I've got a old Shopbot that came without any of the control hardware. I'm going to set it up to use Gecko Drives and Mach3.

I have 2 Z axis for it. My thought was to run them both, one with a Colombo 3HP spindle for most of my cutting and contouring, and the second a simple Router set up to just drill holes.

Can I set up Mach3 to use to Z-Axis and change which is used via tool change commands?? Or am I totally off base?

Are you planning to use these Z axis at the same time or even in the same code or will you be using one in a programme then another in a totally different programe?
Hood

I'd like to be able to use them within the same program.

Maybe just set the extra Z up as "A", "B", or "C".....? ? ?

Yes as RC has said, you can set them up as Z and A, that way you can use the main one as the Z axis then when you want to drill have the A axis in your code instead of Z.
Hood

Great.

Thanks for the help/info.

another option would be to do a swap axis, have a macro that when your ready to switch from you current Z to the secondary, swap axis of your Z and A, then you A will continue to run your Z code but with the other bit in it, just remember to do and Offset in the Y or X direction that the other Z is from where it should be when it comes into play.

scott

The Swap Axis sounds like the best idea. I'm sure I'll have a time implementing it, but it sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

Thanks,