Going home

Hi,

This may sound like a silly question but where on the 'Z' axis would one
normally put a 'Home' switch? The reason I ask is because, on the little
mill I am making, the 'Z' axis, like the other two, has about 6" of travel
but, like the other two, doesn't move very fast (don't know whether this is
due to the computer, P266, the motors, 5volt steppers run on 35 volts, or
EMC, but all the axes are really quite pedestrian). I assume it would be
safest to put the switch at the top of the axis, as far away from the table
as possible but, if I then have to home all the axes before starting a job,
this could add quite a bit to the processing time. My other thought would be
to put the home about half way up as the chances are that most machining
will take place near the bottom of the 'Z' travel. What do you think and
where is the home switch on your mill?
Another thought is that I am intending to make two or three different cutter
heads for different purposes - a high speed spindle for engraving and small
machining, a bigger one for milling etc. As these will undoubtedly sit at
different locations on the 'Z' axis travel, is there a way in EMC to
automatically set different zero positions or would I have to set this up as
a whole host of 'tool length' settings? (I assume I am right in thinking
that you have 'Home' away from the table but Z 0.000 where the tool just
touches the table?)
Thanks,

Ian
--
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK
www.iw63.freeserve.co.uk