Thanks again Jeff Just a note: The override button doesn't light up, if the override (green) button on the VFD box is in the override position, none of the limit switches will work at all and nothing will indicate on screen. If any of the readers here fail to get any error when manually pushing one of the limit switches, try toggling the override button, then try again. We all know how I figured that one out lol.
David... you are exactly right!! If you have the green button in the override position, it will disconnect the limit switch portion of your controller. So, make sure, before you test this out... test out the limit switch override setting.
Hi Jeff, great video! But what about the Z axis? I see no limit switches on the Z axis. How can I set machine coordinates along z axis without limit switches?
My CNC does not have limit switches on the Z axis. One thing to note about CNC is that it is based on the plus, or minus, movement of the axis from it's zero point. The zero, with most woodworking/metalworking is the surface of the material (or the bed of the machine). So, this is the reference point that it starts with. One thing to note is that you CAN push your Z axis to it's upper and lower limits and you will cause your system to stall or crash. So, within the software we can set safe limits. But, in most cases, we just design our pieces to not exceed the limits of the machine. Does that make sense?
Hello Jeff! I have a question for you about these limit switches. Do you think there's any chance to get them working as home limits as well? I have tried to turn the X and Y homes On in "ports and pins", seen the home signals turning on when switched in the Diagnostics section of mach3, but when i push the "Ref all" button the switches actually keep working as limit switches and not as homing. Any suggestions?
This is something that I've thought about for a while. But, like you, were not able to figure out how to use the limit switches as home switches too. In the end, I think a separate switch would be best to fine tune the homing function. Meaning, you could go past the homing switch, but then encounter the limit switch. It would give you the ability to have a constant 0-0 starting point, but also the safety to not crash your machine. Does that make sense?
Makes sense as it is supposed to be. Though a limit switch signal shall be bypassed while homing and it doesn't happen. I want to give a try again in the next few days. Maybe delaying the limit switch input (dangerous), or better checking my configs... In case I'll let you know. By the way, I finally understood what the green button was intended for, but I still prefer the software "override limit switch" which is even safer since it allows the limits to stop the machines as you move back off them.
I confirm that as any of my four switches is triggered I actually see ALL of the limits and homing inputs lighting up. Mach3 homing does not ignore the limits and estop the procedure. Rnr motion card mentions homing and limiting on shared switch, but no documentation...
Thanks again Jeff
Just a note:
The override button doesn't light up, if the override (green) button on the VFD box is in the override position, none of the limit switches will work at all and nothing will indicate on screen.
If any of the readers here fail to get any error when manually pushing one of the limit switches, try toggling the override button, then try again.
We all know how I figured that one out lol.
David... you are exactly right!! If you have the green button in the override position, it will disconnect the limit switch portion of your controller. So, make sure, before you test this out... test out the limit switch override setting.
Hi Jeff, great video! But what about the Z axis? I see no limit switches on the Z axis. How can I set machine coordinates along z axis without limit switches?
My CNC does not have limit switches on the Z axis. One thing to note about CNC is that it is based on the plus, or minus, movement of the axis from it's zero point. The zero, with most woodworking/metalworking is the surface of the material (or the bed of the machine). So, this is the reference point that it starts with.
One thing to note is that you CAN push your Z axis to it's upper and lower limits and you will cause your system to stall or crash. So, within the software we can set safe limits. But, in most cases, we just design our pieces to not exceed the limits of the machine.
Does that make sense?
Hello Jeff! I have a question for you about these limit switches. Do you think there's any chance to get them working as home limits as well? I have tried to turn the X and Y homes On in "ports and pins", seen the home signals turning on when switched in the Diagnostics section of mach3, but when i push the "Ref all" button the switches actually keep working as limit switches and not as homing. Any suggestions?
This is something that I've thought about for a while. But, like you, were not able to figure out how to use the limit switches as home switches too. In the end, I think a separate switch would be best to fine tune the homing function. Meaning, you could go past the homing switch, but then encounter the limit switch. It would give you the ability to have a constant 0-0 starting point, but also the safety to not crash your machine.
Does that make sense?
Makes sense as it is supposed to be. Though a limit switch signal shall be bypassed while homing and it doesn't happen. I want to give a try again in the next few days. Maybe delaying the limit switch input (dangerous), or better checking my configs... In case I'll let you know.
By the way, I finally understood what the green button was intended for, but I still prefer the software "override limit switch" which is even safer since it allows the limits to stop the machines as you move back off them.
Depending on your machine, they could be wired in parallel. This would stop the ability for it to be able to isolate one switch.
I confirm that as any of my four switches is triggered I actually see ALL of the limits and homing inputs lighting up. Mach3 homing does not ignore the limits and estop the procedure. Rnr motion card mentions homing and limiting on shared switch, but no documentation...
Found this video online too... this goes through reset of your VFD (if you have this VFD).
ua-cam.com/video/tRf4VpMzthc/v-deo.html