For those wondering what an RPF is; it is merely a file with a list of XYZ values which are recorded by your CNC software during probing which you have probably used in v0.8+ of the original AL. This RPF is then used by AL to pre-calculate and generate the final autolevelled file. Separating the probing process from the etching process has many advantages, including the possibility to use one tool for probing and another for etching; a significant reduction of autolevelled GCode file size and elimination of the autolevelling calculations needed your CNC software and machine to perform on the fly, since calculations can now be done in AL with the RPF and not in GCode.
An example of an RPF is shown here…
Code: Select all
0.00000,-0.00000,0.00020
0.38984,-0.00000,0.00215
0.77968,-0.00000,0.00517
1.16952,-0.00000,0.00695
1.55936,-0.00000,0.00850
1.94920,-0.00000,0.00898
2.33904,-0.00000,0.00889
2.72888,-0.00000,0.00823
3.11873,-0.00000,0.00729
3.50857,-0.00000,0.00547
3.89841,-0.00000,0.00303
3.89841,0.38746,0.00258
3.50857,0.38746,0.00444
3.11873,0.38746,0.00574
2.72888,0.38746,0.00649
2.33904,0.38746,0.00687
1.94920,0.38746,0.00689
1.55936,0.38746,0.00660
1.16952,0.38746,0.00583
0.77968,0.38746,0.00415
0.38984,0.38746,0.00245
0.00000,0.38746,0.00097
0.00000,0.77490,0.00232
0.38984,0.77490,0.00268
0.77968,0.77490,0.00397
1.16952,0.77490,0.00460
1.55936,0.77490,0.00488
1.94920,0.77490,0.00509
2.33904,0.77490,0.00514
2.72888,0.77490,0.00461
3.11873,0.77490,0.00432
3.50857,0.77490,0.00332
3.89841,0.77490,0.00260
3.89841,1.16236,-0.00975
3.50857,1.16236,0.00386
3.11873,1.16236,0.00441
2.72888,1.16236,0.00472
2.33904,1.16236,0.00495
1.94920,1.16236,0.00492
1.55936,1.16236,0.00508
1.16952,1.16236,0.00472
0.77968,1.16236,0.00426
0.38984,1.16236,0.00398
0.00000,1.16236,0.00438
0.00000,1.54980,0.00495
0.38984,1.54980,0.00421
0.77968,1.54980,0.00435
1.16952,1.54980,0.00463
1.55936,1.54980,0.00432
1.94920,1.54980,0.00434
2.33904,1.54980,0.00449
2.72888,1.54980,0.00412
3.11873,1.54980,0.00395
3.50857,1.54980,0.00364
3.89841,1.54980,-0.01173
3.89841,1.93725,0.00429
3.50857,1.93725,0.00420
3.11873,1.93725,0.00474
2.72888,1.93725,0.00501
2.33904,1.93725,0.00488
1.94920,1.93725,0.00486
1.55936,1.93725,0.00529
1.16952,1.93725,0.00503
0.77968,1.93725,0.00478
0.38984,1.93725,0.00497
0.00000,1.93725,0.00546
0.00000,2.32470,0.00523
0.38984,2.32470,0.00471
0.77968,2.32470,0.00489
1.16952,2.32470,0.00514
1.55936,2.32470,0.00537
1.94920,2.32470,0.00527
2.33904,2.32470,0.00518
2.72888,2.32470,0.00512
3.11873,2.32470,0.00529
3.50857,2.32470,0.00508
3.89841,2.32470,0.00503
3.89841,2.71215,0.00566
3.50857,2.71215,0.00643
3.11873,2.71215,0.00654
2.72888,2.71215,0.00672
2.33904,2.71215,0.00663
1.94920,2.71215,0.00652
1.55936,2.71215,0.00643
1.16952,2.71215,0.00646
0.77968,2.71215,0.00606
0.38984,2.71215,0.00514
0.00000,2.71215,0.00541
0.00000,3.09959,0.00547
0.38984,3.09959,0.00584
0.77968,3.09959,0.00718
1.16952,3.09959,0.00795
1.55936,3.09959,0.00843
1.94920,3.09959,0.00834
2.33904,3.09959,0.00869
2.72888,3.09959,0.00838
3.11873,3.09959,0.00820
3.50857,3.09959,0.00766
3.89841,3.09959,0.00637
The new RPF 3D modeling feature AE converts the RPF into a 3D model to give you a much better view of the probing results. as the following screenshot shows. A colored image showing height is generated and mapped onto the 3D model where red areas show low Z numbers and green is high Z values. From the image we can see the top and bottom edges bulge upwards, and the corner closest to the camera and the edge furthest away are the deepest parts.
We can amplify the Z parts to exagerate the imperfections and make problems easier to see… The area on the far edge is particularly deep (maybe the board was dirty in this area?) and could cause problems when etching. The problem is that the autolevelled GCode will possibly etch too deep in this area if the RPF from which it is generated is giving false readings. I would not have seen this possible error if I had no 3D model to view so its important to check for probing errors with this tool before autolevelling and etching.
I have 2 choices for fixing this, either manually edit the RPF to bring the problem areas into line or give the board I was probing a wipe and probe again. I would be willing to bet that this area appears “flatter” after this second probe.
Its still at a prototype stage at the moment and there is a lot more to add but the 3D model will be a very useful addition in my opinion. I wanted to share this with you guys to see what you think. Any thoughts, feedback and questions on this will be gratefully received.