How to use a wiggler to locate
the edges of a part

Shop for Centre and Edge Finding Sets

Step 1 – Insert probe

Insert the selected probe into the body of the wiggler.

Step 2 – Mount wiggler

Mount the wiggler into the chuck or collet of your milling machine or drill press.

Step 3 – Secure workpiece and align table

Secure the workpiece in a vice or base-plate underneath the spindle of the machine.

Roughly align the table so that the probe makes contact with the edges of the part.

Step 4 – Start machine

Start your machine, setting it to run at 1000RPM.

The disc probe will begin to wiggle as the spindle rotates.

Move the table further across until the wiggler starts to touch the part.

Step 5 – Wiggler will start to subside

As the table is brought closer to the wiggler and the disc or ball probe starts to move closer to the part, the wiggling will start to subside until the tool appears almost still.

It will do this when it reaches the part. The probe of the wiggler will kick out away from the body.

Step 6 – Zero x axis

When you reach this point, zero the x axis on the digital readout (DRO) of your machine.

However, the spindle of the machine is not yet centred over the edge of the part.

Step 7 – Move table to compensate for diameter of probe

After zeroing the x axis, you will have to move the table a little further to compensate for the diameter of the disc or ball probe.

Half the diameter of the probe you are using. In this case, the diameter of the disc probe is 2.9mm so the table needs to be moved a further 1.45mm.

Step 8 – Reset x axis

Reset the x axis.

You can then use the corner connecting the two edges as a reference point from which to machine features such as holes or grooves.