Question about Mach3 + 2010 Tool Change

I am working to get the 2010 Screenset up and running on my CNCRouterParts Pro with their smooth stepper electronics package and all the homing switches.

If I tell it to do the Simple Auto Zero it works fine. Probes down, stops, moved up, and probes again slowly.

If I tell it to do the other Auto Zero, it also works fine. Probes the mobile plate, moves to the fixed plate, probes, moves up, probes slowly.

The issue comes in when I run code that does a tool change ( Vcarve pro with the 2010 Post Processor ).
I tell to use the other Auto Zero, which works fine.
It comes back and starts the gcode program and runs correctly.
It moves to the tool change position, and I change the tool.
I hit Cycle start and it moves over to the X,Y position of the fixed plate and starts moving down.

It probes for a while but doesn't get close to the plate. Stops, moves up a tiny bit, and starts probing again.

My fixed plate ( 1/8" piece of steel ) is mounted to the top of a base layer of MDF off to the side.
I have a piece of 3/4" MDF as a spoil board that sits on top of the base layer.
The materials are mounted to the spoil board.
So the fixed plate sits below the material Z0 by about 1.5" for say a 3/4" piece of material.

Safe Z is not enabled ( Yet, working on one thing at a time ).

I've tried different combinations of Clearance Plane and Tool Change Heights but haven't gotten it to work.

It seems like it just doesn't move far enough in the Z direction for the second probe but I haven't found where to change that or if that is a good idea.
I could raise my fixed plate up if needed.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

By default, the 2010 Screenset has a max probing length of 6".
If you need it to travel further, you'll need to edit the macro. I'd edit all 3. M881, M889, and M6End.
Find this section of code in each macro, and edit the First Probe Distance. There are separate sections for inch and mm.

If GetOEMLED(801) Then ' On = English Measure INCH

FirstProbeDist = 6.0 ' Probe down 6 inches
FirstRetractDist = 0.05 ' Then retract .05 inch
SecProbeDist = 0.25 ' Then probe down .25 inches
FirstProbeFeed = 10.0 ' First probe feed @ 10 ipm
SecondProbeFeed = 1.0 ' Second probe feed @ 1 ipm
ClearAllow = 0.125 ' Max Allowable Clearance = Z Machine Zero - .125in

Else ' Off = Metric Measure MM

FirstProbeDist = 150.0 ' Probe down 150mm
FirstRetractDist = 1.0 ' Then retract 1mm
SecProbeDist = 6.0 ' Then probe down 6mm
FirstProbeFeed = 250.0 ' First probe feed @ 250 mm/min
SecondProbeFeed = 25.0 ' Second probe feed @ 25 mm/min
ClearAllow = 2.0 ' Max Allowable Clearance = Z Machine Zero - 2mm

End If

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ger21

By default, the 2010 Screenset has a max probing length of 6".
If you need it to travel further, you'll need to edit the macro. I'd edit all 3. M881, M889, and M6End.
Find this section of code in each macro, and edit the First Probe Distance. There are separate sections for inch and mm.

If GetOEMLED(801) Then ' On = English Measure INCH

FirstProbeDist = 6.0 ' Probe down 6 inches
FirstRetractDist = 0.05 ' Then retract .05 inch
SecProbeDist = 0.25 ' Then probe down .25 inches
FirstProbeFeed = 10.0 ' First probe feed @ 10 ipm
SecondProbeFeed = 1.0 ' Second probe feed @ 1 ipm
ClearAllow = 0.125 ' Max Allowable Clearance = Z Machine Zero - .125in

Else ' Off = Metric Measure MM

FirstProbeDist = 150.0 ' Probe down 150mm
FirstRetractDist = 1.0 ' Then retract 1mm
SecProbeDist = 6.0 ' Then probe down 6mm
FirstProbeFeed = 250.0 ' First probe feed @ 250 mm/min
SecondProbeFeed = 25.0 ' Second probe feed @ 25 mm/min
ClearAllow = 2.0 ' Max Allowable Clearance = Z Machine Zero - 2mm

End If

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Thank you very much for the very quick response!! I'm going to adjust those settings.

Thanks again!