Z axis location problem

[Peter Poulos]

Hi, I'm new to shopbot and to this forum.

I just got the shopbot prs standard and I have encountered a problem after zeroing the z axis.

I zero my Z no problem but when it's finished instead of it saying my bit is at 1 inch (which it is in space) it locates the tool and says it's at -.75 on the controller window. Then if I manually change the coordinate to 1 and then tell it to move to 4 inches, it works in real space but then the window coordinates say that the tool is at z -2.75.

Has anyone else had this problem and what can be done to stop it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[cowboy1296]

This should be simple but i am struggling to give you good advice for now. But for now are you working with a file or just the bot?

[Peter Poulos]

I haven't been able to run a file yet. So just the bot.

[cowboy1296]

I am not going to be any help to you but someone eventually will be able to.

[Peter Poulos]

Thanks for trying. Is it a problem you've heard of before? Could I be describing myself poorly?

[Peter Poulos]

I've tried both shopbot 3 on windows 8 and XP but the problem persists.

[Brady Watson]

Peter,
Find & Delete your ShopBot.ini file. (Probably in: C:\ProgramData\ShopBot\ShopBot 3)

Then open SB3 & run the UR command. Cycle through the prompts and select your machine from the list. See if that changes the behavior.

Post your results.

-B

[srwtlc]

Could it possibly be an incorrect multiplier for the z axis under VU (Values Units). Should be all be 1 if you have a PRS Standard, but if you follow the steps Brady outlined, that should set that right. Just curious as to if that might be the issue.

[Peter Poulos]

I did what you said but the problem is still the same. Where could I be going wrong? Could I be choosing the wrong machine? I believe I have the prs standard 96x48.

[Peter Poulos]

Only the z axis seems to be the problem

[Brady Watson]

Run the TS command - what values are there for your Zzero routine? That is where you can set where you want it to park the Z when done.

-B

[Peter Poulos]

When I go to TS no function comes up. And it's not so much where the z parks that's the problem, it's where it thinks the tools z is immediately after I hit ok when it's done zeroing.

[Peter Poulos]

Could the fact that the TS function refuses to come up show signs of another problem? (Please excuse my naïveté)

[Brady Watson]

Go find the my_variables.sbc in \SBParts\Custom. Open it up. Find these lines:

'These values are used in the ZZero routine
&my_hasZzero = 1
&my_ZzeroThickness = 0.121
&my_ZzeroInput = 1
&my_ZzeroSafeZ = 1.0 <-----Make sure this value is set to 1"

------------

In regards to TS not working - What version (Help->About) of SB3 are you running?

-B

[Peter Poulos]

Sorry I got it to work now. But it doesn't give me a Zzero routine option.

[bleeth]

Once it is set up in my variables you run it by entering C-2 in the SB3 command screen. Please read your manual. How to start to operate your tool is covered there.

[Peter Poulos]

Ok I double checked that my zerosafeZ was at 1, and it was. I ran it again and I still have the same problem. The software I'm using is version 3.8.4

I'm beginning to wonder if the control box wiring is wrong because some of it including the power was wired incorrectly directly from the factory.



-Peter

[Peter Poulos]

The c-2 zero plate command is not my issue. I understand that it's once it tells you that it know zero, is 1 inch above it and asks you to hit ok. The the Z axis changes to -.758 but only on the screen. The tool stays one inch above zero.

[bleeth]

Based on the new info you just posted ("The software I'm using is version 3.8.4") I suggest you immediately upgrade to the latest version. 3.84 has some known issues and has delivered various unreliable results. Make sure you follow the steps to update firmware as well.

[Peter Poulos]

I've installed v3.8.10 and the updated the firmware and it says my z is zeroed. But after the "pause in file" window comes up I hit ok, and it still jumps back to -.758

Could there be anything in the control box that's causing this?

[Peter Poulos]

Incase anyone else is facing the same problem, the shopbot tech staff told me to use v3.6.46 then if there is a problem with connecting to port 3, go to VI, then comm speed and change it from 5 to 4.

And it work for me... So there's that.

I am stuck in v3.6.46 for the foreseeable future, but at least it works.