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Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 12:40 pm
by Itchy Kiwis
I’m new to this plasma cutting magic and I’ve hit a problem I can’t get my head around
My z axis doesn’t seem to be zeroing it’s self at touch off
I’ve set my 6.6mm so switch offset in post processor
For MACH3 I’ve got a vid showing what’s going on here
https://youtu.be/8ouE7YKrcpo
Any ideas ?

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 5:41 pm
by djreiswig
The switch offset should be the distance from when the switch clicks moving down to when the switch clicks moving up. Exactly. Jog your z down slowly until the switch clicks and zero the z then jog the z up slowly until the switch clicks. The offset should be what the z dro reads.
It looks like your z is adding extra distance every time it references. Does the z dro show zero when the switch is closed going down and then zero again after it retracts?

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 11:13 am
by Les Newell
It looks like you are getting a different height every time. I have come across some Mach odditities when probing on older versions of Mach. What version of Mach are you using?
What post processor are you using?

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 7:54 am
by Itchy Kiwis
Hi guys and thank you for your input
I have set switch offset as 6.6mm not sure if it should be a neg or pos number
post processor is Mach3 plasma with scriber and backlash compensation. the only edited part was the switch offset as mentioned earlier
here is the link to the test file out put from sheet cam
https://filebin.net/pluyfbazn3l84c9q/te ... t=9q90luov
mach3 version is version R3.043.066

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 12:11 pm
by Les Newell
Try the 'Mach3 thc with scriber' post.

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 7:03 am
by Itchy Kiwis
ok I used mach3 thc with scriber and got a strange result in mach3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/idwgtjhlssfu2 ... .jpeg?dl=0
it sends my cutter in circles all over the place
I have run the simulator in sheet cam and found everything ok
but also I have noticed that the torch turns off too soon as well you might have noticed this in the previous video
and isn't sheet cam supposed to trigger mach3?
this is an image of my file in sheet cam https://www.dropbox.com/s/gwxhkt6afld9g ... .jpeg?dl=0

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 5:32 pm
by Les Newell
In Mach go to Config->general config In the second column set the 'IJ mode' to Inc. If it is set to Absolute you will get these symptoms.

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 11:44 pm
by Itchy Kiwis
Thank you Les I’ll try that today 👍🏼

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:52 am
by Itchy Kiwis
sorry bout delay in reply my control board had issues
and victim of cyber hacking
Les I contacted you earlier by email but no reply
is there a chance of you resending my licence?

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 3:16 pm
by Les Newell
I can't find your email. I'll get a copy of your license sent to you.

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:27 am
by Itchy Kiwis
Received thanks les great !
Now it’s back to the plasma cutting end of things

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:47 am
by Itchy Kiwis
Ok using MACH3 with scriber post and still no touch off to zero and continuously rising z axis
I know the probe function is working and calibrated Z
Here’s a vid https://youtu.be/vQPCtXhEcKY

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:56 am
by djreiswig
Is your probe input lighting up before the z starts going back up? It seems like you must be getting a phantom input in order for it to reverse.

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 3:27 pm
by Les Newell
Yes it definitely looks like the touch-off is tripping far too early. Are you sure the touch-off switch is wired correctly? In Mach3's diagnostics watch the probe input while you run that job.

Re: Floating Z axis problem

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:50 am
by Itchy Kiwis
Yes the probe is functioning as it should I swapped over to NC active high and I created a simple little 40mm Square and ran it
All ran just as badly as before
Except this time I recorded the diagnostic screen and ran from there
https://youtu.be/fdxNyqwz9aU