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Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 12:19 am
by terrymcc
I am in the start up process with my Mill Turn conversion. I've got about 80% up and going and it's pretty exciting. I am having a bit of confusion on how to configure my limit and home switches. I'm sure it's clearly documented but I haven't come up with it looking through tech bulletins and forum search....

So, I am sharing an input for limit switches on Z-, X+, X-, Y+, and Y-. I am using another input for home of the z+. I only want to home Z+.
As I've looked through the wizard choices, I can't seem to come up with a combination that will do that.

If I pick one input as Limit All, and another as Third Axis Home OK, then Z+ doesn't limit. If I pick Limit All, it won't let me pick the option for the Z+ to be both Home and Limit. I don't see any other options that are close to doing what I want. Do I need to install another Z+
switch so I can use Limit All? I hope this isn't to obvious.... *?)

If at some point, I decide to Home X-, Y-, and Z+, I assume I would hook those together into one input and the other three switches into limit. Would the Home switches also act as limits? Then, would you pick Limit All and Home All. I think I am getting more confused...

Does the Reset Home on the VCP just re-initiate a home sequence? It's not described in the manual...

Thanks for all the help getting this thing this far....

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:31 pm
by cnckeith
you'll have to post a fresh report.zip for starters.

i would start by using HomeAll and wire the three home switches to that input. and get the machine auto homing with that setup. then once you understand that you can go off and add more switches to act as limit switches.

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:54 pm
by terrymcc
Understanding better today. I only want to home the Z axis. It is a combination Mill/Turn and depending on the tooling, could have issues auto-homing the X and Y.

I currently have Third Axis Home OK as one input and Limit All as another. The Z auto home works fine and it is now obvious what the Reset Home button does. The axis limits work fine as well. The only thing is with the Z+ acting as a home switch, it doesn't act as a limit switch.

Is the answer to add another Z+ switch and wire it in with the shared limits or can the same switch perform both functions?

Report attached

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:14 pm
by cnckeith
so you want only the Z axis to auto home and the other axes to just home where they are sitting? set input like this..
z home.PNG
and set home like this
z auto home.PNG
and then the wizard will automatically create the Auto home program to home out the Z axis first automatically and then the other axes will home right where they are sitting.

be sure to make a mark to you can eyeball the Z and Y home position and then set the software travel limits just shy of hitting the limit switches are you are good to go.

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:47 pm
by terrymcc
Yes, that is the way I have it and I understand.

The issue is, If set that way, the Z+ does not act as a limit and it can crash in that direction. What I meant to ask is is there a way to set it up so the Z+ switch can function as a home switch and a limit switch at the same time?

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:35 pm
by terrymcc
Your last reply triggered an idea....
I set up the Z+ switch to home. I set a software positive travel limit to .05". Now if you try to jog past the home switch more than .05, it will limit. That functions the way I want. I don't know that it's as safe as a hard switch, but it might be fine.

The reason I do not want to home the X and Y is because it is a Mill Turn unit. If it was last used as a lathe, the tail stock, tool post, or chuck might still be on the machine and cause a crash if I start the machine up in mill mode and have it auto home where you would typically want to home a mill. So for MIll, It homes the Z to the switch and the X and Y where the machine was parked. I can then jog the X and Y where I want to call home and activate the Reset Home button and it will set the new X and Y home where desired. Hardware switches on keep me from needing to set up software travel limits. At the end of operation, I can perform the Park function and it will travel to where the typical Mill home is located and simplify the home operation the next time the machine is powered up.

That may be over complicating things, but from my newbee status, that's what makes sense to me....

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:38 am
by martyscncgarage
If the input is set to ThirdAxisHomeOk then it only acts as a HOME switch.
If it were set to ThirdAxisHomeLimitOk then it would do both HOME and LIMIT

Marty

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:48 am
by terrymcc
martyscncgarage wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:38 am If the input is set to ThirdAxisHomeOk then it only acts as a HOME switch.
If it were set to ThirdAxisHomeLimitOk then it would do both HOME and LIMIT

Marty
If you set it to ThirdAxisHomeLimitOK, it won't allow you to use LimitAll on the other limit switches and I didn't see a way to select them. Is there a way?

Thanks

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:15 am
by martyscncgarage
Sorry. I don't think so.
What motors and drives are you using?

Re: Limit and Home switch configuration

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:17 am
by martyscncgarage
Yes, pressing Reset Home on VCP is just like homing the machine on start up