I have a new Elite and it is my first CNC. I am having a problem with the machine coordinates.
After I home the machine, the machine coordinates are 0,0,0 as I would expect. I jogged the head to the very back (0,47,0) to work on the track and powered down.
Upon restart, the machine coordinates where 24,24, not sure Z.
This has happened many times since I powered it up for the first time a few days ago, I correct the issue by homing the PC and it works fine until the next time I cycle the power.
When you power on the CNC machine, it doesnāt retain its previous position from the last power down. As a safety precaution, it defaults to a central position, which is typically set as X=24 and Y=24. This default position allows you to manually jog the machine into a safe starting point before it recognizes the boundary limits and stops further movement.
To provide further clarity, CNC machines have two types of limits: āhardā and āsoftā limits. A hard limit is typically a physical switch, known as a limit switch, that, when triggered, forces the machine to stop. Soft limits, on the other hand, are user-defined software limits that halt the machineās movement when reached. The specific soft limit values can vary depending on the machineās size and the software settings configured by the manufacturer. Hard limit switches, which are only available on the Elite series, should always stop the machine when triggered.
As mentioned, once you āhomeā the machine, it establishes its exact position and becomes aware of its minimum and maximum boundaries. After homing, if you enable jogging mode at maximum speed and start moving any axis, the machine will automatically halt just before reaching the end of its travel to prevent potential damage.
Before initiating a homing sequence, itās important to note that the machine provides a grace period for manual movements. However, exercise caution during this period to avoid collisions or mishaps before homing.
You might wonder why the machine doesnāt remember its previous position upon power-up. The main reason is that thereās no guarantee that someone didnāt manually adjust an axis between power cycles. This default behavior acts as an added safety measure.
Always remember to home your machine, itās free!