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Author Topic: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?  (Read 13198 times)

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"Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« on: September 09, 2014, 11:29:33 PM »
New install, default Mill profile, what would I use "Ref All Home" for?  I know the button can be customized with scripts and stuff, but I'm not sure what the default use for this button would be.

Offline dude1

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Re: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2014, 01:02:39 AM »
its in the manual it does what it says

Offline ger21

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Re: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2014, 07:21:45 AM »
It sends the machine to the home switches. If you don't have home switches installed, than it sets your machine coordinates to zero at their current positions.
Gerry

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http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

Offline RICH

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Re: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2014, 07:24:06 AM »
When you first start Mach it does not know where the controlled point ( the cutting edge of the tool or center ) is as it relates to the stock / part. There is a difference if you have or don't have switches or are using a script. Mach will need to know where the tool is, and that can be done automaticaly or manualy.

Read the manual........

RICH

Re: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2014, 09:07:01 AM »
It sends the machine to the home switches. If you don't have home switches installed, than it sets your machine coordinates to zero at their current positions.

Thank you very much for the insight.  So my machine doesn't have limit or home switches, so it seems like I should be ignoring the "Ref All Home."

In terms of the RTFM comments from the other users...

For the record, I did try to find this information myself.  First, I searched the "Install and config guide" for "ref all home" and it didn't find anything.  I didn't check the usage guide because it said 1.84+, which I took to mean it was for an older version, as I'm running 3.043, and I didn't realize the "+" means it is for 1.84 and beyond.

I did a google search for "mach3 ref all home" before posting my question and the first page of hits talked about changing the use of that button.

So after reading these responses I did look at the 1.84+ guide and searched for "ref all home" and still didn't find it.  Reading through the manual, it is referred to in the text as "ref all," and the explanation isn't that helpful for a newbie.

So I did try, I just couldn't find it.  Sorry for being a painful newbie, I only post when I have failed at finding what I need.  Again though, my apologies.

Offline ger21

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Re: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2014, 09:14:05 AM »
If you want to use Softlimits, then you need to use Ref All to set your machine coordinates, as those determine your softlimit locations.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2014, 09:21:11 AM »
If you want to use Softlimits, then you need to use Ref All to set your machine coordinates, as those determine your softlimit locations.

Maybe in the future I will.  For now I have been developing this (I'm sure really weird) workflow where I'm setting the machine where I need it before starting my program.  This is what I do.

(1) I set the machine X/Y over the material I'm machining.  If my origin for the part is centered on the part, for example, I center the router bit over the piece of material I'll be cutting.

(2) I use a 1/2" gauge block to set the height of the Z.

Now this is where I'm doing stuff that works, but I have no idea about the Ref All Home:

(3) I zero the X and Y and Z on Mach3.  Then I press the Ref All Home and zero them again.

(4) I enter .5 for the Z.

(5) I run my program.

I was just confused why, when I zeroed my X Y Z and then pressed Ref All Home, the values changed.  But now my understanding is that, the values to which they changed were the values that Mach3 believes the machine to be from some absolute home, which doesn't really exist on my machine because I have no limit/home switches, but Mach3 tracks it anyhow.  How far off am I?

Offline ger21

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Re: "Ref All Home" is supposed to do what?
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2014, 10:15:53 AM »
Quote
(3) I zero the X and Y and Z on Mach3.  Then I press the Ref All Home and zero them again.

You can skip the Ref All and re zero.

When you zero an axis, your setting a work offset for that axis, relative to machine coordinates. When you then click Ref All, your changing the machine coordinates, which moves the zero you just set.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html