Lightobject.com Support Forum

Ok, so it took me all day long to finally figure out why my changes in configuration of LaserCAD weren't taking effect. But I've come across a problem that I just can't understand and I can't find a solution.

Every time I turn the controller on or press reset to reboot it, both x and y axis move about 10mm and then stop with the display saying that they're at 0. This means that if the machine is at true 0,0 and I turn it off, then when I turn it back on again, both axis move about 10mm in the + direction and then the display says that they are at 0,0. This just isn't going to work for me because eventually they will have moved 0,0 to the opposite side and end.

I'm a Mach 3 CNC'er and I'm not accustom to this kind of behavior. In Mach 3, when you turn the controller on and start up Mach 3, you can move the axis to the negative direction and then re-zero them. You can't do this in LaserCAD so every time I turn the machine on, my zero position changes because of this behavior. I've tried turning off XY axis home on Power and when I do that, the axis do not move when I turn the machine on, however, they say that the x axis is at 200 and the y axis is at 170. If I click the Datum button then both axis move in the + direction about 10 mm and then the display says they're both at zero. Again, this just isn't going to work because the end result is the same - every time I turn the machine on, the zero point for both axis changes in the + direction.

I tried hardware limits and even put limit switches on both ends of both axis. The same thing happens but now I can't move in the negative direction even if I've moved in the + direction and then try to move back. The display says that the limit switch is activated.

So, If anyone has encountered this problem and has a fix, I'd certainly appreciate hearing what it is. As it stands right now, the only way I now how to consistently turn the machine on and have it stay at 0,0 is to unplug both stepper motors first, turn the machine on, let it think it has moved, then press Datum to have it reset to 0,0. Then I can plug the stepper motors in and not have this undesirable movement.

Thanks,

Bob

Sounds a little like an issue I had at one time and Marco sent me a modified firmware to fix it.

Read this post and the thread that it is part of. Maybe your issue is related.

Do you have "X Y axis home on power" selected ?

viewtopic.php?p=8343#p8343

No, that's a bit different from my problem. I can read, make changes, then save and those changes stick. I can turn off xy axis home on power and save it and it sticks. Matter of fact, turning it off fixes the problem of the axis' moving except that they always initialize to 200 on the x and 170 on the y rather than 0, 0 where the head was at when I turned the machine off. That's the problem. I can turn the machine on, the x and y axis both move about 10 mm, then they stop and the display says they're at zero.

Without doing anything, if I then turn the machine off and turn it back on again, the axis move again about 10 mm and again, they say they're at zero, but if they were at zero when I turned the machine off and they move when I turn the machine on, then they're no longer really at zero.

Perhaps I just don't have something configured correctly because it doesn't appear that anybody else has this problem or has encountered it. I'm new to laser cutting but very experienced in CNC cutting. What really bothers me is that I can't move either axis in the negative direction like -10.00 mm. Once an axis reaches 0.00, you can't move it any further even if it isn't really at the zero point.

I currently have 0,0 in the upper left hand corner as you face the machine. X+ movement is to the right, y+ movement is towards the front of the machine. If x and y are at zero when the machine is turned off, then when you turn it back on, if they both move in the positive direction and stop, you're not longer at zero so you should be able to move them back to where they were when you turned the machine off. If I keep turning the machine off, then on again, before long zero for the x axis will be all the way over to the right and zero for the y axis will be all the way to the front of the machine.

The one setting I'm not sure about is Origin. I have it sat on Machine but perhaps most users have it set on Key or Software, I don't know. I'd like to hear from others as to how they have Origin set on their machines.

Thanks,

Bob

Every time the machine will go to HOME (physical 0,0) when cycle power or hit "RESET". In fact, the actual zero is 10mm+ on X and 10mm on Y. That way the limit switches can be disengaged.

Usually there is no -X or -Y on laser machine. It always start from the HOME. By using Key origin, you set the 'virtual' home by moving the laser head to whatever position you want, then press "Origin". Then all job will start from that particular point. But again, there is no -X or -Y but the virtual home (origin) is taking true value of coordination point (X,Y) in reference to the physical home (the limit switches location)

There are three origin mode: Machine (physical 0,0 or in fact, 10mm,10mm away from the 0,0), software (based on your art location in the drawing area), and Key origin (you set by keypad)


Marco

Tech_Marco wrote:Every time the machine will go to HOME (physical 0,0) when cycle power or hit "RESET". In fact, the actual zero is 10mm+ on X and 10mm on Y. That way the limit switches can be disengaged.

Usually there is no -X or -Y on laser machine. It always start from the HOME. By using Key origin, you set the 'virtual' home by moving the laser head to whatever position you want, then press "Origin". Then all job will start from that particular point. But again, there is no -X or -Y but the virtual home (origin) is taking true value of coordination point (X,Y) in reference to the physical home (the limit switches location)

There are three origin mode: Machine (physical 0,0 or in fact, 10mm,10mm away from the 0,0), software (based on your art location in the drawing area), and Key origin (you set by keypad)


Marco

Ah, that explains the + movement on both axis. I'll try key origin and see how that works. Perhaps software would be best. I'll play around with that as well.

Thanks Marco,

Bob