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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    4

    Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    Hey all, long time lurker, first time posting.

    My situation, I am building a scratch design CNC Router. My first build. Running mach3 on the much hated chinese 5 axis BOB.

    I am all wired up and have movement. I got my Y and Z axis on track where it is moving and referencing home correctly. It is sharing the limit switch for referencing home and stopping the machine.

    However, my dilemma is I have the X and A slaved together (A slaved to X) and it is functioning correctly and moving in synch. I cant seem to home them though. When I go into the diagnostics page and click Ref A, the A switch moves to the switch, trips it and backs off. The X doesnt move at the same time but waits until the A is done. When the X does move it hits the switch but kills the machine rather than backing off. When I Ref the X axis, both the X and A move simultaneously and I believe the X axis limit kills the machine.

    The axis are wired to their own cutoff switches. Ie: the A limit switch goes to the A cutoff on the BOB and the X limit switch goes to the X cutoff on the BOB.

    Attached is a simple diagram of my setup.

    I am sure I am just overlooking something simple.

    Much thanks in advance,

    Dub

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    1) Never try to home the A axis when it's slaved to the X.

    2) In General Config, make sure Home Slave with Master is NOT checked.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    4

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    Gerry,
    Thanks for the info.
    #1. Lesson learned the hard way. Fortunately, no harm done.

    #2. The box is already unchecked.

    Any other ideas?

    Dub

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    Do you have the A switch configured as a Home switch, as well as a limit?

    Are you using the parallel port?

    You may need to modify the homing script to use RefCombination().
    If you post your .xml file, I'll take a look at your settings this evening.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    203

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    I second the refcombination in the homing script.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    4

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    Thanks for the offer and sorry for the delay getting the file. The holidays ran from yesterday to tonight for my family. Not one long party but two different families.

    Th machine is running windows XP and a parallel port.

    Attached is the xml file for the router. It doesnt give me the option to upload the xml file so its attached and zipped up.

    Thanks,

    Dub
    Attached Files Attached Files

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    Not sure if it matters, but try disabling the A axis limits. Just leave the A axis home enabled.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    103

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    I tryed setting up Home and Limit switches your home must be before your limit you can not use the same switch as both or it will go in alarm as limit and wont home

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    Quote Originally Posted by minicncuser View Post
    I tryed setting up Home and Limit switches your home must be before your limit you can not use the same switch as both or it will go in alarm as limit and wont home
    I have my home switches also configured as limits and they work fine. When Mach3 homes to a shared switch, the limits are disabled.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    4

    Re: Mach3 Limit/Home issue with slaved axis

    Problem Solved.

    Gerry,
    Just wanted to say thanks for all your help. I did try disabling the A with no change. I did some further reading and it looks like I may have a bit of noise. (even though I am using shielded cable for everything. I changed the debounce interval setting up from 0 to 1000 and the slaved limits/home both work. I went back down to 500 and 250 and it is still working. I may play with it a bit more but at least I can move forward on the build.

    Thanks again.

    Dub

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