Written by Kitto
Height mapping is a powerful feature in CNC routing that helps you capture surface variations for precise engraving or milling. However, it usually relies on the material being electrically conductive for the probe to detect accurate Z-axis heights. So what happens if you want to work with wood, acrylic, or other non-conductive materials?
Cubiko user Dennis recently shared a clever workaround that makes height mapping possible on these tricky surfaces — and it’s as simple as using aluminum foil.
(Image credit by Dennis)
The Challenge: Height Mapping Needs Conductivity
Height mapping uses a probe to measure the surface height by detecting electrical conductivity differences. Materials like wood, plastic, and acrylic don’t conduct electricity, making it impossible for the probe to register the height correctly during the mapping process.
Dennis’ Aluminum Foil Hack
Here’s how Dennis gets around this limitation in just a few easy steps:
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Generate your standard G-code from your design as usual.
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Cover your material with a thin sheet of aluminum foil. Aluminum is conductive and ultra-thin, so it won’t interfere with the actual engraving.
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Run the Height Map probing process. The foil acts as a temporary conductive layer, allowing the probe to accurately measure the surface height.
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Start the engraving job using your regular G-code via SD card.
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If you have separate roughing and finishing passes, you’ll only need to re-zero the Z-axis when changing tools, keeping the X and Y coordinates fixed.
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Remove the aluminum foil before cutting. Since the foil is only needed for probing, you can safely take it off to expose the actual work surface.
(Image credit by Dennis)
Why This Works
The conductivity is only necessary during the probing phase, not during cutting. Aluminum foil provides a reliable, temporary conductive layer without affecting the precision or quality of your engraving.
When to Use This Trick
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Wood carving
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Acrylic engraving
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Other non-conductive boards and materials
Dennis reports it worked perfectly on his first try, proving that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.
Pro Tips
Make sure the foil is flat and tightly adhered to the surface to avoid wrinkles that might affect the probe’s accuracy.
This simple aluminum foil trick can expand your Cubiko CNC’s capabilities and help you get precise height maps on materials you thought were off-limits. Give it a try and elevate your projects!
