ok so i have found a few different things while searching but they are all from years ago and for previous versions of CM. Got my machine setup, haven’t cut anything worthwhile yet but I am in the process of adding t track and spoil board to the thing in preparation. so while laying out my max cutting area I noticed my x axis isn’t symmetrical on each side. The carriage?? (thing that holds the router and slides left to right on the gantry) will get much closer to the right rail than the left rail. I know there is a homing switch that helps it align to the right side but is there a way to bump out the programmed stop on the left side to match.
I know this is just me being ocd as I am only looking to gain 1/4 of inch tops. But I was curious and figured I would ask. Might be useful in the future.
While we would want the machine to be perfectly square, it doesn’t need to be, so long as:
endplates are level
Y-axis rails are level and parallel to each other
X-axis gantry is level and square to the Y-axis rails
Z-axis is level and plumb and square to the gantry
A good start would be to simply loosen all the hardware and check the diagonals — gently nudging the frame into square if it isn’t, then tightening the hardware gradually should maintain that squareness. For the gantry, pull it flush against the front endplate and ensure that it and the Y-axis rails are square to the endplate, then make sure that the machine is able to move so as to trigger the Y-axis homing switch when moved to the back.
Then, before powering up the machine, gently pull the gantry tight against the front rail — that should ensure that things are square, and that the machine starts up from a consistent position.
If you have any difficulties with this, please write in to support@carbide3d.com and we will do our best to assist.
I may be thinking about this incorrectly but I don’t think it seems to be an issue with the machine being square. I am saying that the range of movement along the x axis when the machine is powered on is different for each side. for instance, when I put it in jog mode and go as far right as I can I can get the carriage to about an 1/8th of an inch from the right rail whereas when I jog all the way to the left I am about 3/8 away from the left rail. (I made up numbers cause I am not at home to get real ones)
Does that make sense? It happens when it is powered on so I imagine that it is the code not letting it travel beyond a certain boundary. On the right that boundary is set by the homing sensor (on initializing maybe) but on the left there is no sensor so I am guessing that it is a coded bound. I was wondering if there is a way to bump that over. Again not a big deal if not I am just messing around.
and again I could be completely wrong so sorry if that’s the case.
In Carbide Motion “Settings” page, you should be able to adjust the X travel, increase the value slightly and see if you can then jog as far to the left as you want ?
so let me ask if this is correct or not. since it homes itself to the back right and I am guessing the code basically uses that as the origin (0,0) when I set those x and y values I can think about them being negative max values on a coordinate plane. so for instance, 825mm in your image means it can travel 825mm to the left (negative x) of its home position, and 845mm means it can travel 845mm to the front (negative y) of its home position?
I got home and measured and the carriage will get to exactly a 1/4 of inch from the right rail (gantry bracket) yet only 5/8 from the left one. so at 3/8 to make it even I would need about 9.5 mm.
Yes.
Those are the “absolute/machine coordinates” from the homing point, with X and Y being negative.
Minor detail: the 0,0,0 absolute position is the position where all three switches have triggered. Right after homing the position is -3, -3, -3 since the controller pulls off from the switches by that distance of 3mm.
Those absolute machine coordinates are rarely used directly though, one will set a zero reference somewhere, and the gcode will most often use relative coordinates from that point.
I knew it wasnt actually (0,0) because like you said it pulls away after the switches engage, but either way it ends up being the same idea. bumped my x max value up by 9.525 mm and it is now dead on 1/4 inch away from the left plate just like it is from the right plate. Thanks for the help!!! I knew there was a way to achieve what I was trying to do just couldn’t find the setting.