Super newbie question:

[caskscob]

on a Milling machine, where do you place the home switches? I know Z is at the top but where for X and Y ?

Also, do I really need limit switches or is using just the software limits ok?

Thanks

[Richards]

I put my homing switches near the axis limits, leaving a little room between the homing switch and the axis hard stop. I normally jog the axes to be about one inch from the homing switches and them use a slow homing speed to sense the switches. Limit switches are NOT necessary if you configure limits in software.

[Nigelo]

Standing in front of the Mill looking at the spindle, you are at X home (machine X0) when the table is to the extreme left and at Y home (machine Y0) when table is nearest to you. Another way of looking at it when visualizing the spindle relative to table (e.g. for a router), the spindle is home at extreme right for X and furthest from the front of table. Home switches are positioned to achieve these positions. Hope that makes sense

Home switches are enough as long a software limits for max travel are reasonably conservative allowing for deceleration from MAX travel speed i.e. with a small safety margin. Belt and suspenders (aka braces in UK) approach would be limit switches as well as soft limits but I don't use them, either on my Mill or Router as soft limits are perfect once set up properly

[martyscncgarage]

On X/Y axis of a mill, you can put them where you want to. You set homing direction properly in the Wizard under HOMEING AND TRAVEL

Just make sure you understand axis travel on a mill.

Marty

[caskscob]

I ended up placing the homing switches for front, left, and top. Left meaning the X table moves full left (head to the right), Front meaning the Y table moves full front (head full back) and then Z at the top of the mast. In hindsight I probably should have put the X so the table is full right at home so positive X moves are to the right. It is working fine as is however. Thanks so much for input.

[ShawnM]

In hindsight I probably should have put the X so the table is full right at home so positive X moves are to the right. It is working fine as is however. Thanks so much for input.

Keep in mind I’m a router guy and I would have thought the same thing. Since on a mill the table moves, placing the table full right would put the cutter on the left side of the table. Placing the table to the rear away from you would put the cutter at the front of the table. Z of course goes to the top. This makes more sense to me but what do I know, I’m a router guy.

I also only use 3 home switches and set up the soft limits for max travel, works perfect with less wiring and hassle of switch placement.