SX3 CNC Limit Switches

[Babba]

Hello all.

Finally bit the bullet & picked up a SX3 CNC from Syil UK. Apart from a bench grinder/polisher, it is my first exposure to engineering machinery so it is very much a learning experience.

I've come across a few problems while installing/commisioning it & have overcome most of them myself but I have a problem with the X axis limit switch where I cannot progress any further until its solved.

The X axis limit switch does not stop the table moving !

In Mach 3 diagnostics screen M1 Home LED lights when I press the switch in but the table continues to move in this axis?

Perhaps this may be a Mach 3 configuration error?

My thanks in advance for any usefull advice.

[metalworkz]

Hi,
I think it may be the Mach3 configuration settings for the X axis. Under the configurations tab select Homing/Limits and try selecting Reversed for the X axis and you will probably have to select Home Negative for the X axis also.
Try it out after making the changes and be ready to stop it if it does not home on the switch. I think my X axis was reversed also. I checked both axis to make sure they are + and - in the correct directions. I hope this helps solve the problem but the Artsoft Mach3 website has some good videos for troubleshooting and other things so you may want to download them and check them out.
Regards,
Wes

[SyilAmerica]

The switch is a homing switch, not a hard limit switch. Once you home the machine to the known location, you can then setup your soft limits for limiting the extents of the table movement. There are some tutorials on the SyilAmerica support section of the website.

[neilw20]

Originally Posted by SyilAmerica The switch is a homing switch, not a hard limit switch. Once you home the machine to the known location, you can then setup your soft limits for limiting the extents of the table movement. There are some tutorials on the SyilAmerica support section of the website.

After you get it working, when you put the machine to sleep, make sure your table is to the right of the switch. It is easiest to reference machine before turning off. It always moves to the left waiting to see the switch. (mine is optics). If on wrong side of switch, it tries to crush the cables if they are misplaced. Leave the referencing speed (in X) low until you become confident with it. Put the wires for the Y switch around the left hand side of the column, so that the table doesn't eventually consume the cable.

[Greolt]

Originally Posted by neilw20 .... It always moves to the left waiting to see the switch. (mine is optics). If on wrong side of switch, it tries to crush the cables if they are misplaced. .....

If you use a longer strip as an actuating piece for the optical switch Mach will know which direction to look for home.

IE, if the switch is already activated Mach will move in the direction to move off the switch.

And if the switch is not activated then Mach will move in the direction to move onto the switch.

This of course will also apply to micro swithces. Actuators just need to be setup correctly.

Greg

[neilw20]

Thanks for the long strips tip.
I will implement soon.