Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => FAQs => Topic started by: obiewan on May 03, 2009, 04:10:09 PM

Title: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: obiewan on May 03, 2009, 04:10:09 PM

Pardon my newness, but I have run into an immediate snag.  Sorry if there is a post on this already, as I searched but didn't find.  My machine actually uses 2 stepper motors to run the Y axis--one on each side of the gantry.  Each motor is run to its own driver control.  I set up the usual X, Y, and Z axes per setup tutorial videos and also added an A axis (as my second Y).  The A axis motor needs to mimic the Y axis motor.  Can I set this up using Mach 3, or do I have to account for the 4th axis in g-code? 

The good news is that the software setup went fine, the parallel port is getting healthy readings, my wiring is fine, and I am able to jog on all 4 axes.  The bad news is that when I try to run a test program, only one side of my table's y axis moves (the side I designated Y--the A axis side gets no code info, so it doesn't move).  Hopefully this is an easy fix as I do not want to tediously fix g-code if I can avoid doing so.  Thanks for the help. 

Title: Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: Chaoticone on May 03, 2009, 04:53:05 PM

Lokk in config, slave axis. You will want to slave the a to the Y.

Brett

Title: Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: emi on July 01, 2013, 07:47:25 AM

hey i have question about slave axis how do i get these option for X Y Z
 my setup only have one option primary xyza- none and slave xyza-none.
Your screen shows A B C AXIS also?

Title: Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: Chaoticone on July 01, 2013, 08:15:34 AM

Post a screen shot of yours.  It should look just like mine.

Brett

Title: Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: emi on July 01, 2013, 08:18:32 AM

I have older version i just solve my issue by updating thanks.

Title: Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: Chaoticone on July 01, 2013, 08:23:48 AM

 :)

Brett

Title: Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: tabsha on February 03, 2014, 12:03:53 PM

Hello Brett
I have a 4 axis hotwire setup which I use to cut foam wings for RC airplanes. I am trying to use 1 hotkey to control the simultaneous movement of the Y and A axis, and another to simultaneously move the X and Z axis for jogging purposes. I don't want to use the slaving option because the axis also need to move on their own paths as per the loaded Gcodes when the program is running. Any ideas?
Thanks

Title: Re: Setting up a 4th Axis (new to CNC)
Post by: BretC on December 27, 2016, 08:32:13 AM

Did you resolve this question regarding jogging two axis together but yet leaving them independent for the G Code?