# Touch plate problems

**URL:** <https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369>\
**Category:** General Chat\
**Created:** [July 18, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369 "2026-07-18T01:48:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Donnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@Donnie](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Donnie)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369/1 "2026-07-18T01:48:18Z")

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I’m new to the avid CNC world and it seems like I am having problems at every step so I thought I would try this out since internet and AI are not giving me the answers I am looking for.

I am trying to do the touch plate operation and I get my tool centered, it touches the top of the plate then it heads in the x positive motion and as soon as it touches the side of the plate, I get an “unexpected probing”’error. Does anyone have any input?

Thank you in advance

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**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 12:44pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369/2 "2026-07-18T12:44:52Z")

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Are you on a Mach or an EX controller?

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**Author:** ![Donnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@Donnie](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Donnie)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369/3 "2026-07-18T14:15:23Z")

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Ex controller

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**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369/4 "2026-07-18T14:46:11Z")

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Can you give more details as to the steps you’re taking?

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**Author:** ![Donnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@Donnie](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Donnie)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369/5 "2026-07-18T16:39:28Z")

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Thank you for the quick responses Eric, I will try my hardest to explain a little better but with out a video it might not be any better than my before description…

I turn on Avid

I jog the machine over to Home it

I select Home

After the machine is Home I follow your video instructions

When the tool moves it touches down in zero then goes in the X+ direction, indicates the edge of the touch plate, backs off, touches again, backs off and then goes back against the touch plate in the X+ direction and stays there then I get the error “916 unexpected probe contact”

Then I have to hit esc to be able to jog it away

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/touch-plate-problems/6369/6 "2026-07-20T18:33:44Z")

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Hmm… is your touch plate loose or wobbling around? Is the bit really close to the surface when it’s moving over it to do that X hit?