Soft limits and homing

[dakotablue]

I know there is a simple, easy to understand answer to my question. When I home my machine, I have to disable soft limits for it to seek out my tool setter block. Otherwise, after it homes the y axis it stops. I then have to disable soft limits and rehome for it to touch off on the block. Am I missing something? Gary

 

[dakotablue]

I initially thought maybe the block was outside the area defined by the soft limits but it is clearly within the area.

 

[stevefrisby]

Gary your machine is a cnc router?

And is it your Y soft limit not your X soft limit being triggered. So it is the motion towards the block that causes the alarm or the z axis traveling that causes the alarm

Also turn off auto tool zero in settings and jog y axis do you get the same result. bty where is your y axis home switch located the front or rear of the machine?

Honestly peters video on homing is very informative, he suggests setting x y and z soft limits to -ve and +ve so you can see the machine in motion to ensure it is running correctly (Basically physically move the x and y to middle of the machine with power off) and home the machine make sure that x and y and z travel are in the correct direction and 0,0,0 is left hand front with z axis raised (This is where home sensors should be located) He does mention a way to fix if y axis home switch is located at the rear of the machine

Cheers steve

 

[dakotablue]

Steve, thanks for replying. Yes, this is a cnc router. Actually I'm not getting any alarms. The machine homes perfectly except if soft limits are enabled it won't touch off on the plate. It keeps saying it's homing but never touches off. If I disable soft limits prior to homing, it works perfectly including touching off. Maybe that's what it's supposed to do, I'm just wondering why.

 

[cncnutz]

Hi dakotablue

Can you please share your settings file? https://docs.masso.com.au/wiring-and-setup/save-and-load-settings#loading-settings-from-file
Can you also let us know if you have a G2 or a G3 and what software version you are running?
How many axis do you have?

Cheers Peter

 

[stevefrisby]

Glad to see your on board Peter, I thought it might be the auto tool zero but i don't know why if it is turned off it would start working with the soft limits turned off.

Cheers steve

 

[cncnutz]

Hi Steve

I don't know why either and without some real information it will be hard to figure out.
Chances are it is something simple.
On the + side, I like a good mystery.

Cheers Peter

 

[breezy]

Steve & Peter,

I also suspect that it has to do with the Y axis settings.

Gary also posted problems with his Z axis calibration and I'm sure he has asked other questions but I can only find two topics when searching with his name with less posts than his total posts (26).

Regards,

Arie.

 

[dakotablue]

Hello again, Peter and all...

G3 Mill 5 axis ver. 3.46.1

I have attached my settings file. Thanks, Gary

 

[masso-support]

Hi dakotablue

I just took a look at your file and can see the problem.
You have set you Z axis limts between -5 and -75 but when you home the Z axis you have it sitting at 0 making it outside the soft limit with the result that it cannot move.
Unless there is a good reason for not doing it, please set your Z axis maximum travel to 0 and if you value your tools don't set the safe tool distance down to -60 or you will crash into the tool setter unless I am very much mistaken.

I have put a printout of your settings below which will help others provide assistance to you should you need it.

Cheers Peter

 

[dakotablue]

Thanks, Peter. I have corrected the settings and all is well now. Not sure how it got set to - 5. Gary