Location... location... location...

Hi guys

Here is my INI for you to disseminate

[EMC]
MACHINE = V90
DEBUG = 0

[DISPLAY]
DISPLAY = axis
EDITOR = gedit
POSITION_OFFSET = RELATIVE
POSITION_FEEDBACK = ACTUAL
MAX_FEED_OVERRIDE = 1.2
INTRO_GRAPHIC = emc2.gif
INTRO_TIME = 5
PROGRAM_PREFIX = /home/alex/emc2/nc_files
INCREMENTS = .1in .05in .01in .005in .001in .0005in .0001in
PYVCP = custompanel.xml

[FILTER]
PROGRAM_EXTENSION = .png,.gif,.jpg Greyscale Depth Image
PROGRAM_EXTENSION = .py Python Script
png = image-to-gcode
gif = image-to-gcode
jpg = image-to-gcode
py = python

[TASK]
TASK = milltask
CYCLE_TIME = 0.010

[RS274NGC]
PARAMETER_FILE = emc.var

[EMCMOT]
EMCMOT = motmod
COMM_TIMEOUT = 1.0
COMM_WAIT = 0.010
BASE_PERIOD = 38000
SERVO_PERIOD = 1000000

[HAL]
HALFILE = V90.hal
HALFILE = custom.hal
POSTGUI_HALFILE = custom_postgui.hal

[TRAJ]
AXES = 3
COORDINATES = X Y Z
LINEAR_UNITS = inch
ANGULAR_UNITS = degree
CYCLE_TIME = 0.010
DEFAULT_VELOCITY = 0.42
MAX_LINEAR_VELOCITY = 4.20

[EMCIO]
EMCIO = io
CYCLE_TIME = 0.100
TOOL_TABLE = tool.tbl

[AXIS_0]
TYPE = LINEAR
HOME = 0.0
MAX_VELOCITY = 2.5
MAX_ACCELERATION = 24.0
STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 30.0
SCALE = 10000.0
FERROR = 0.05
MIN_FERROR = 0.01
MIN_LIMIT = -17.5
MAX_LIMIT = 17.5
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000
HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.500000
HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.050000
HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.250000
HOME_IGNORE_LIMITS = YES
HOME_SEQUENCE = 0

[AXIS_1]
TYPE = LINEAR
HOME = 0.0
MAX_VELOCITY = 2.5
MAX_ACCELERATION = 24.0
STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 30.0
SCALE = 10000.0
FERROR = 0.05
MIN_FERROR = 0.01
MIN_LIMIT = -12.5
MAX_LIMIT = 12.5
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000
HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.500000
HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.050000
HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.250000
HOME_IGNORE_LIMITS = YES
HOME_SEQUENCE = 0

[AXIS_2]
TYPE = LINEAR
HOME = 0.0
MAX_VELOCITY = 1.0
MAX_ACCELERATION = 24.0
STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 30.0
SCALE = 24000.0
FERROR = 0.05
MIN_FERROR = 0.01
MIN_LIMIT = -4.0
MAX_LIMIT = 4.0
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000
HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.500000
HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.05
HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.250000
HOME_IGNORE_LIMITS = YES
HOME_SEQUENCE = 0

[AXIS_2]
TYPE = LINEAR
HOME = 0.0
MAX_VELOCITY = 1.0
MAX_ACCELERATION = 24.0
STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 30.0
SCALE = 24000.0
FERROR = 0.05
MIN_FERROR = 0.01
MIN_LIMIT = -4.0
MAX_LIMIT = 4.0
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000[EMC]
MACHINE = V90
DEBUG = 0

Home location for X,Y axis is 0.5 from far (away from me) left hand hard limit and
Home location for Z axis is 0.5" from minimum (bottom) hard stop for my spindle carriage.
[DISPLAY]
DISPLAY = axis
EDITOR = gedit
POSITION_OFFSET = RELATIVE
POSITION_FEEDBACK = ACTUAL
MAX_FEED_OVERRIDE = 1.2
INTRO_GRAPHIC = emc2.gif
INTRO_TIME = 5
PROGRAM_PREFIX = /home/alex/emc2/nc_files
INCREMENTS = .1in .05in .01in .005in .001in .0005in .0001in
PYVCP = custompanel.xml

[FILTER]
PROGRAM_EXTENSION = .png,.gif,.jpg Greyscale Depth Image
PROGRAM_EXTENSION = .py Python Script
png = image-to-gcode
gif = image-to-gcode
jpg = image-to-gcode
py = python

[TASK]
TASK = milltask
CYCLE_TIME = 0.010

[RS274NGC]
PARAMETER_FILE = emc.var

Home location for X,Y axis is 0.5 from far (away from me) left hand hard limit and
Home location for Z axis is 0.5" from minimum (bottom) hard stop for my spindle carriage.
[EMCMOT]
EMCMOT = motmod
COMM_TIMEOUT = 1.0
COMM_WAIT = 0.010
BASE_PERIOD = 38000
SERVO_PERIOD = 1000000

[HAL]
HALFILE = V90.hal
HALFILE = custom.hal
POSTGUI_HALFILE = custom_postgui.hal

[TRAJ]
AXES = 3
COORDINATES = X Y Z
LINEAR_UNITS = inch
ANGULAR_UNITS = degree
CYCLE_TIME = 0.010
DEFAULT_VELOCITY = 0.42
MAX_LINEAR_VELOCITY = 4.20

