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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    436

    Help understanding Work offsets and Program limits

    I have a question about the Program Limits window in the Toolpath Screen.
    It is when I use a work offset ( the x,y zeros for G54 are not the machine home).

    So my code only refers to locations based on G54. The Gcode doesn't refer to G53, I checked.

    When I choose G54 , the Program Limits window ( the actual numbers) include distance back to the machine home. That in effect makes it seem that the Gcode "User space", for lack of a better term, is different than where the cutter will actually travel in.

    The animated screen actually has a dashed line going back to machine home.

    Something doesn't seem right to me.

    Any suggestions, or is there something I don't know?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    630

    Re: Help understanding Work offsets and Program limits

    The dotted line cube indicates the total possible travel in X,Y and Z as determined by your limit switches or soft limits as defined in the configuration. Those are G53. G54 is the work offset and must fit within those defined limits. If the cutting path does not reflect the G54 work offset location you have set then you need to hit the Regen button to allow Mach to recalculate the paths. If you set the G54 work offset before loading a program then that is not necessary. However if you loaded the program first then set your G54 work offset then a regeneration of the tool path is necessary.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    436

    Re: Help understanding Work offsets and Program limits

    Kenny. I did multiple regens, file loads, restarts.

    While having G54 offset being the current offset I always get a dashed line from my toolpaths going to the machine home. Is that normal?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    630

    Re: Help understanding Work offsets and Program limits

    If you single block that dashed line tool path is it at the beginning of your program or the end? Your post processor may be spitting out a G28 move and those may or may not be relative to machine coordinates.

    https://www.cnccookbook.com/g28-g-co...ence-position/

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Help understanding Work offsets and Program limits

    When I choose G54 , the Program Limits window ( the actual numbers) include distance back to the machine home.
    If the g-code sends the machine home, then it's part of the Program Limits. Mach3 doesn't know which part of the code is actually cutting, and which is just moving out of the way.
    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)

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