I'm trying to setup a coil winding machine which is essentially like a lathe as it has a linear actuator that moves horizontally in the X direction and a rotary A axis. I already flashed my blackbox to show the A axis and everything jogs fine. Now when it comes to homing I'm not sure how to setup the hard and soft limits. I can get the X axis to hit the limit switch but it does not retract and then I'm met with Alarm 9. Also, I flashed the interface touch and it successfully connects but it does not display an A axis. Is this normal?
you need to change the settings for the homing so that it only homes X parameters $44,$45 etc. $44=1 home X only $45=0 home no others https://github.com/grblHAL/core/wiki/Additional-or-extended-settings not the best bit of documentation forum advice here https://github.com/terjeio/grblHAL/issues/46 is good
You are my hero David, the machines up and running! I do have some additional questions however. How do I get rid of soft limits for my A axis? There is no point for them as the axis itself is stationary and only rotating. I can set it to some very large number but eventually it reaches that soft limit. Is there also a way to give the A axis a home position other than setting the zero. Also, like I mentioned before, the interface touch is not showing the A axis. Is there a way to load a custom grbl configuration? I tried loading them from the interface but there is no option for the custom config I made. Thank you
yeah, don't turn on soft limits, then there is no limit (-: I don't know about the Interface, assuming you have updated the firmware and so on, then you see what it can do. What do you mean by custom config? maybe you used the webbuilder to create a custom firmware for the Blackbox? in which case 'Wizards and Tools | Firmware flashing tool | Machine Style => Custom firmware, then use the red button to choose the file. Do note that grblHAL has a lathe mode but since you are running A as the spindle that may not be what you want, but the info is out there somewhere, in the wiki or in the forums. you will have to dig for it.
So if i turn off soft limits will the x axis still be limited by the maximum travel i set for it? I was also trying to figure out how to just use a second limit switch so it has a hard limit at both ends of its travel but the only things i found mentioned splicing the two switches together. This however brings up the question of how does the firmware handle that? Regarding the interface ive done some more research and looks like it just doesnt support an A axis as there is no physical buttons for it, only x y z.
yes, turn off soft limits implies the travel will not be limited. But you know how far it can move and simple look at the Gcode will tell you if the numbers are too big (-: adding a limit switch is the way to go. 2 in series if wired 'Normally Closed' or in parallel if wired Normally Open. Normally Closed is much safer since any fault in the wiring will cause it to look like a switch hit and the machine will stop. something like this https://us2.dh-cdn.net/uploads/db5587/original/3X/a/5/a5baf4618db3171fdbcbb059430c7f8b72dac6e5.png
So if i understand correctly, if i wire the two limit switches in series and the machine hits the limit switch opposite of the homing direction it will throw a code, stopping the machine. So then i just need to clear the code and jog the machine over. And if that happens, like you mentioned just check the G-code before running.