[EMCIO]
EMCIO = io
CYCLE_TIME = 0.100
TOOL_TABLE = tool.tbl

[AXIS_0]
Home location for X,Y axis is 0.5 from far (away from me) left hand hard limit and
Home location for Z axis is 0.5" from minimum (bottom) hard stop for my spindle carriage.
TYPE = LINEAR
HOME = 0.0
MAX_VELOCITY = 2.5
MAX_ACCELERATION = 24.0
STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 30.0
SCALE = 10000.0
FERROR = 0.05
MIN_FERROR = 0.01
MIN_LIMIT = -17.5
MAX_LIMIT = 17.5
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000
HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.500000
HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.050000
Home location for X,Y axis is 0.5 from far (away from me) left hand hard limit and
Home location for Z axis is 0.5" from minimum (bottom) hard stop for my spindle carriage.
HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.250000
HOME_IGNORE_LIMITS = YES
HOME_SEQUENCE = 0

[AXIS_1]
TYPE = LINEAR
HOME = 0.0
MAX_VELOCITY = 2.5
MAX_ACCELERATION = 24.0
STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 30.0
SCALE = 10000.0
FERROR = 0.05
MIN_FERROR = 0.01
MIN_LIMIT = -12.5
MAX_LIMIT = 12.5
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000
HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.500000
HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.05
HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.250000
HOME_IGNORE_LIMITS = YES
HOME_SEQUENCE = 0
HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.500000
HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.05
HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.250000
HOME_IGNORE_LIMITS = YES
HOME_SEQUENCE = 0


***********************************************The problem*******************************************************************

Home location for X,Y axis is 0.5" from far (away from me) left hand hard limit and
Home location for Z axis is 0.5" from minimum (bottom) hard stop for my spindle carriage.

EMC2 test Gcode programs work offset is dead centre in middle of the red bounding box.
G54 is the co-ordinate system in use.

To put this problem simply my mill PHYSICALLY homes to X 0.5, Y 0.5, Z 0.5 coordinates AND YET home for the software is the middle of the red bounding box.

What I want to do is have a home location Eg. 0.0 for calibration and recalibration (X 0.5, Y 0.5, Z 0.5) and the work piece offset marker to be where i put it !!! not the other way around. click tool offset and see what i mean.

how would you guys do this????

if you need more info or pics lemme know i will post them up asap

Is this INI posting right? for instance I see [axis 0] heading twice

anyways aside from that, Axis displays the origin in the center of the red box because thats what the INI file says to do.

from [axis 0]

HOME = 0.0
MIN_LIMIT = -17.5
MAX_LIMIT = 17.5
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000

This says that the limits are +17.5 and -17.5 and home is 0 (that would be the middle)
its says the home switch is .5 away from the home position ( so .5 away from the middle)

Sorry about the INI file.... I have no idea what happened with the copy paste function! your guess is as good as mine.

HOME = 0.0
MIN_LIMIT = -17.5
MAX_LIMIT = 17.5
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000

Would this config be correct ?

HOME = 0.0
MIN_LIMIT = 0
MAX_LIMIT = 35
HOME_OFFSET = 0.500000

I had to use plus and minus values to input my over all measurement.

Basically I cant use two whole or negative values ! Eg 0, 8 or -0,-8

HOME = 0.0
MIN_LIMIT = -0.5
MAX_LIMIT = 8.5
HOME_OFFSET = 0.5

this brought the spindle centre on each axis to X 0.5 Y 0.5 Z 0.5 to the far left hand corner (X same, Y same Z same)

-0.5 and 8.5 add up to 8

so -0.5 + 0.0 + 0.5 = half an inch offset

not 0.0

I gather this has to every thing to do with how emc2 calculates

is there a better way of doing things?

righto i just found out this isnt the case.

every modification i do in the INI requires EMC2 to be shut down and restarted other wise i end up with really interesting logic problems.

ignore the previous post

All is working now thanks for the pointers with the INI code andy.

For me Home has to
(A) Provide an area to accurately calibrate
( Provide a place for tool change
(C) Provide a point where I can calculate jobs and setup work pieces.

Now for my next problem in this subject....
How to I go about "placement" of the GCODE work piece anywhere else on the work area? WITHOUT HAVING TO MESS WITH TABLE VALUES

Is there a way to easily touch off from my current home location and place on an x and y axis where the job starts will start from or am i purely in the realm of gcode?

Hi

How to I go about "placement" of the GCODE work piece anywhere else on the work area? WITHOUT HAVING TO MESS WITH TABLE VALUES

The only way to do this, is if you make exactly the same part each time and have locating fixtures on your table to locate the new blank for each run.
Even then you have to touch off once, to set up the work piece for the first time.

Offsets are confusing to start with, get yourself a good edge finder and practice, just using G54.
Once you have confidence in your touching off and the work piece offsets, you can use further offsets when the job calls for it.

regards

I have the setup procedure down to a fine art in the physical sense, I believe the problem is my lack of Emc2 experience and the fact I am "learning to Gcode / cam".

Looking from my point of view using the tool table values from stepconf are the most direct method for setting up a starting location, but its not convenient or best practice.

To define what I mean perhaps a little more clearly:

I have calculated a "generic" (no machine or macro tool codes) Gcode path with a starting and end point.

EMC2 has the starting point of the code to be the home location X0 Y0 Z0.

I want to make the starting location for the 'Gcode' OTHER than my home location! some where else in the red bounding box while retaining my home location for the reasons stated in my last post.

TO THE QUESTION: Is this problem solved by using location blocks In the Gcode program or am i able to define work piece location in emc2? if so how.

Being absolutely honest... I hope that this can all be sorted out by using Gcode location blocks; that means i will finally have my mill and console fully functioning and only requiring the occasional tweaking or verbal blow off :-D

thanks for reading and all your help so far guys