[adam_m]

I want to cut the maximum size on my table and don't want to trip the limit switches - so I was wondering if there was a way to establish that without having to manually set the limits...?


Adam,

[Ntl]

Find out what your work envelope is and make sure you lay out your parts with in the envelope in your Cam software.

On my controller if you are out side of the machine limits on a cnc file it will give you a error for the line in the gcode that is beyond your travel limit's. So you don't cut the part until you either fix the file or if you didn't set up the part zeros correctly, then when you set the proper work coordinates.

Hope this info helps.

Dan

[ger21]

Softlimits.

[adam_m]

Gerry, can you expand a little on how you would use them?

If I home the machine, would I bump it in both the x,y axis and then set some type of soft limit there..

I just spotted the following https://www.instructables.com/id/Set...al-CNC-Router/

[ger21]

You set your softlimits relative to your home switches. Softlimits will prevent the machine from going outside the softlimits.

[Ntl]

It's going to be in your Cam file that you design with in the machine limits. Even if you set soft limit's you still have to design with in the limits.


The soft limit is your maximum machine travel that you set up in your control software. Once set it keeps you from crashing a axis after the machine is homed. Once homed you can jog to the end of the travel with out tripping a limit switch/senor or hitting the hard stop. With out knowing what control software you have, no one will be able to tell you how to set it up.

So even with the soft limit set up if you don't set up the parts within the limit you will trip the limit.

Dan

[maxspongebob]

@adam_m I may not understand exactly what you are asking for but here is my answer.

Put a marker in the spindle and trace the outer limit of the table. Then always put the work inside the line. You will have to account for lead in/out when you are making your GCode.

[adam_m]

Thanks for the reply's.

Essentially My top is larger than the surface my spindle can cut and I was wondering what the best approach would be to establish the maximum cutting envelope.

I'm thinking that soft limits might be the way to go after establishing the machine limits.

I'll give it a go and see what happens.

Adam,

[Ntl]

Thanks for the reply's.

Essentially My top is larger than the surface my spindle can cut and I was wondering what the best approach would be to establish the maximum cutting envelope.

I'm thinking that soft limits might be the way to go after establishing the machine limits.

I'll give it a go and see what happens.

Adam,

Yes set your soft limit's to the maximum travel you want, but you still have to design with in the limits. It's not going to automatically place the parts within the work envelope weather or not you have soft limit's set up. You still need to set up the job within the limits you also still need to design within the limits. The soft limit's should have been one of the first things you did when you set up the machine. So definitely set them up so you don't crash the machine just jogging the spindle around.

You'll get it figured out sounds like you're on the right path.

Dan