Problem with Z axis - Loosing its value on JH

[reveal1123]

I've zeroed the z-axis on the material surface.

vc settings:
bitdiam .5
pocket overlap 10
plunge negative
Safe-z: 1.00
Safe A 1.00


Once I zero Z to the surface, I press JH. The Z raises about .125" and jogs home. The problem is that the value on the screen for Z reads 1.00", while the actual Z position is only .125".

If I MZ,1.00 before I jog home, it works fine.

I also noticed this happens when I'm running files too.

This is a new shopbot PRT Alpha.

[paco]

SB 3.4.27 alpha control software?

[reveal1123]

3.4.26

[zeykr]

Is z unit value correct? - Does z really move 1" above zeroed surface when you tell it MZ, 1?
Is pinion tight on Z motor?

[zeykr]

Download 3.4.27 from Shopbottools.com and give it a try - there were some problems with .26 I think.

[reveal1123]

If I MZ,1.00 it moves z to 1". I've measured this.

3.4.27 doesn't fix it either.

Pinion is tight.

Any other suggestions? I was using it for the first time yesterday and it worked fine. I don't understand this at all.

[fleinbach]

Brett,

You could try deleting your shopbot.ini file. It is located in C:\Program Files\ShopBot\ShopBot 3

It may be corrupted. After you restart the shopbot program it will rebuild the .ini file

[paco]

Have you made changes in the homing and Zzeroing routine? If so, can you post your modifications over here?

Maybe you could post your 'problem.Log' (C:\Program Files\ShopBot\ShopBot 3\) file here so we could have a look at your tool settings.

[paco]

Following on Frank L. advice (which might work), keep a copy handy (say on the desktop)...

[reveal1123]

This is kind of weird. If i Move Home (MH) it works fine, but JH still only raises the z axis .25" (i measured this). MH works fine.

The .ini rebuild went smooth, but it didn't help any.

What are the axis unit values supposed to be by default? 1273.2395 for each axis?




Problem.log:


'ShopBot Configuration Version 3.4.27 --- 12-28-2006 15:02:35
' Copyright 1997-2006 ShopBot Tools, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
VK,
VD, 1, 3, 0, 0, 2, 1, 0, .010, 0, 1, 1, -492, -7500, 8800, 4600
VU, 1273.2395, 1273.2395, 1273.2395, 1273.2395, .05, , , .25, 13.8889, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1
VA, 41.8382, 30.4279, .3715, .0000, .0000, .0000, .0000, .0000, .0000, .0000, .0000
SA
SO, 4,-1
VS, 1, .65, 1, 720, 2, 1, 3, 1440
VR, .4, .4, .4, .4, .4, .4, .4, .4, .4, .4, 100, .15, 65
SW, 2
VL, -.5, 96.5, -.5, 48.5, -2, 8.0, -3.0, 8.0, 0, -500, 500, 5
VP, 6, 96, 48, 6, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0
VC, .50, 0, 0, 1, 0, 10, 1.00
VB, .1, 4.0, 1.0, .50, , 0,
VI, 5, 0, 0, 0, X, Y, Z, A, 4, B
VN, 1, 0, 0
FS, C:\Documents and Settings\Thomas\Desktop\Local CNC\Troemner\880001-01, *.sbp, c:\SbParts\Custom
UN, SbEdit.exe
SM

ShopBot Diagnostic Information Version : 3.4. 27
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Windows OS = 2, 5.01 Resolution = 1280 X 1024
Total Memory = 335,052,800
Starting Memory = 202,149,888
Available Memory 29,057,024
maxFileLines = 5000000 maxStack = 150000( 100000)
586 117637126

Control Box Firmware Version = 130 SerNum. -SBXXXXXXXalpha-xxx2
Port Number - 5 Speed - 4: 460800
Starting Command Line -
Sound = 1 SCreenSaver = 0

Last Stack Size 0 1
Last Steps Transmitted 1154
Last Steps Confirmed 1154
Data Over-Runs 0
Fixed Over-Runs 0

'Recorded Commands ----------------------------
JH,
SK,
SK,
ZZ,
JH,
Z2,
VS, 1, .65, 1, 720, 2, 1, 3, 1440
ST,
VA, , , , , , , , , ,
'Recorded Commands ----------------------------

[reveal1123]

no changes to the zzeroing or home routine. We do not use them.

[reveal1123]

Update:

I used a completly different computer and I still have the same problems. Should I update the control box firmware? I am unaware of any reprecussions of doing this. Please advise.

[paco]

I haven't checked all your problem log yet but reseting the control box firmware couldn't hurt... maybe just shutting the whole thing down might make the gremlins go away...!

[paco]

The settings do not show anything wrong (to me).

If you don't use homing and Zzeroing routine, what do you do to zero axis?
You may try the following; assuming you have a "standard" tool configuration (installation), move the tool to the very 0,0,0 of the working area and enter Z3 then ZT. If you don't have a tool bit chucked in, you may just have the chuck/collet at around 0.5-1" above the surface.
Move the tool to say 6,6,3 the JH to see if work as supposed.
I remember that the my_variables.sbc doesn't work with the VC safe Z (which is %(28) system variable) but rather with a setting set with the ShopBot Setup utility; there might be a glitch around this... maybe MH (built-in SB3) and JH (which is custom cut 99) do not work the same...? Still, they work the same on my tool!?

[hespj]

Brett, I've had a similar problem to this. Based on my experience you need to go to VU and adjust the "Resolution Multiplier". I think I'm correct in saying that the resolution multiplier only affects jogs not moves. If it's set at 1 try setting it at 8 (because you seem to be Z jogging 1/8th the required distance). Try a very small jog after this (in case it moves 8x to far !!).

John

[reveal1123]

Good news.

The multiplier was set wrong apparently. The previous value for Z was set at 4. Changing it to 1 brought it back to normal. This doesn't make sense as my other alpha has its multipliers set at 4 across the board. Oh well, computers do some crazy things sometimes.

Thanks for all the help.

On another note, It seems that everyone is using the xy homing routine. Are you guys using VA to set temporary values for your bit locations and using 1 standard home for everything?

We're setup that we have 1 big jig that houses about 6 smaller jigs for parts; each has their own x/y zero hole that we navigate the bit to then Z2. Is this a bad way of doing things?

(I should have probably taken this to another topic)

[reveal1123]

For the archives:

Alpha's with 12" z or longer axis or a geardrive motor on their Z may have to have their resolution multiplier set to 1.

[davidallen]

What are your motor speeds (move and jog for x/y and z)?

[reveal1123]

VS, 1, .65, 1, 720, 2, 1, 3, 1440