The MDP40-1 infrared trigger probe is a high-precision dedicated measurement solution developed specifically for small to medium-sized machining centers and CNC machine tools, designed to fully unlock the native performance potential of your CNC equipment without requiring extra high-cost specialized metering upgrades. Built with a compact 40mm diameter 316 stainless steel body and IP68 full 360° enclosed sealing design, this probe delivers reliable, stable measurement performance even in harsh workshop environments filled with coolant mist, metal chips, and operational vibration. Its industry-leading 0.001mm unidirectional reset accuracy and over 10 million trigger cycle lifespan make it an ideal tool for automated workpiece alignment, in-process dimension inspection, and fast tool offset calibration that drastically cuts down manual setup time and eliminates human-induced measurement errors during daily CNC production. This complete installation and operation guide covers every critical step from physical hardware deployment, accuracy calibration, routine fault handling to long-term maintenance, ensuring users can deploy the probe system correctly and operate it safely to achieve consistent, high-precision measurement results.
Step 1: Pre-Installation Safety and Environmental Preparation
Before starting any installation work, all operators must first read through every safety precaution specified in the official documentation to avoid unnecessary equipment damage or personal injury. The MDP40-1 probe uses two non-rechargeable 3.6V lithium thionyl chloride batteries that comply with IEC 62133 standards. Never attempt to recharge the depleted batteries, and always keep the batteries away from direct sunlight, high-temperature heat sources, open flames, and children. When installing batteries, confirm the positive and negative terminals are oriented correctly, never short circuit, disassemble, puncture or deform the batteries, and properly dispose of used batteries at designated local recycling points to comply with environmental protection regulations.
For the equipment installer deploying the system, there are strict wiring guidelines to follow for stable long-term operation. All signal interfaces must be installed at a safe distance from high-noise sources including transformers and servo system drives. Every 0-volt ground connection must be tied directly to the machine tool’s single unified zero grounding point to eliminate potential ground potential differences that could cause signal interference or unstable trigger responses. Shielded cables must never be routed parallel to high-current motor power lines or high-speed data transmission cables, and all cable lengths should be kept as short as practically possible to minimize signal attenuation.
Step 2: Physical Hardware Installation of Probe and Receiver
Start the hardware installation process by first installing the stylus that is shipped separately from the probe body to avoid transportation damage. Use the dedicated wrench included in the product package: first secure the stylus holder to prevent slipping during tightening, then screw the M4 coarse thread stylus into the holder until it reaches the fixed position, and tighten it appropriately with the provided cylindrical wrench. After every stylus replacement, you must recalibrate the fine adjustment mechanism between the probe body and mounting handle to restore optimal positional accuracy, as specified in the official adjustment procedures.
Next, handle the battery installation: use a coin as a wrench to open the battery compartment cover on the probe body. Check that the O-ring seal on the edge of the cover is intact and undamaged, then install the two batteries strictly following the marked polarity directions, and tighten the battery compartment cover completely to maintain the IP68 sealed protection level. The probe features an intelligent two-mode operation design: it enters active operation automatically the moment the stylus is touched, and stays active for 30 consecutive seconds of no contact before switching to low-power standby mode, eliminating the need for extra M-code activation or deactivation and making it extremely convenient for temporary centering and alignment tasks.
For the receiver installation, position it in a location where the front cover always faces the full machining area of the machine tool to ensure unobstructed line-of-sight infrared signal coverage across the entire axis travel range. The 360° infrared optical transmission system supports a maximum 6-meter operating range at 20°C, but you must regularly wipe the glass windows on both the probe and the receiver to remove accumulated coolant, dust, and cutting debris that would reduce transmission performance. The receiver supports power supply voltages from 12Vdc to 30Vdc, and comes with replaceable fuses and built-in current overload protection on all outputs. Its three configurable output modes, including low battery/error solid-state relay output, 5V independent reversible drive output, and power supply voltage reversible drive output, make it compatible with mainstream CNC systems such as FANUC, etc.
Step 3: Probe Accuracy Adjustment and Calibration
To unlock the full 0.001mm repeatability performance of the MDP40-1 probe, you need to complete the accuracy inspection and fine adjustment process on the machine tool after hardware installation. Secure the probe to the tool holder with two M6 screws and mount it on the CNC machine spindle, then fix a lever dial indicator on the machine table so that the indicator lightly touches the measuring ball of the stylus. Manually rotate the probe slowly while observing the dial indicator swing, and sequentially adjust the four M5 set screws incrementally to reduce the coaxial deviation between the measuring ball center and the spindle centerline down to 0.001-0.002mm. Note that tightening any adjustment screw will pull the probe body toward that screw, so you must always slightly loosen the opposing screw before tightening the target screw to avoid excessive stress on the internal structure. Never over-loosen these four screws, as they also act as the connecting fasteners between the probe body and the shank, and over-loosening may cause the probe body to detach. After the screws are properly tightened, gently tap the probe body with a rubber mallet and recheck the positional accuracy to confirm it remains within the required tolerance range.
