Ok so to start out I’m using Vcrave the lastest version 12.9.5. I have my material set up correctly, iv set my tool paths. I have my gcode all saved on a usb thumb drive. When load it up in gsender I’ll home my machine then load my gcode and when I go to probe using the auto probe, I’ll get a alarm 2 (Soft Limit Exceeded" error)
The first time this happened I thought I messed up in my cam software. I went back and looked changed some things saved and tried again only to have the same error. I had to complete redue my tool paths and save a new file. To my surprise I was able to get through the probe and actually run the code. Still don’t know what I did to get to run to be honest.
Tonight I ran into the same problem, same alarm I’ll have to go back and see what I’m missing. I’m on here hoping to get some help, does anyone cut project to at 48”x48” or to the max 49”x49” material? Any tips or tricks would be appreciated. I’m at the point where I just wanna run 4x2 material just to be on the safe side. Just feel I’m wasting my 4x4 cnc
Did you home the machine at the beginning? This is especially crucial if you are working to the limits of the machine. I would think that somewhere in the tool path you exceeded the limits of the machine and that can show up even if you are nowhere near the point that causes the error.
Also, just in case, make sure there is enough room on the Z axis - easy to overlook. As an example, let’s say the machine has 6 inches of Z travel and your project requires one inch. The first step on the project might require for Z to go up by 2 inches for clearance but your machine might be at a location that the Altmill ‘thinks’ it’s at 4.5 inches even though it doesn’t actually appear like it sits that high. The mill knows that it has to raise the spindle two inches which would exceed the total available Z distance. It won’t even start the program because it knows that there is a problem.
It’s hard to explain but I have run into this more often than I care to admit.
You 'could ’ turn off soft limits but if it was me I would not be comfortable doing that because it WILL run into the physical machine limit and will likely loose home position at that point.
It goes without saying that you need to confirm that the spindle can actually reach everywhere. As an example, the mill can not travel to the rails on the far left or right towards the Y rails.
Another thing to try - jog the machine all the way to all the four extremes and make sure that the spindle can reach all areas of your work piece.
My only solution would be to zero elsewhere and then use the GoTo to move a known distance to the zero you want and re-zero xy. Alternatively, zero elsewhere and apply an offset to your vCarve project.
gSender also has the outline command and job check command. The job check will simulate the entire job before running it and trip an error if necessary. But manually jogging to the extents of your stock will work too.
I have a job that uses a 4x4 sheet as well. I zero just by eye on the corner of the sheet because I got the same error when auto probing. Now that I type that I guess it doesn’t really help you.
I then auto probe for z closer to the centre of the machine.
Another tip I would like to share is I have the machine drill pilot holes for the hold down screws before I do any milling. You just have to make sure the z clearance is high enough because it’s true as said above the sheet won’t sit flat enough. I use the same design as my contour cut paths so I can tell where the parts will be and sneak holes in throughout the sheet.
Altmill was homed, I also jogged it around the four corners to make sure it fit within the working area. There is definitely enough room before it would hit the rails. I was able to actually get it to probe z,x,y after I redid my toolpaths, I couldn’t tell you what I did differently because I took the same steps as previously. I was surprised when it actually took and i was able to run the code. Only to encounter the same issue on the second sheet. The only thing I haven’t done with I have read is to unlock soft limits. Like you I don’t feel comfortable doing that lol. I feel the machine should be capable of running without tripping the alarm. I appreciate your input thank you for your response.
@vic84 I wouldn’t be surprised if the corner of your sheets is close enough to the ±43mm sweet spot that triggers alarm 2 when zeroing with the AZTP. That second sheet may have been just a few mm to the right and didn’t trigger the alarm.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable disabling the limits either. They are there for a reason.
