Topics

21

General Mach Discussion / Z axis direction

« on: March 02, 2008, 11:24:09 AM »

Hello

I want to try to mill something for the first time, and have a little problem with Z axis. 

My Z axis is homing in the positive direction, from -60mm(limit) to 0(home/limit).
If I want to miil something, I want the Z axis to move down to my table in the negativ direction, but the G code Z has a positiv value. When I start the program the first thing that happen is, the Z axis hits the home/limit switch.  Anybody know how to change the Z direction without messing the rest of the Z setup, like homing diretion ect.

Thanks
Adam

22

General Mach Discussion / Size and offset of Roadrunner

« on: February 29, 2008, 12:09:35 PM »

Hello again

I have a lot more questions

1. My Roadrunner is very, very little when I draw it in stead of milling it. Its like 5mm x 10mm. Is that the "original" size or can I make it larger with the Mach3?

2. When I`m trying to offset the Roadrunner to the middle of the working area (like on the video) it looks like I`m moving the working area in stead of the drawing around the table. 
    Is that something to do with my Mach3 version? My is R2.63,  file version 4.3.0.347   - or is there something wrong? 
    Please don`t say that I have to download another version and go through the setup again.
   
Adam
 

23

General Mach Discussion / homing limits problems

« on: February 28, 2008, 05:57:20 AM »

Hello
I`m a newbe, and can`t figure out how it works. I have a homebuild 3 axis machine and I want to make some test mills, but the safety comes first.
I have 3 normaly open home switches signed to pins 10, 12 ,13, and 3 normaly closed limit switches in series - pin 11.

1. When I hit one of the switches, I can still move the steppers with arrows and page up/down buttons - is that normal?   
I just want the machine to stop when it hits one of the switches - when I use arrows buttons and I can`t.
I want to be shure that the switches are working before I start to mess with software limits.
As I said I`m a newbe and I don`t know how it`s supposed to work, but are all the switches a kind of e-Stop switches?   Or the home swiches has to be activated/pressed when homed?

2. In the Input Signals window I have only marked the X Home, Y Home and Y Home, but what is the X++ and X- for?
Is X++ the limit and X- the home switch?

3. Is there a field where I can type the pitch of the lead screw? That`s because when I type G0 X5 the x axis is moving about 8cm?? 
My motors are 200 steps per revolution but I run 1/2 step. That gives 400 steps per rev. My lead screw has a pitch of 1mm, so I typed 400 in the "Steps pr unit" field. But the software doesn`t know abouth the lead screw pitch, does it?

Thanks
Adam