Z axes soft limits reached

[MathieuHebbrecht]

Hi all,

I wanted to cut my first piece with my Stepcraft machine. Unfortunatly my UCCNC software complains that the Z-axes soft limits were reached. What does that mean... wel look for you self. For some reason the Z axes is significanty larger then my stock object. I have no clue why. I reduced all clearances to 5 mm instead of 10. But that didn't make a difference. I'm probably overlooking something, but I'm unable to figuere out what.

Red lines are lead in lines. Blue is what it needs to process in the material.

I look like at lead in there the drill head is retracted very far.

[HughesTooling]

Can you export the f3d file and attach to this thread also the g code file, you'll need to change the extension on the g code file to txt to upload. I suspect the line G28 G91 Z0.0 might be the problem, this should fully retract the Z to the limit switch\home position, does the machine have homing switches?

Mark

[MathieuHebbrecht]

Hi Mark, 

Thanks for your quick reply.

I've attached the Gcode and .f3D file.

My stepcraft 840 has home switches.

Aprox max traveling distanced are:

- X: 600mm

- Y: 800mm

- Z: 200mm

The z-axes travel in the fusion drawing is 370 for some reason. I was unable to find where that number is defined.

[HughesTooling]

Here's a backplot of your code and all looks OK the minimum and maximum for the Z in the file is -3 to 10.

Do you know the line in the code that gives the error. Can you try something real simple like a profile around a square or have you already run code from Fusion OK.

Mark

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

I just had a quick look at he manual for your control and it doesn't look like it supports G28 or G53 so I don't know how you can make the control move an axis to it home position. Try commenting out the G28 lines and see if that works.

Mark

[MathieuHebbrecht]

Mark,

I'm using UCCNC instead op WinPc to control my stepcraft. So you were probably looking in the wrong manual.

However, I've made an other drawing, fairly easy. Just to cut out contours of an svg. Attached the gcode and f3d. 

Also I ran a sample gcode file which worked perfectly. I also attached that one. My gcode reading is not good.

[HughesTooling]

Ok I found the UCCNC manual and it does support G28 and G53 so it's not that.

The first g code file you uploaded was just for the first op in the f3d file, does that one op give the error or is it if you post all the ops in the design.

Mark

[MathieuHebbrecht]

Mark,
Disabling G28 did the trick. Now UCCNC is no longer complaining about the Z-axes limits.
However, UCCNC does not request tool changes now. Which makes it quite hard to know when to change. Is there an other way to let UCCNC know it has to stop to change tools?

[HughesTooling]

What post processor are you using? If you look in the PDF manual at page 36 it shows the machine coordinates, when you home Z0.0 should be at the limit switch, can you move to Z0.0 machine coordinates OK?

A G53 Z0.0 should move you to the home position as well so you could give that a try. Have a search through the manual and take a look at G28 and G53 to see what they should do.

Mark