Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Mach3 under Vista => Topic started by: Nikki_Nicole on December 23, 2015, 10:42:25 AM

Title: Z-Axis not Physically Homing & X Axis Not Always Moving off "Home" Limit
Post by: Nikki_Nicole on December 23, 2015, 10:42:25 AM
Hello,

I am new to Mach3 and am trying to get a CNC mill up and running. I have numerous issues and have been looking through this forum and all of the Mach3 pdf files, among other resources, to solve my problems. Maybe you can help me:

1. The Z-Axis will not move back to home when I press the "Home All" button. Earlier, the position counter would reset to 0.0000 but would not move the machine tool at all. Now, it does not even reset the position counter for the Z axis. The X and Y Axis home just fine. I can control the Z axis by jogging it.

2. The X-Axis will not always move off of the "home" limit switch when homing. It will reach the limit switch and stop.

I have three independent proxy switches set-up for each axis as home limits. I do not have any other switch installed. Mach3 only has "X Home" "Y Home" and "Z Home" and "E-Stop" checked in Config -> Ports & Pins -> Input Signals. I am using Mach3 3.043.066. I understand that this is not "stable" based on what I have read on this forum, but I doubt that this "unstable version" would cause these issues. I can un-install this Mach3 and install Mach3 3.043.062 if needed. I am using an ESS.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! This machine will be down until I can solve these issues.

--Nikki
Title: Re: Z-Axis not Physically Homing & X Axis Not Always Moving off "Home" Limit
Post by: rdean on December 23, 2015, 11:48:14 AM
Try setting the "Debounce" to 2000.
Ray
Title: Re: Z-Axis not Physically Homing & X Axis Not Always Moving off "Home" Limit
Post by: Nikki_Nicole on December 23, 2015, 03:09:13 PM
Ray,

Where is this "Debounce" setting?
------------

I adjusted the "Home" value in the "Noise Filtering of Inputs" section under PlugIn Control -> ESS-v10r2d1d Config     from 0 to 20 and then to 500 but still no difference; the X-axis still is not backing off of the home limit switch.

I updated my Mach3 download to Mach3 3.043.062. The issue with my Z-axis is no longer causing an issue. It homes properly and does back off after it hits the home limit.

Thoughts?
Nikki
Title: Re: Z-Axis not Physically Homing & X Axis Not Always Moving off "Home" Limit
Post by: rdean on December 23, 2015, 04:26:58 PM
I wasn't aware you had an Ess but you did the right thing in the plugin.

Version 062 seems to be the best version for ESS and that is what I am running on my machines.

You might try to operate the switches manually and see if the axis backs up and zeros.

hard to trouble shoot from here.

Ray



 
Title: Re: Z-Axis not Physically Homing & X Axis Not Always Moving off "Home" Limit
Post by: Nikki_Nicole on December 28, 2015, 04:07:25 PM
Ray,

Sorry about the late reply; the holiday kept me away from my computer and from Mach3 for a few days.

I tried to operate the switches manually. The axis does not back up once the switch is tripped. I press "Ref Home All", the router head begins moving, I manually trip the switch and the router head stops. It does not reverse direction. I then un-trip the limit switch and the router remains stopped.

I looked in the diagnostics tab and I found that the M1 Home light blinks when the X-axis is tripped. When the Z and Y Axes are tripped, the M3 Home and M2 Home (respectively) lights are lit solid. I cannot find anywhere why the M1 Home light is blinking. I also cannot find a tutorial or manual for the Diagnostics tab to explain what each option means.

I doubt that it is a hardware/machine issue since Mach3 is able to identify when the X-axis home limit proximity switch is tripped.

Advice?

Regards,
Nikki
Title: Re: Z-Axis not Physically Homing & X Axis Not Always Moving off "Home" Limit
Post by: rdean on December 28, 2015, 08:18:01 PM
The M1 light should stay lit when it is tripped.
Do you have prox switches at all locations or mechanical on some?

Ray
Title: Re: Z-Axis not Physically Homing & X Axis Not Always Moving off "Home" Limit
Post by: Nikki_Nicole on December 29, 2015, 08:05:28 AM
All three axes use prox switches as their home limit switches. There are no other limit switches on this machine.

Nikki