Soft Limits & Limit Switches

[LX Kid]

Finally got my Shoptask 3-In-1, 1993 model 17-20 XMTC, restored and working on all three axis's! (Only took me two years!) LoL. Now I have to ask some "newbie" questions about Mach3. Do I have to have limit switches to set up soft limits to keep from accidentally hitting the chuck or tail stock? Thanks

[Foogl]

Nope, you don't have to have "hard" limit switches to use soft limits. But you should have at least homing switches to reference somehow your soft limits. That's what I have and it works like charm. One switch per axis, all NC in series used as homing (optionally also as one side limit) switches. Then soft limits turn on. When you power up, reference all your axis and you are set.

[LX Kid]

Nope, you don't have to have "hard" limit switches to use soft limits. But you should have at least homing switches to reference somehow your soft limits. That's what I have and it works like charm. One switch per axis, all NC in series used as homing (optionally also as one side limit) switches. Then soft limits turn on. When you power up, reference all your axis and you are set.

Thanks Foogl for your post.
Uh Oh! Now more confusion comes to roost! I read the manual "but" obviously I'm lost in CNC jargin world. "NC in series?" Are they hard switches or software config switches? Oooooh, my tiny brain is going to explode! LoL

[HelicopterJohn]

Hi,

I would check the the people at Shop Task and see what pins, if any, you can use for each axis for homing and limits on your parallel port connection. I would think you may have to upgrade your parallel port connection to an updated breakout board. Maybe you could post a picture of your current parallel port connection so the guys here could see what you have.

John