Setting the Home Machine Coordinates
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2025 4:37 pm
Greetings -
I am confused and perhaps I am just using the wrong terms but this issue seems to be something that would be addressed during the initial installation or conversion. Namely, how are Machine Coordinates set? I have stared at the manual and looked through the forums but perhaps I just do not know how to ask the correct question.
I have a Sherline mill that I converted myself. It has limit/home switches at the +X & +Y and +z positions and approximately 7" of x, 3.5" of y and 10" of z travel. It homes and shows machine coordinates of 0,0,0. That means that at the extreme of the travels for each axis you see machine coordinates of -7.000,-3.500, and -10.000 - a position near that table's lower left corner from the operator's point of view.
I find this confusing as you have to set travel limits, work envelope, etc.
It seems to me that when it is sent to home - it should show machine coordinates of 7.000, 3.500, 10.000 - the maximum positive position for each axis - because that is where it goes for homing.
That would seem simple to do but I have no idea where the machine coordinates reside or if they are something you can specify.
I realize that you set work coordinates separately (G54, etc) but this just seems illogical to me.
Thanks for any insights you may have.
John
I am confused and perhaps I am just using the wrong terms but this issue seems to be something that would be addressed during the initial installation or conversion. Namely, how are Machine Coordinates set? I have stared at the manual and looked through the forums but perhaps I just do not know how to ask the correct question.
I have a Sherline mill that I converted myself. It has limit/home switches at the +X & +Y and +z positions and approximately 7" of x, 3.5" of y and 10" of z travel. It homes and shows machine coordinates of 0,0,0. That means that at the extreme of the travels for each axis you see machine coordinates of -7.000,-3.500, and -10.000 - a position near that table's lower left corner from the operator's point of view.
I find this confusing as you have to set travel limits, work envelope, etc.
It seems to me that when it is sent to home - it should show machine coordinates of 7.000, 3.500, 10.000 - the maximum positive position for each axis - because that is where it goes for homing.
That would seem simple to do but I have no idea where the machine coordinates reside or if they are something you can specify.
I realize that you set work coordinates separately (G54, etc) but this just seems illogical to me.
Thanks for any insights you may have.
John