Z setting for Tool Change

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1

Greetings,
I would like to bring the Onefinity to its maximum Z height when I execute a manual tool change.
Obviously, that max Z height is based on several factors (current work piece height, Z gantry bolt position, etc).

Must I know the maximum Z height beforehand?
Is there a G code that brings Z to the highest position?

Note: I understand that I can move the Z joystick up and the Z gantry will stop just before its mechanical limit. I want to do this as part of the G code.

Onefinity must know this limit. It’s discovered during machine homing.
It there a G variable that I can use in the G code?

Russ

2

Hey Russel,

yes, it’s the ‘max-soft-limit’ setting of the Z motor.

You can move your Z axis there with the g-code command

G0 Zxxx

where xxx is the number.

If you want to tune the code executed in your ‘tool-change’ field, see here.

If your g-code toolpath exceeds the dimensions your Onefinity can work on, you will get a warning after having loaded it.

3

Got it!
Your link to the ‘tool-change’ field did it.
The G28 raised Z to max.

Thanks Aiph5u!!

4

I know this is an old post, and OP already got what they needed, but I’m surprised by use of G0 here without G53 ahead of it. (Also I think Onefinity usually is set up with a Z max-soft-limit of 0, so all machine Zs are 0 or negative). As I understand it “G0 Z0” will go to machine 0 only if a new 0 hasn’t been set. If you’ve already probed or otherwise set a new origin it will go there, which could be anywhere, often the surface of the wasteboard (a bad place to go for a tool change). “G53 G0 Z0” should use machine coordinates to take the Z carriage to the top of its travel, whatever the current coordinate system is. I’m no expert, so maybe I’m missing something.
-r

5

Hey Rob,

you are right. I don’t remember why I did not give the hint to use G53 prepended. This post is very old.

By the way, see also G53 bug.

See also Aiph5u’s ‘tool-change’ routine; I read the other day that someone prefers a position more in the middle of X travel for manual tool change, can be modified to suit your needs.