Newbie setup question

[steve_goldsmith]

Hi all,

I have to confess that I know so little about CNC that it is scary.

I have a Taig milling machine with a Sherline rotary 4th axis. I added homing switches for the X, Y and Z axis. The X homing switch is on the left side of the bed and is activated when the bed is far to the right. The Y homing switch is activated when the bed is closest to the Z column. The Z homing switch is activated when the head is full up.

I am using Mach3.

So here is my first question. When I use the arrow keys to jog the mill, which way should the bed move? Let's say I'm hitting the left arrow key (to move the X axis). Should the bed move right to left (which would mean the head is cutting left to right) or should the bed move left to right (which would mean the head would cut right to left)? Same question for the Y axis.

Next question, how should the DRO units progress with movement from the home switch. In other words, using the X axis for example, with the bed full right, if the bed moves left, should the numbers climb positive or negative. Same question for the Y and Z axis.

Sorry to be so eleMENTAL, but this has me stumped.

Thanks,
Steve

[philbur]

Mach is set up such that it behaves as if it is actually the tool that is moving, even when it is the table that does the moving. So on your Taig if you press the arrow that points left the table will move to the right, which means the spindle is moving to the left relative to the table. A bit confusing to start with but you get use to it. Just look at the tool and decide which way you want it to move relative to your work then press the button that points in that direction.

In your case, if I understand correctly, when you move from the home positions the x-axis DRO will go positive the Z-axis DRO will go negative and the Y will go positive.

Not understanding the first point has probably confused you on DRO readings also. One way to handle it is imagine you are sitting on the table in front of ther tool then: Positive x inputs move the tool to your right, positive y inputs move the tool away from you and positive z inputs move the tool up away from you.

Regards
Phil

Hi all,

I have to confess that I know so little about CNC that it is scary.

I have a Taig milling machine with a Sherline rotary 4th axis. I added homing switches for the X, Y and Z axis. The X homing switch is on the left side of the bed and is activated when the bed is far to the right. The Y homing switch is activated when the bed is closest to the Z column. The Z homing switch is activated when the head is full up.



I am using Mach3.

So here is my first question. When I use the arrow keys to jog the mill, which way should the bed move? Let's say I'm hitting the left arrow key (to move the X axis). Should the bed move right to left (which would mean the head is cutting left to right) or should the bed move left to right (which would mean the head would cut right to left)? Same question for the Y axis.

Next question, how should the DRO units progress with movement from the home switch. In other words, using the X axis for example, with the bed full right, if the bed moves left, should the numbers climb positive or negative. Same question for the Y and Z axis.

Sorry to be so eleMENTAL, but this has me stumped.

Thanks,
Steve

[steve_goldsmith]

Phil,
Thanks for the response. I really appreciate it.
Steve