Need Help!- limit and home switch

[dan20041]

I have a 3 axis router operated by G540 and mach3, I'd like to add limit and home switches (1 switch) for each axis, can someone give me a clue how to connect them ? (I want to connect a mechnical switch not opto)

[Quazar]

Originally Posted by dan20041 I have a 3 axis router operated by G540 and mach3, I'd like to add limit and home switches (1 switch) for each axis, can someone give me a clue how to connect them ? (I want to connect a mechnical switch not opto)

Are you asking about the electrical connections, or the mechanical connection? What kind of switches are you using? I'm partial to these.

Cheers,
- Dean

[dan20041]

Hi Dean
I'm asking about electrical connections , and i'm going to use a simple N.C microswitch

[Quazar]

Originally Posted by dan20041 Hi Dean I'm asking about electrical connections , and i'm going to use a simple N.C microswitch

OK, Page 4 of this manual should show you exactly how to wire it up.
Let me know if that doesn't answer your questions and I'll do what I can to help.

Cheers,
- Dean

[dan20041]

Tnx a lot
this will help, after I'll connect the switches, should i change something in the Mach3 program?
for example in the "ports and pins " etc?
I'd like to the switches to be Limit and Home switches.

[Quazar]

Originally Posted by dan20041 Tnx a lot this will help, after I'll connect the switches, should i change something in the Mach3 program? for example in the "ports and pins " etc? I'd like to the switches to be Limit and Home switches.

If you go to the G540 product page, there is a link for "G540 XML File" which is a Mach3 setup file for the G540. I'm not sure how if configures the limit switches, but it should do most of the heavy lifting for you.

I'm personally an EMC2 user, so I can't give any specific advice on configuring Mach3.

Cheers,
- Dean

[mlabruyere]

Just use the NC type switch. Run all the commons to the neg on the PS. Run the pin out from the G540 to each of the switches. Note the PIN out # for each of the ports. Each port on the BOB on the G540 corresponds to a particular pin on the parallel port.
Enter the Pins and Ports conf in Mach 3 and enter the correct PIN assignment for each of the switches. Confirm that you have them hooked up correctly in the diagnosis page in Mach3. Clicking the switch should show the corresponding light. If they are on now you have either wired them to the normally open or you need to reset the low or high pin setting in the pins and ports.
Now that you have confirmed this you can setup the limits. You can use the same switches as limits using the same pins. Normally the home and max “—“ limit switch will be on one end and you will need to add one more in line for the max “++” limit.

I personally do not use the switches to limit and stick with hard stops and software limits.

[ghostlx]

Originally Posted by mlabruyere Just use the NC type switch. Run all the commons to the neg on the PS. Run the pin out from the G540 to each of the switches. Note the PIN out # for each of the ports. Each port on the BOB on the G540 corresponds to a particular pin on the parallel port. Enter the Pins and Ports conf in Mach 3 and enter the correct PIN assignment for each of the switches. Confirm that you have them hooked up correctly in the diagnosis page in Mach3. Clicking the switch should show the corresponding light. If they are on now you have either wired them to the normally open or you need to reset the low or high pin setting in the pins and ports. Now that you have confirmed this you can setup the limits. You can use the same switches as limits using the same pins. Normally the home and max “—“ limit switch will be on one end and you will need to add one more in line for the max “++” limit. I personally do not use the switches to limit and stick with hard stops and software limits.

I understand and have red all this info before . but is their a better way . i dont want to use up all of my inputs for home and limit switches i still want to have a mpg pendant and a touch probe on my machine so i ask you is their a better way to do this
thanks for your time
ghostlx

[UUU]

Wire all the switches in series to one of the inputs on the G540. In Mach3 ports and pins put each of the home switch pin to the same value (for the pin you've chosen on your G540).

Having got this far, I urge you to watch the tutorial video on homing and limits in Mach3. It explains everything much better than I could.

[ghostlx]

Originally Posted by UUU Wire all the switches in series to one of the inputs on the G540. In Mach3 ports and pins put each of the home switch pin to the same value (for the pin you've chosen on your G540). Having got this far, I urge you to watch the tutorial video on homing and limits in Mach3. It explains everything much better than I could.

Would you be so kind as to tell me where this video is located at so that i may watch it
thank you so much for your response and your time
ghostlx

hay uuu i found them thanks for the info
ghostlx

[UUU]

I see you've found the video tutorials.

But for the benefit of other readers of this thread, go to http://www.machsupport.com/videos/ and you'll get a list. I've watched some of them several times - the basic set-up is well explained, and they're very thorough.