Setting up Home & Limit directions

[widgitmaster]

Im not sure I understand whats going on, I'm using Mach3.
When I config ports & pins it resets the homing & limits?
Am I doing it wrong?
What should my Home direction be for the three axis? All minus?

I have been trying to use X- Y- Z-, but Z- is in the down direction due to a roller chain & sprocket reversing the motor direction, i think i need to reverse the axis sone how in mach3. Can this be done?

Its been so long that I have battled with the electronics, I have not had time to study up on the mach3 software! I'm just thrilled to see ALL the axis moving!

(All limit switches and E-stop work in Mach3)

Thanks,
Eric

[kong]

You can reverse the direction ofthe axis by changing the "direction active low" tick box within config -> motor tuning -> motor outputs.
If you go into config -> home/limits then you can change the direction the machine moves when it is homing. Hope this helps

[widgitmaster]

Am I correct in assuming all home directions are minus?

[kong]

Home can be anywhere you like, ususally it will be minus, but use whatever works best for you. Mach is fully configurable.

[Bubba]

widgitmaster,
On my machine, I home the Y axis to the postive limit. If I have that big 6" vice on my mill drill table, I can't get there from here as the vice runs into the column. Threfore, I home to the postive. It stil give me a KNOWN refrence point.

[widgitmaster]

Ok, I think I figured it out!
If I set x- Y- Z+ as home, i get a tripped limit when I try to run the programs supplied with Mach3. Suppose I need to edit them to use a reverse Z axis!

[kong]

Hang on a minute, when a z move is commanded in the negative, the head should move down to the table. I a sure you know this, just be careful when you are messing with the settings, and make sure everything still moves the way it is supposed to!
Sorry for stating the obvious, best to be safe though

[widgitmaster]

Thanks Kong!

That is what I thought, on my machine the Z+ is a move up and away from the table!

If there is NO feature in Mach3 to reverse this, I'm best to re design the Z-axis motor mount fo the direction is standard!

Eric

[kong]

Eric, read my first post - you can reverse the direction of the motor by using config -> motor tuning -> motor outputs and changing the little x in "direction active low" to a tick. Then once it is moving in the correct direction, sort out your home/limits from there.

edit - oops, sorry if that sounded arsey, didn't mean too

[widgitmaster]

Kong,
I'm confused, in Motor Tuning, there is only Velocity & Acceleration
In Ports&Pins Inputs, the red or green ticks just set the direction of travel
The Plus & Minus is constant!

[kong]

Click on config at the top ok, then click on ports and pins.
There is a tab which says "motor outputs". In there, you will find the heading which says "Dir Low active". Changing the sign from an X to a tick or vice versa will swap the direction the motor turns when you command it to move.

My mistake for giving incorrect instructions last time!

[ger21]

You might want to watch the Coordinates/ Homing video at http://www.machsupport.com