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Return to home after cut is complete

Discussion in 'SketchUcam Help' started by KX-5, Nov 25, 2013.

  1. KX-5

    KX-5 Member

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    I've recently updated to the most current version of SketchUcam and noticed a difference in how the Z axis height is controlled. Previous to the update, when the cut was complete and the gantry returned to home, the Z axis would return to the Zero setting. Now, the return home leaves the Z at the safe height. It will only got to the Zero setting when I hit the "Send Home" button. Is there a setting somewhere I need to set to take care of this? Thanks.
     
    KX-5, Nov 25, 2013
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  2. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    LaVerne, mine goes to the safe height, goes to home, all axis' zero, and then goes up to "(RETRACT limiting Z to @max_z)" which is about 1.4". I'll look at the 'constant.rb' to see if there is a setting for the max_z.

    Edit: Look at the 'myconstant.rb'. There is a place where it says 'Max_z = 1.4'. Change it to what ever you want.
     
    TigerPilot, Nov 25, 2013
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  3. KX-5

    KX-5 Member

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    Yoram, thanks for the note. So, set Max_z = 0.0 Then, after returning home using the safe height value, it will return my Z to the starting Z height?
     
    KX-5, Nov 25, 2013
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  4. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    LaVerne, I don't know where you set your z=0. Mine is set, every time I put a new material into the printer, at z=0 as the top of the material. I don't want the z axis to terminate at material height. I personally, want it to go to the max height I can without hitting the limit switch.
     
    TigerPilot, Nov 25, 2013
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  5. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

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    Hi guys

    Staying at safe height when returning to home is a safety and convenience upgrade.
    There is an option setting that affects the ending Z height.

    From the MyConstants.rb (also in Constants.rb)
    Code:
    # set this true and Z will retract to this height at the end of the job
Use_Home_Height = true
Default_Home_Height = 120.0.mm
    If the height you set here is greater than the Z limit (Max_Z in Constants.rb) then it will only retract to Z limit.
    If you set Use_Home_Height to false it will leave the cutter at safe height at X0 Y0.

    Why would you want it to return to the material surface? I found it would make a mark on the material when it returned to Z0, which is why I changed it. Also I found the cutter was in the way and I had to jog it a bit to get the material out, so I added the 'Use_Home_Height' setting so it would retract out of the way.

    If you really want it to always finish at Z0 then you can edit the program file a bit.
    in PhlatMill.rb you can add a line after line 482

    what it is now
    Code:
            cncPrint("G0 X0 Y0 (home)\n")
        @cx = 0
    change it to
    Code:
            cncPrint("G0 X0 Y0 (home)\n")
        cncPrint("G0 Z0\n")
        @cx = 0
    I would just use the MDI mode to do a
    G0 Z0
    command if I wanted it back down on the surface for some reason.
    If you are running the next job on the same thickness material you really don't even need this.

    PS: next version will have an outfeed option. I have noted that Phlatprinters end with the material sticking out the back of the machine, exactly where it is hard to get at. Wouldn't it be handy if it fed out the front of the machine at the end of the job? I would want this....
     
    swarfer, Nov 27, 2013
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  6. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

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    absolutely not! Min_Z and Max_Z set the maximum allowable travel limits (machine limits and effectively the max material thickness), NOT the Z 0 level.
     
    swarfer, Nov 27, 2013
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  7. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    Please make that feature a true or false option, swarfer. I prefer it to go back to x and y zero as it does now.

    BTW, I didn't know how the Max_z works. I saw it used many times in the code and didn't delve more deeply into it. I have changed line 245 in the PhlatMill.rb. I like the gantry to go up to a point just before it triggers the limit switch. I had set my number to 2.5" and have the line changed to 'zo = 2.5 - PhlatScript.materialThickness'. It may not work all the times, for me, and I may have to change it to 2.25 since some times the bits I'm using are longer and the limit switch may be triggered. I'll see once I try it out.
     
    TigerPilot, Nov 27, 2013
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  8. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

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    of course. this option would only apply to Phlatprinters anyway since they move the material.
    that is an interesting mod Yoram. a little specific to one machine and one bit length though, unless we had a table of tools.........
     
    swarfer, Nov 28, 2013
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  9. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    Yes, it is bit specific which is why I mentioned it. As for machin specific, since I didn't make it, yet, for publishing I didn't make it with the option for the travel height, an easy thing to do.
     
    TigerPilot, Nov 29, 2013
    #9

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