Reverse Z axis?

[frige]

I set mach3 up so that +Z cuts down into the material.
Is there a setting in vcarve to reverse the Z axis, so that cuts are made in the positive direction, and safe Z is a negative value above the material (setting zero at the top of the material)?
-frige

[ger21]

You need to edit your post processor to do that.

I believe you want to change this line:

VAR Z_POSITION = [Z|C|Z|1.4|]

To this

VAR Z_POSITION = [Z|C|Z|1.4|-1]


Here's a link to the manual, so you can make sure.
http://www.vectric.com/forum/download/file.php?id=13820


Imo, you'd be better off reversing the Z axis direction, so it works like 99.9% of the other Mach3 users.

[cutter100]

I agree with ger21. Had a problem with the pos being the downward move went into mach3 and unchecked the dir low so up is pos and down is neg. Works much better this way.

Chris

[frige]

I'm new to CNC, so I'm learning best practices as I go.
Thanks for the info. I'll reverse the axis in mach then.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around setting the home differently for the Z axis. I was using 3 switches, but can see now that I need to use some sort of touch sensor to do the Z.

[ger21]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around setting the home differently for the Z axis. I was using 3 switches, but can see now that I need to use some sort of touch sensor to do the Z.

Z home is not the same as Z zero. Z home is at the top of the travel, and Z zero should be the top of your part.

[cutter100]

Touch sensor would be great ....if I could only figure out how to hook it up. Something about the "tcp" I jog down to close to the top of the piece and then turn off my motor switch , turn by hand ,to as close as I can see, then flip the motors back on, then hit zero. Frige I'm quite new myself but ger21 and a few others seem to live on this site(lol) and have been VERY helpful.