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3DMesh

3DMesh probes the surface of your stock at many points, then adjusts your program's depths so the cut follows the surface. Use it to engrave or carve on a warped board, a curved guitar top or a spoilboard that isn't flat.

3DMesh is for ncSender Pro. You need a touch probe.

Before you start

  1. Install 3DMesh from Settings > Plugins > Install Plugin.
  2. Connect your probe and home the machine.
  3. Load your program.
  4. Set work zero.

Probe the surface

  1. Open the Plugins tab in the console area and press 3DMesh.
  2. On the Probe tab, set Grid Mode:
    • Auto from G-code: covers the area of the loaded program.
    • Manual: enter Size X and Size Y yourself.
  3. Set Columns (X) and Rows (Y), the number of points in each direction. More points follow the surface more closely but take longer.
  4. Check the probe settings (below).
  5. Jog the probe to the starting corner, above the stock.
  6. Press Start Probing.

The machine probes each point in turn. Press Stop to halt.

Note

Between points the machine moves with the probe active, so it stops if the probe touches something on the way.

Press Save Settings to keep your grid and probe settings for next time.

Apply to your program

Press Apply. The adjusted program loads. Your original file is kept. To go back, use Reset to Original in the visualizer.

Mesh Data

The Mesh Data tab shows the measured surface. Drag to rotate the 3D view.

  • Current Mesh: the points just measured. Type a name and press Rename to keep it under that name.
  • Saved Meshes: meshes are saved after probing. Pick one to use it again without probing, for example when you cut a second part on the same fixture.

Settings

Setting What it does Default
Grid Mode Manual or Auto from G-code
Columns (X) / Rows (Y) Number of points in each direction 5 × 5
Size X / Size Y Size of the area to probe (Manual only) 100 mm
Probe Feed Rate How fast the probe moves down 100 mm/min
Travel Feed Rate How fast it moves between points 2000 mm/min
Clearance Height How high it lifts between points 5 mm
Max Plunge How far down it searches before giving up 20 mm

Troubleshooting

  • A point isn't found. The surface is lower than Max Plunge reaches. Raise Max Plunge or start closer to the stock.
  • Probing hits a clamp. Raise Clearance Height, or make the grid smaller so it stays inside the stock.