Park & tool change position after tool probe.

[Ozzybee57]

I have been using Mach3 for more than a year now and have not noticed this problem before. I have no problem homing my system after start up and can use the tool probe and the park position which are both set to Z-2.5. After doing a tool probe and it auto zeros if I go to park position, tool change position or at the end of a program run, the machine wants to go to Z-2.5 which is now below the table. Have I missed a setting or not understand how Mach3 works. I have watched all of Paul Campbells videos and thought I understood. Z+ is up and Z- is down right? If it helps, I am also using the 2010 screenset. Any help would be appreciated.

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[ger21]

Is that 2.5 inches, or mm?

Tool change position is always in Machine Coordinates. Park position gives you the option of using Machine Coordinates. I highly recommend that you do so (with the checkbox).

Do you have a Z axis home switch at the top of the Z axis travel?
After homing, what is the Z axis position in Machine Coordinates?

When you home the machine, it should set the Z axis machine coordinates to zero. Z- is down, so the tool change position needs to be less than zero. But it also need to be higher than where you zero the Z axis, in Machine Coordinates.

After you auto zero, what is the Z axis Machine Coordinate, and what is your Clearance Plane setting?

[Ozzybee57]

Inches. Z home axis switch is at the top of Z axis travel. After homing, Z axis position is at 0.0 in machine coordinates. After auto zero, the machine coordinates where -5.95 and my Clearance Plane is set at +2.5. After checking what my machine setting where at I found that I did not have the Machine Coordinates check box checked.

[ger21]

The tool change position is always in machine coordinates, so I believe that your issue was with the Park position only. With the Machine Coordinates box checked, it should be about 3.5" above your part zero.

[Ozzybee57]

Thanks for the help. I watched your tutorial videos for the 2010 screenset and paid close attention to your example settings. I think I have it sorted out. I never really noticed it until after a couple of programs finished and the Z axis tried to go below the table. I did notice in Aspire 8, in material setup there are boxes to enter machine home position. +0.5 is the lowest number I can enter without getting a warning about safe Z.

[ger21]

I did notice in Aspire 8, in material setup there are boxes to enter machine home position. +0.5 is the lowest number I can enter without getting a warning about safe Z.

That's not the same as the home position in Mach3.
And, if you are using the 2010 post processor from my website, the Aspire home position is not used.

Is the Safe Z warning in Mach3?
If so, go to Config > Safe Z.
Make sure it's using machine coordinates, and set it to a value less than 0 (negative).
Try -0.5 or -1.0

[Ozzybee57]

The safe Z warning is in Aspire and I think it's referring to where the Z zero is set on the part. I think I have all the bugs worked out. I do have safe Z configured at -1.0. Thanks for your help Gerry, your 2010 screenset is one of the best.

[ger21]

Are you setting Z zero on the bottom?

[Ozzybee57]

In Aspire I usually set the Z to the top of the part 99% of the time.