"HOME" position on a CNC Mill, switch locations?

[EddyCurrent]

I can't see how it matters in reality, the home position is just a datum point that is repeatable. If you want to use the centre as zero then just apply an offset in your CAM software.

[magicniner]

My home position is head all the way up with the spindle centre over the back right hand corner of the envelope.
I have Home Offsets programmed into Mach3 which then set my zero at X & Y centres of movement with my standard edge finder touching the table surface (with it's tool offset selected), this way when you Ref All Home Mach3 goes and finds the home switches then applies your Home Offsets.
Then you have multiple Work Offsets which allow stored settings for all 3 axes for clamps, vices, fixtures, standard workpieces etc.
Then you have Tool Offsets which allow stored settings for the lengths of the various standard tools you use.

Once you've got your head around it all set-ups become far faster and simpler, Ref All Home the machine, select the tool of your choice and the work offset of your choice and your zero can be where you want it in little more time than it takes to fit the tool and position a vice on the bed,

- Nick

[Robin Hewitt]

I found the huge disadvantage to using G code was you threw the original drawing away. I changed to cutting from the .dxf which meant I could see the original shape on screen. I then made circles into datum points. Circles that have depth in the Z axis cut, those without depth merely exist.

If starting from a blank piece of metal, I print the .dxf then stick it on with Pritt. I like Pritt because it dissolves in soluble oil.

Left mouse moves the table to a circle centre XY when you click on it, right mouse sets the XY position to a circle centre XY when you click on it.

[magicniner]

Robin,
That sounds like an interesting thread you're responding to, which one is it?

- Nick

[Robin Hewitt]

That sounds like an interesting thread you're responding to, which one is it?

Sorry Nick, it is this thread, I just couldn't be bothered to add the logical progression that makes sense of it. I have tried but nobody here programs computers so they cannot escape the limitations of using MACH and G-Code.

[magicniner]

Sorry Nick, it is this thread, I just couldn't be bothered to add the logical progression that makes sense of it. I have tried but nobody here programs computers so they cannot escape the limitations of using MACH and G-Code.

Robin,
I think it's worth expanding your reply. I cut my teeth on Z80 Assembler and progressed to PLC Ladder Logic & Statement List, VB, SQL, Crystal Reports, etc. and you've lost me.
Any "Limitations" of Mach3 and G-Code (and I've not found them yet) are far outweighed by the capability provided by an affordable CAD/CAM system coupled with Mach3 -
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[magicniner]

The stamp does this in hot steel -
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It's about 8mm high ;-)

[Robin Hewitt]

Robin, I think it's worth expanding your reply. I cut my teeth on Z80 Assembler and progressed to PLC Ladder Logic & Statement List, VB, SQL, Crystal Reports, etc. and you've lost me.

You say "etc." before you say "Visual Studio". Windows is event driven and will never guarantee to return control to you in time to step the motors. The moment you give in and add a separate processor to sort out the timing problems MACH becomes a totally redundant unnecessary burden and you may as well run Win8, check your e-mails and have a Shoot'em'up game running in the background to while away the time while it cuts.

I don't think I want to criticize MACH here too much, look what happened to the bloke in the news today, the one who accepted a Gaza appeal to be published in the Jewish Chronicle.