4: Homing The Machine Axes (Home Mode) - Denford PCB Engraver User Manual

4: Homing the Machine Axes ( Home Mode)
-
x
Note
The sequence of
events required to
home the Engraver will
depend on the type of
CNC machine control
software being used
- please refer to your
separate CNC Machine
Control Software User's
Manual for specifi c
details.
-
x
Note
The CNC machine
control software Jog
and Auto Modes will not
become available until
the machine has been
confi gured by homing all
three machine axes.
-
x
Note
The machine datum
position is set by
Denford and can never
be moved, since it
defi nes the physical
movement capability of
the CNC machine.
PCB Engraver Operator Manual
Immediately after establishing a communication link between the CNC
control software and the Engraver, all three axes of the CNC machine
must be homed. The process is commonly referred to as homing the
machine, or datuming each of the three machine axes.
When a communication link is fi rst established between the Engraver
and the CNC machine control software, or when the CNC machine
"loses" position, the software will not know the true position of the
machine head in relation to the three machine axes.
Homing the CNC machine defi nes:
• The machine datum, by physically driving the machine head to a
fi xed zero reference point.
• The constraints of three dimensional co-ordinate grid system used
for plotting any programmed movements, effectively the working
envelope of the CNC machine.
After homing the machine, the zero position of the three dimensional
co-ordinate grid system is referred to as the machine datum. You can
fi nd the position of the machine datum by switching the co-ordinate
display in your CNC control software to read Machine Co-ordinates.
The position of the machine datum is achieved when the X, Y and Z
panels of the co-ordinate display all read zero.
In addition to homing the CNC machine after it has fi rst been switched
on, we also recommend homing the CNC machine after loading or
confi guring any offsets.
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