tells the machine where each edge is w.r.t. the axis encoders. BTW, they have recently been shipping SEALED board sensors. I think that is a step in the right direction.

That is a great step in the right direction