Need Help!- Home/Limit configuration in Mach3

[ranju]

Many thanx to the community.

Final I built my first CNC with all the info from this site. It is still not up-to the mark but at least I built something. :-)
The details of the machine are as follow (just to give you some idea).

- 2 stepper for X-axes
- 1 stepper for y-axes
- 1 stepper for z-axes
- Separate Home switch for each axes but NO Limit switch
- L297/298 based drive controller

Now I'm fighting to configure Mach3 for my machine. Seems it is the hardest part for me! Buddy please help me, I'm having folllowing trouble -

1. Motor is humming after configured in Mach3 but they are moving with jog button
2. Configured all of the Home switches but cannot realize to configure the soft limit (as I don't have physical limit switch)

Appreciate your help.

[metalworkz]

Hello ranju,
Once you have the Home switches set up correctly you do not need limit switches on the axis also. Mach3 will let you specify the travel from the Home position in both the minus and positive directions to use for the soft limits. If you know the total travel for the axis and where the Home is located you can figure how far it is to the soft limit for both the + and - directions and key those into the soft limits. You will want to provide a small buffer zone for each direction so the screw does not reach the end before stopping.
Always home each axis before using so that Mach will know where they are and your positioning should be fine.

Regards,

[ranju]

Originally Posted by metalworkz Hello ranju, Once you have the Home switches set up correctly you do not need limit switches on the axis also. Mach3 will let you specify the travel from the Home position in both the minus and positive directions to use for the soft limits. If you know the total travel for the axis and where the Home is located you can figure how far it is to the soft limit for both the + and - directions and key those into the soft limits. You will want to provide a small buffer zone for each direction so the screw does not reach the end before stopping. Always home each axis before using so that Mach will know where they are and your positioning should be fine. Regards,

hello metalworkz,

thank you so much.
please guide me where to configure this soft limit (sorry, I'm a newbe).

regards

[metalworkz]

Hello,
In Mach3 under the Config tab, in the drop down menu select Homing and Limits.
this will pop up the Motor Home/SoftLimits setup menu and if you are using a 3 axis machine you will want to key in the Soft Max and Soft Min dimensions for each axis(X,Y, and Z) You can also key in the Slow Zone so when the machines nears the soft limits is will slow down some. I hope this helps, but keep asking if you need more info. Did you set up the Home switches with the Automated setup in Mach?

Regards,

[metalworkz]

Good luck, I have to sign off for now. I will check back later today.

[metalworkz]

Hi ranju,

Were you able to get the soft limits configured OK?

[ranju]

Sorry buddy, I couldn't test and reply soon. I worked up to a late hour in office yesterday.

I'm actually slowly-slowly getting things though still I couldn't manage to set the soft limits. I attached here some pics of my config. Hoping it will help to have your expert guidence. :-)
One thing I'm not yet getting is the SoftMax and SoftMin, I was thinging that, SoftMin is the home zone and SoftMax is the end zone. But my trial proved me wrong. Your comment please.

[metalworkz]

Hi ranju,
Say you have 18" travel for an axis and you position your home switch at 9.0".
Then you have a Soft Min of -9.00 and a Soft Max or + 9.00. You need to figure the total travel and then figure how much travel to the minus and plus sides of the Home switch and then input them into the fields on the forms. Don't forget you might want to use the slow zone also to slow the axis down as it approaches the limit.
Regards,

[MorfiusX]

ArtSoft has some tutorial videos that are helpful:
http://www.machsupport.com/videos/

There is a Homing, Limits and Offsets video that will walk you through the configuration.

[br1]

Sorry, I see that Morfius suggested to go to the link under Homing, Limits and offsets. he's right it is explained best there.