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Author Topic: Is it possible to auto square the Y axis?  (Read 3855 times)

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Is it possible to auto square the Y axis?
« on: November 01, 2017, 10:26:50 PM »
My CNC sometimes moves a slight bit when the power to the control box is switched on. Occasionally the Y axis moves and the A axis doesn't (or A moves and Y doesn't) which causes the gantry to become out of square.

Is there a way to set Mach3 to move the Y axis and the slaved A axis simultaneously onto limit switches to automatically square the Y axis gantry? I would like to have both steppers start at the same time and direction, but have one of the steppers stop when it activates a switch and the other stepper continue until it activates another switch. This should eliminate any racking that has occurred in the gantry and square it up with the table.

If this is possible and with a bit of fine tuning this would be an easy method to square up the machine. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Re: Is it possible to auto square the Y axis?
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2017, 03:20:02 AM »
Hi,
what motion controller are you using?

I don't have a gantry so I could be out t lunch here...I believe the motion controller has to temporarily break the master/slave connection between the two
motors and home them individually. It requires active participation of the motion controller to do it.

I know, and have read a good part of a thread called Auto Squaring on the Warp9 forum, of course it relates to their USS and ESS products.

Craig
'I enjoy sex at 73.....I live at 71 so its not too far to walk.'

Offline ger21

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Re: Is it possible to auto square the Y axis?
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2017, 08:48:28 AM »
Mach3 will do it automatically if you have both A and Y home switches.
Note that the switch positions will dictate the squareness.
Gerry

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

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Is it possible to auto square the Y axis?
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2017, 05:14:38 PM »
Thank you both for the replies.

joeaverage - My motion controller is from Xylotex. I'll check out the warp9 forum.

ger21 - I have switches on both of the Y and A axis and fine thread screws to activate the switches. I can adjust the squareness quite accurately. Would you be able to explain how to set up Mach3 to do this task or provide a link to the information.

Offline ger21

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Re: Is it possible to auto square the Y axis?
« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2017, 07:04:08 PM »
1) Make sure the Y and A home switches are on different input pins.
2) In General Config, make sure that "Home Slave with Master is NOT checked.

There' usually nothing else you should need to do.
Gerry

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

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Is it possible to auto square the Y axis?
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2017, 07:08:19 PM »
Thank you. It's almost too easy! I'll give it a try. :D