ShopBot Desktop Zeroing Weird

[WoodMarvels.com]

Hi Guys, after YEARS of using my ShopBot to cut one material (plywood) always using the full size of the Desktop bed, I've come into a weird problem now that I'm getting more adventurous.

For some odd reason, I seem unable to create a zero X and Y that "sticks". Files in dropbox link but basically, I want to zero the bit at the corner of the polycarb.

So, straight forward is to go into shopbot control software and bring the bit there and reset 0/0. The file I have is the same size as the project I wish to cut so then I load the part file and voila, it seems like the shopbot wants to move the full length on the X axis to do the first drill hole. It's almost like it's trying to recenter my design along the full width and so the head slams into the gantry side each time. If I do a full-board like I use to, set the 0/0 bottom left, no problem so I don't know what's going on. I do this all the time with my Trotec laser (400 flexx) so can't figure out why my ShopBot can't do the same.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/79h4muskk8xhhqn/AACH8mwUfIAmMbRruDX4kXKAa?dl=0

Any ideas? I haven't updated my software in years btw.

[jerry_stanek]

Are you moving the x and y to where you want to zero then hit zx and zy what shows on the screen for x and y.

[WoodMarvels.com]

Yes, I click the digital readout in the ShopBot Software, put both X and Y to "0" in the popup and then saving it. It seems to save it as I move the head back and forth and it uses that new Zero values.

[srwtlc]

Isn't the distance from the corner of your material (your new 0,0) to the center of the furthest hole beyond the limits of your machine? By the looks of the picture of your new location, it looks to be approximately 120mm from the table base 0,0 and if you add that to the distance from the 0,0 corner of your part as drawn,to the center of the first hole, it's approx 483.84mm which is beyond the size of the desktops working area.

[Kyle Stapleton]

Pictures or a video would make this go a lot faster :)

[ron_moorehead]

I may be wrong on this but what I think you need to do is open the keypad by pressing the K key. Move the head to the location you want the new zero at and then close the keypad window and click on zero in the menu bar at the top of the ShopBot window, and then zero your X and Y location to the new zero location you want. This will now be your new zero location. Reminder if you run the zero routine with limit switches it will revert back to the default zero location you setup in the variable file.

[bleeth]

Or press "Z2" which will zero the x and y where it is.
The thing is that the table limits don't adjust based on different zero co-ordinates. So if you have 24" of travel from "normal" zero and set zero 12" up the table the software still thinks you have 24" of travel available.

[WoodMarvels.com]

Hi guys, had to run back to the shop to get more documentation as requested. I updated the file, I had too much Y axis so that was out of range but the X I noticed something that may explain what's going on but not sure why. It shows it wants to jump right to 580+ mm which makes no sense as you compare that to the drill file (also attached), it starts at

J3,122.409302,5.650969,5.080000
M3,122.409302,5.650969,-3.000000
J3,122.409302,5.650969,5.080000
J3,122.409302,143.760437,5.080000
M3,122.409302,143.760437,-3.000000
J3,122.409302,143.760437,5.080000


25539255402554125539

[WoodMarvels.com]

@srwtlc

My "new" 0/0 fits well within the range of the desktop on the x-axis. I can manually move my shopbot from my assigned 0/0 right past 380 mm using the joystick control without any problems. My file is 380 mm x axis so that isn't it. This was one of the first things I tried as I thought, by the movement, I was somehow well out of range. I updated a screenshot to show the issue... it seems to add a lot more cm to the file for some reason. I tried also using the shortcut to confirm zero'ing was done right in the menu so 0/0 IS 0/0 as I assigned it. I had it jog back "home" and it went right back to where my new 0/0 is too.

@Kyle

Next step is a video, hoping the documents show what's going on to fix.

@bleeth & @ron_moorehead

My Y axis table limit got broke during transport from Oz to Canada so I don't rely on X or Y automatic 0/0 anymore for anything. Since getting my laser, I've rather enjoyed making my own 0/0 instead of machine defined ones... find it easier to work with.

Thanks for your responses guys, this is good trouble shooting!

[scottp55]

Jon,
Super easy to gel superglue a new limit switch on.
Always nice to be able to C3 and then go to a radio button offset and Z2.

[WoodMarvels.com]

I heard from ShopBot Tech support and they told me the following (may help other users later with the same problem).

Reset your settings to the default by performing a Utilities Reset (UR) command in the control software. Then rerun the part file (air cut to avoid ruining material).

I'll give it a try and let you guys know if it solves it.

[WoodMarvels.com]

Yep, Tom from ShopBot Tech Support was right, UR fixed the issue. I had another problem with limit switches so I disabled them and did an air cut and all's fine.

Jon

[tomhartnett]

Jon,

Glad the UR cleared out that rogue value and got things back up and running. You could always play around with the VN settings to try and narrow down your limit switch issue, but they may have gone bad.
Before eliminating them from the equation I recommend trying to reseat them in their holes. They are secured with a bolt, if you remove them it is fairly simple to test them to make sure they are working. Just turn the limit switches back on in VN, and run a magnet by them. The magnet should set them off and you'll hopefully know a little bit more about the situation.

Best regards,

-Tom H.

[Davo]

Should UR be done every so often?

[tomhartnett]

Only if:

You notice an issue where a custom input value could upset your current cut file.
You mess around with custom values and cannot easily get back to default.
You run into an error like "Out of Bounds/Range" and cannot pinpoint the reason.

Otherwise, probably not. But it doesn't hurt, there isn't anything it will really ruin, and if you do start customizing values, you can save your custom setting by performing a US and saving your custom settings in a location you'll remember. Then you can restore to those settings, or even go back and forth between default and custom settings with the UR!

-Tom H.

[WoodMarvels.com]

I'm guessing my ShopBot Desktop got hit hard during trans-Pacific shipping (there and back) and that caused some things to go wacky for me... my ShopBot has very high mileage on it and other than this issue (quickly resolved, thanks Tom!) and the limit switches, it works just as it did new a few years back. Shows how great this machinery really is and the quality/engineering that went into it.

Jon