Mach3 Homing and soft limit issue

[mamehdi2000]

Hi All,

I know homing and soft limits are a common issue for most. I've searched and read almost all of the forums on these issue and yet I have problems with mine. I'm running a Mach3 Motion Card controller and servo motors with G320X gecko drivers. My setup works really well, the limits work, homing works, and I can start machining. However I can't figure out the following issues as it really bugs me, I've worked on these for dayssss!

About my machine:
- Servo motors
- 5ft x 9 ft table
- Dual stage (4 motors, x and a are slaved, 2 homing switches on x-axis for auto squaring)

Issue 1: Homing / Squaring gantry
- If I'm in the slave mode on (x and a axis), auto squaring does not work no matter how I edit the script for homing. Is there a command to disable slave mode, home it, then turn slave mode on again? I tried a DoButton that was on a forum and it does not work.
- The only way I can square my table now with the limit switches is the following way:

1) open mach3 profile that is in a non-slave format
2) Edited the scrip to:
DoButton( 24 ) ' this homes the Z
DoButton( 23) ' this homes the Y
RefCombination( 9 ) 'move x and a together
DoButton( 25) ' this homes A to make sure
3) after this, I switch back to the 2nd mach3 profile that turns on the slaving

This is working fine, but I think if there was a way to turn off slave mode with in one profile, home it, and then turn it back on would be awesome! Perhaps in the brain setup?


Issue 2: Soft Limits
- My table is setup as described in the videos and forums and the limits do work. However the slow zone does not work no matter what! It acts like a hard stop when it reaches the limit.
- Also, the reverse check button seems to do absolutely nothing!
- When soft limits are one, sometimes it locks the A axis and twists my gantry! When softlimits is off i don't have that issue...

These is what I've tried:
- Increase the slow distance up to 10 inches, thinking that it doesn't have time to slow down
- Decreased the slow rate down to 5%


I really appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.

Similar Threads:

• Need Help!- Mach3 soft limits
• Need Help!- Setting up Config >Homing/Limits Dialog (Motor Home/Soft Limits)
• Mach3 Soft Limits -- Not Stopping
• Newbie- CNC router type 3040 - Mach3 soft limits and coordinates
• Mach3, Soft Limits & G20/G21

[mamehdi2000]

Hi everyone,

Did I post in the right section? I know this is common issue, however I've tried everything and it's still not working.

I would really appreciate your help.

Thank you,
Mehdi M.

[ger21]

Can you upload your .xml file?

[mamehdi2000]

Hi Gerry,

Sorry for the long delay in this. I haven't been able to work on this machine for a while. I played around with it again today and still no luck. Here are some more info:

1) I'm using XHC-USB Motion card V2.3.8.3
2) Homing works perfectly if don't slave the axis X and A together. Meaning it would square the table.
3) X and Y homing work perfectly
4) If I change the enable, step, or direction pin to anything else my A axis still works?! how could this be? The only thing that makes a difference is if I switch DirLowActive pin to high or low which then it changes the direction on my A axis!
5) I've modified my reference button to the following:

CoupleSlave(0)
SetParam ("ZRefPer",5)
DoOEMButton (1024) 'home at 100%
SetParam ("YRefPer",5)
DoOEMButton (1023) 'home at 100%

RefCombination(9)



For some reason most commands like CoupleSlave(0) does not work at all! Is there a way to turn off slaving in the config>slave axis and turn it on after homing the axis?


I've attached the XML file for when they are slaved and another when I don't slave the axis so I can square my table. I've also attached some snapshots of my screen.

Thank you in advance for your help. I hope I can resolve this issue

-MM





XML File.zip

[Eveb]

I have the same card as you.
Have you been able to find a solution to your problem?

With the driver v2.39.9, the problem is always the same for slave axis.
My gantry is moving well but my slave engine is not going to get his switch once the master engine has triggered his.

I tried your solution with non-slave motors.
The first engines (Y or A) that triggers its switch go back as expected but the second (A or Y) goes forward once its switch triggered.

Regards

[ekdave]

ok Guys im sure this is covered some where but i havent had luck finding answer ..
im using mach 3 on my mill have set soft limits when they are hit it seems to activate a stop and i cant move off it without resetting power supplies which then let me move off the soft stops ??


David

[ake1ro]

ok Guys im sure this is covered some where but i havent had luck finding answer ..
im using mach 3 on my mill have set soft limits when they are hit it seems to activate a stop and i cant move off it without resetting power supplies which then let me move off the soft stops ??


David

Have you found the solution? Having the same issue with no luck