I have been using Mach3 for a few years. Turn and or mill at different times. Mostly without a Smoothstepper but I have used them a little.
Lately due to an issue with my parallel port. I decided to set up my above system with the ESS. I am having an issue or 2 and the Warp9 forum thinks it is either a misunderstanding on my part or a Mach problem. Both could be a possibility.
I have Turn installed, profile operating correctly as in direction of travel for each axis etc. The limit switches which I also use as limits are connected, activated and working as they should.
The issue is what happens upon touching the limit switch itself and the setting or number that ends up in the DRO.
In Turn I have to reference each axis independently (more on that later). So first I home the Z axis using "set Home Z". The axis travels the furthest from the chuck, hits the limit switch, backs off the prescribed amount placed in the ESS homing limits dialog box prior (-.1). Then the DRO indicates -.1 (this is in machine coordinates). This is what I want and this is the extent of travel less .1.
Then I use the same procedure for X. However X homes away from the center line of the spindle and upon hitting the limit/home switch backs off the prescribed amount -.05 in this case. It also indicates this on the DRO (again in Machine coordinates). What I would like is for the DRO to indicate the number of the opposite end of travel. 0 should be the center IMO. So all numbers should be positive and the number upon touching the limit and backing off should be as an example 5" less the back off -.05, 4.95.
Now this is where the problem is. On Mill I swear I can change the DRO by the number I place in the "home offset" of Mach's homing/limit set up box so the number indicated after touching the limit is what ever I have put there. In Turn I get no such response. I get the back off amount setting within the ESS Homing box. If I place a number in the "home offset" box in Mach it will back off the switch that amount.? Even though the back off setting in the ESS is -.05.
So I notice the "auto zero" always has a green check on the Mach homing and limits page. It will change and accept the change until I press the reset button. I can hit save settings, reopen the box and the green check is gone. Then I press the reset and that value changes back. That is why I suspect the ESS, something has priority either Mach or the ESS?
If I put a number in the G28 home location box, it will go to that number.
Btw if I hit home all or home Z or whichever axis, rapid acceleration occurs slamming into the limit switch and then faulting out.