Hi. I have just recently Installed the latest Mach 4 (Mach4Hobby Installer-4.2.0.3206) and have the latest ESS plug in version 186. I am running a milling machine and have set the ESS to be home in place. I am not using limit switches or home switches at all. (Only software limits) and when I hit refallhome all the red leds go to greeen.

The problem is all my gcode file usually end with a simple G28 command which moves the machine to home in Mach 3 but nothing happens in Mach 4. In Mach 3 a G28 command moves the z-axis to machine coordinates 0 first then the remaining axis X, Y and A to 0.

Is there something I am missing. G28 X0 Y0 Z0 in mach 4 does move the axis but G28 by itself does nothing??

P.s Sorry forgot to mention I haven't licensed Mach 4 yet. It's still running in demo mode for me to asses compared to Mach 3. Also can you edit the lua edit script/debug whilst running the demo version. I can see the lua file but not edit and save it.


I am a fairly new user and not that familiar with Mach 4.

If you go into your Mach4Hobby directory you will find a docs directory, this contains all sorts of information.

The information you are looking for is in the Mill GCode Programming PDF on page 17.

DazTheGas

 Thanks for that. So what you are saying is that Mach 3 behavior with only a G28 statement is peculiar and the correct method to return home in my case is to use the following.

G00 G53 Z0
G00 G53 X0 Y0 A0 B0


which will move Z first (which is what I want)

One last question. Is there a way of doing that on one line instead of taking 2.?

What program are you useing for cam, you would do the changes in the cam program post processor.

but haveing
G00 G53 Z0 then your x y moves is a safety thing it gets the Z out of the way before the X and Y moves incase there is a fixture or vice in the way.

I'm usion Fusion360 for CAM but modified the post processor as I didn't like incremental moves. ie if you stop the program when it is active and then use MDI you can have problems. Mach 3 obviously has a unique implementation of g28 compared to to Mach 4.



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You just turn radius on then it puts out R values no more I or J, also useing smoothing can make a big diffrences it adds to the amount of code but does a better job, for rounded parts I use morph spiral it gives a better finish.

posting your file would help