Just picked up a SO3 XXL that was very lightly used and I am putting it through its paces. The alligator clip on the Bitzero V1 is a PITA and I drove the bit into the sensor when as it was going to touch it randomly popped off the endmill. I ordered some magnets with holes to change it to a magnetic version but I am curious if there is an alternative…
I just ordered the Bitrunner and I see it has a grounding cable system built into it. Does this eliminate the need for a Bitzero ground cable? I am really hoping so but I can’t find a clear answer. Thanks!
The grounding cable on the BitRunner does not eliminate the need for the grounding clip of the Bitsetter. The shaft/collet of the router/spindle is electrically isolated from the casing - with trim routers anyway. I can’t say for those using VFD spindles.
I have the BitRunner & Bitsetter V2 using a C3D router.
Thanks, I figured I wasn’t so lucky as to eliminate that step but one could hope and dream!
Makes me wonder if running a little pigtail from that ground point for bitrunner to a magnet that you just pop on the collet then stick back on the z slider might work vs a long independent dongle. Might have to experiment.
I keep a 1/4" rare earth magnet clamped in the jaws of the alligator clip and stick it to a flat on the collet nut during a probe. Hasn’t popped off yet this way.
If the machine grounds the tool through the spindle mechanism it will work — until one day when every bearing has a perfect film and it doesn’t and you break a tool or lose steps until things shake enough to make contact.
Another option is to clip the clip to a second clip — I sourced a larger one which fits 5/16" and 1/4" tooling more easily than the bundled one — if using a smaller tool, I just unclip it.
The old alligator clip is long gone on my SO3. I bought an upgrade to magnet on etsy. However a home made version would work just as well. The only problem I have ever had with the magnet setup is the bottom of my Dewalt dust shoe has magnets and I have accidentally had the magnet on the BitZero get on the dust shoe and not the bit.
When storing the BitZero keep the magnet from attaching itself to the frame of the machine. If the magnet is grounded the BitZero will act up. The BitZero and BitSetter are internally connected together and the magnet grounded will cause the BitSetter to malfunction.
