Limit & Home switches? PSE HELP!

[robashley]

Hi all,

Just finished a scaled up Rockcliffe Fixed gantry (I'm very excited, but the wife is still not impressed!).

I am in the process of setting up with Mach 3 software, but I read that one should use limit and home switches. I am a complete newbie to CNC so could anyone please offer some advice? I was thinking of fitting simple microswitches to each axis (as electronic end stops) and wiring them to the logic cct? Is this the norm?
Do we have to use them?
Any help would be most gratefully received..

Happy CNCing

Rob

[Greolt]

G'day Rob

I am not familiar with the rockcliffe but believe it is a small MDF machine.

Let's be realistic, many homebuilt routers operate fine without limit switches.

Ask yourself what will happen if an axis reaches the end of travel and the motor tries to keep going.

If it will cause damage then limits would be advisable.

If no harm is done then get going using your machine and decide later whether or not you would like to add limits for convenience.

I know of many homebuilt users that have hundreds of cutting hours on machines that will never have limit switches.

You will get many on the forum who will cry that limits are essential. Sure on some machines they are but horses for courses.

Greg

[robashley]

G'Day Greg,

Many thanks for the reply. I think I will get the thing up and running on a few small projects and see what happens....

Rob