Mach3 Problems problems problems.

[ECCO]

Many thanks for your replies. The mill is having mechanical parts modified at the moment and as soon as it is reassembled I will do some investigation and get back to you all. Once again thanks.

[ECCO]

Right the mech parts are now modified ok, back to the problems. could you please check over the following calculations for steps per.
By the way this is a fully licenced version of Mach3. Have re-installed Mach3 and chosen inch base units.

Motor Steps= 1.8deg =200 steps per 1 motor rev.

Motor Micro steps =10 therefor 200x10 = 2000 micro steps per 1 motor rev

Pitch of ball screws = 5mm = 0.19685 inches per 1 motor rev

No of motor revs to move 1 inch = 1/0.19685 = 5.08 revs

No of micro steps per 1 inch move = 2000 x 5.08 =10160 micro steps per inch

Z axis is a 2:1 reduction ratio so 10160 x 2 = 20320 micro steps per inch

Many thanks ( More to follow )

[JAZZCNC]

Yes that's correct go to top of the Class.

[ECCO]

After a quite successful re-set on the miller we now have Imperial units. The machine homes properly onto 3 limit switches and runs a simple program ok and accurately.
The issue now is what to specify in soft limits and soft limit slow zones. I honestly have not got a clue. I can accurately measure the distances that the machine is capable of moving in all axis.
These dimensions are from the home positions. X +19.000" Y+7.375 Z-13.500.
Any help most gratefully received.

[magicniner]

The issue now is what to specify in soft limits.

As soon as you need limits your job is toast.
Plan ahead and ensure that your job fits in the machining envelope and that you have your work offset or your zero set such that the job which will fit the envelope is within the envelope,

- Nick

[JAZZCNC]

As soon as you need limits your job is toast.
Plan ahead and ensure that your job fits in the machining envelope and that you have your work offset or your zero set such that the job which will fit the envelope is within the envelope,

- Nick

Sorry Nick don't agree. Softlimits work good because they won't allow code to run unless it fits within the machines cutting range. They also stop you accidently running into the hard limits which can be pain.
The only thing is that the machine must be homed first for them to work properly.

ECCO: First Slow zones don't work so forget them.

Setting the Soft limits is easy. Set Soft Max for X & Y to +19 & 7.375 and Soft Min =0. For Z axis Soft Max =0 Soft Min -13.500

Remember you must always Home when first starting machine or after resetting for soft limits to work correctly.

[magicniner]

Softlimits work good because they won't allow code to run unless it fits within the machines cutting range.

I struggle with the concept of unknowingly creating and running a job that doesn't fit within a machine's envelope but I can imagine that with the right approach that should be possible ;-)