Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: How do set home position, running turbo cad/cam

Another method that is really easy and useful is to use a tooling plate. I use one for 90% of the work that I do on my knee mill. The tooling plate I made has a pocket inside the plate. Using a edge finder I located the X edge using a .2"diameter edgefinder. Then I turned on my controls and set mach3 to .100 which is half the diameter of the tool. Next I get at Gcode command to G0X0. Now I loosen the mechanical dial and set it to Zero. I repeated the above for the Y axis.
I can then plate mosy pieces of stock agffains the X)Y) inside edges of the tooling plate and double check the manual dials when I first start a job. Usually they are right on unless I bump the handwheels.
Dan Mauch
low cost stepper and servo motors.
cases for Gecko drives
kits and assembled 3-4 axis drives
www.camtronics-cnc.com
www.seanet.com/~dmauch

----- Original Message -----
From: ooo
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 8:13 AM
Subject: RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: How do set home position, running turbo cad/cam



Are you using mach3 if so position your cutter at oo by the print tell mach
home position then zero your dro and should machine from there. You will
need to touch off

Thanks Randy

_____

From: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of cassadaga717
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 8:04 AM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: How do set home position, running turbo
cad/cam

Thank you for taking the time to reply

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_ <mailto:CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO%40yahoogroups.com>
DRO@yahoogroups.com, "caudlet" <thom@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_ <mailto:CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO%40yahoogroups.com>
DRO@yahoogroups.com, "cassadaga717" <cassadaga717@> wrote:
> >
> > I'm in the final stages of my scratch built CNC and starting to look
into the software to run my machine. I have a full copy of Turbo CAD/CAM 11
and after going through the CAM setup I noticed there it no way to detect
the limit switches or to jog the machine to a home position. I used the
Hobbycnc driver board and their 305oz stepper motors. Although there are
inputs for limit switches, it said the inputs are for the software only.
I've read all the threads on numerous groups and no one seams to mention
about manual moving the machine. Please help, I'm so close and if I don;t
get the CNC running, the wife said she was going to burn the wooden monster
in the garage.
> >
> It takes three pieces to do CNC: CAD(Drawing) + CAM (toolpath) and Control
(machine interface). While several packages do two or more of the three,
your flexibility is limited. You can pick and choose any of the three and
there are low cost options for each one.
>
> For Control, as mentioned, MACH3 is a popular choice (10,000+ users) and
has a very active list here on the Yahoo Forums. You need a PC and at the
simplest level a parallel port. A buffered and isolated interface (aka
Breakout Board) between the parallel port and your motor drivers is
recommended.
>
> Another alternative is EMC2. It's free but will require you have a little
more computer skills to use Linux as the OS.
>
> All of your HOmes and Limits are INPUTS. Your Step & Dir signals for each
axis and any relays for controlling the Spindle motor, misters and other
laods are OUTPUTS. How those signals are handled (and how many you can use)
are a function of the Breakout Board you select.
>
> So with CAM you define HOW you want the pieces cut, WHERE on the material,
and WHEN each cut process takes places. With the proper CAM you can define
automatic offsets (inside/outside/on-line), lead-ins and things like
feedrate, number of passes, start points and things like plunge rate and
other parameters. You then need a "POST" that translates the CAM toolpaths
to the proper G-Code dialect for your chosen Control.
>
> Things like operator interface, machine math, coordinated moves, motor
tuning (velocity, acceleration, steps per unit), G-code load and run,
e-stop, and Homing (Reference) are part of the CONTROL.
>
> A lot of commercial machines have the control software and hardware
integrated and you just feed it G-code. A more cost effective approach is
the PC based Control and is most favored by DIY CNC builders.
>
> Let us know how else to help. There is a LOT of experience here on this
Forum.
>
> TOM Caudle
> www.CandCNC.com
> Totally Modular CNC Electronics
>

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