Once the stylus positional accuracy is confirmed qualified, proceed with formal probe calibration. This step is mandatory after first installation, every stylus change, suspected probe collision, periodic machine tool mechanical maintenance, or when the tool holder reinstallation repeatability is poor. Use a calibration sphere with known precise diameter, position the stylus near the apex of the sphere, enter the current XYZ mechanical coordinates into G54.1P30, and execute the calibration macro program to automatically store the actual electronic trigger radius value, which will systematically compensate for the inherent trigger structure error and greatly improve final measurement accuracy. You also need to complete the probe length calibration on a known reference plane to acquire the accurate electronic trigger length value, which automatically compensates for machine tool height errors and fixture offset deviations. The overall comprehensive workpiece measurement accuracy of the calibrated system will reach 0.002-0.005mm on closed-loop control machines, 0.005-0.010mm on semi-closed-loop machines, and 0.015-0.025mm on open-loop machines.
Step 4: Online Measurement Software Deployment and Operation
If you need to perform advanced freeform surface online inspection, install the supporting MDP online measurement software following the specified procedures. Extract the software package and copy the full SHUMING CAM directory directly to the root of drive D, do not modify the directory name. Install the included HASP dongle driver, delete the unnecessary system architecture version file in the startup folder corresponding to your UG software, run the matching vc_redist runtime installer for your system bit version, then restart UG to confirm the "HAMOO Online Measurement" menu appears successfully. Next, copy the corresponding set of macro programs into your machine tool memory for your specific CNC system, including the accuracy ball calibration program, online measurement program, protection movement program, and result output program.
When conducting formal online measurement operations, first import the part solid Parasolid model into UG, configure the correct probe diameter, probe length, tool holder type, and machine system model in the measurement software dialog, then select the required inspection points on the part surface to automatically generate the dedicated NC measurement program. Copy the generated program to your machine tool via USB drive, CF card, or RS232 serial connection. Before running the program, reset all external offset values to zero, re-set the probe tool setting to align the zero point with the Z0 reference point, and record the correct XYZ coordinate values into G54. For the first measurement run, slow down the feedrate and keep the M00 pause active for the first point to verify the XY position and height are correct, then restore normal measurement speed for subsequent points. After measurement completes, copy the generated DAT result file back to the computer, use the UG online measurement report add-in to import the data, adjust the precision settings, and generate the final inspection report with red highlighted out-of-tolerance points for full traceability.
Step 5: Daily Maintenance and Troubleshooting
To extend the service life of the MDP40-1 probe, follow a strict routine maintenance schedule. Wipe the probe and receiver glass windows regularly, keep the precision ground mounting shank surface free from moisture and corrosive liquids, and apply anti-rust oil to critical contact surfaces before long-term storage. When the probe indicator light remains illuminated after it has separated from the workpiece surface, manually trigger the stylus several times to check reset performance; if the fault occurs frequently, contact technical support for component inspection. When the probe red light flashes slowly, it indicates low battery voltage, replace the batteries promptly and do not forget to remove the batteries if the probe will be unused for more than 3 months. For common operational faults, follow the official troubleshooting guide: if the probe does not light up when touched, check battery installation polarity and contact cleanliness; if the receiver shows no signal after the probe triggers, verify pairing status and eliminate nearby infrared interference; if repeatability is poor, check for loose probe mounting, debris on the stylus, or expired calibration offset values. The MDP40-1 probe comes with a 12-month free warranty starting from the shipment date, plus lifetime technical support and maintenance services to minimize your production downtime risks.
Makinopc is a professional Chinese manufacturer specializing in the research, development, and production of CNC machine tool accessories, including automatic tool setters, electronic handwheels, wireless probes, online measurement systems, and related CNC peripheral solutions. Based in Shenzhen, the company serves a global customer base across machining centers, milling machines, lathes, engraving machines, and drilling-tapping equipment, with products widely compatible with major CNC control systems worldwide. Makinopc focuses on delivering stable, cost-effective measurement and motion control products that help workshops improve automation, reduce scrap rates, and enhance overall machining efficiency.
