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Author Topic: Configuring Mach 3, Trouble getting coordinates to change properly.  (Read 2870 times)

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I'm in the process of setting up Mach 3 with a machine I've converted to CNC, using a Gecko G540 and 387oz motors which I got from Keling Inc. With my current setup, I must reverse the X/Y under homing/limits settings, in order to have the table travel correct to the directional keys. This makes the coordinates count opposite of what they should be though. I'm wondering what is the correct way to go about fixing this. Should I actually wire the motors differently so they travel opposite without software settings? Should I just change pin output settings in Mach 3? Or is there another solution that I'm missing?

Offline ger21

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Re: Configuring Mach 3, Trouble getting coordinates to change properly.
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2011, 12:31:35 PM »
The tool should move in the direction of the arrow keys, not the table.
Gerry

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Re: Configuring Mach 3, Trouble getting coordinates to change properly.
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2011, 12:26:32 AM »
The tool should move in the direction of the arrow keys, not the table.

Thanks for the reply. I disabled reverse tonight and began imagining the head traveling rather then the table in order to get used to opposite key movements. The only CNC I had experience with before this was a high end Hurco, which did not have a traveling spindle, but still jogged accurate to key movements. If there is anyway I can get Mach 3 to function like that, I would still like to try. In the mean time, I'll stick to opposite keys, so I can get beyond configuration and start machining.

For anyone interested, you can find my CNC conversion of a 1970s Hamilton 2 Axis NC Milling Machine here:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/benchtop_machines/119773-hamilton_nc_milling_machine_-.html#post878854
« Last Edit: January 31, 2011, 12:32:00 AM by Digidem »

Offline Hood

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Re: Configuring Mach 3, Trouble getting coordinates to change properly.
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2011, 03:59:49 AM »
You can if you wish choose which key moves positive and which negative, its done from Config menu then System HotKeys. Just click on X++ and then choose the keyboard arrow you wish and then X-- and choose the opposite arrow key.
Me personally I prefer to work with convention.

Hood