Homing
Homing procedure with the Optimum CNC plasma cutting software. Homing allows the user to essentially zero the machine coordinates for the particular axis by either moving the machine automatically until it reaches the Homing sensors or by manually positioning the system to a particular point and then assigning a zero position to that point.
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So first, to utilize the Homing functionality, you’ll need to click on the homing button in the top ribbon which will bring up this popup window. It will contain the automatic procedures for X, Y, and Z homing as well as the manual procedures for X, Y, and Zed.
First, let’s go over an example of an automatic homing procedure. So here we’re going to do something that we recommend the user does every time they power the system back on, as you can see in the video, which is to home the system.
First, we’re going to home the Z axis, and we’ll see that the system will be moving in the positive Zed direction until it reaches the sensor, after which our machine coordinates will be set to zero, as you can see in the video.
Next, we’re going to home our X axis. So the system will begin moving in the negative X direction until it reaches the X axis sensor, after which it will similarly set the machine coordinate to zero. And last, we’re going to zero our Y axis. So here the system will move in the negative Y direction, and this also has the added benefit of squaring the gantry if it has been misaligned for any reason.
Note that for instance, if we were to run through this automatic X homing procedure once again, the system needs to always stop and begin moving in the opposite direction once the sensor is reached. So in a situation where the machine continues to move past the sensor, this usually indicates some kind of an issue or a problem with the homing sensor itself, which should be corrected before homing is performed.
Next, in addition to the automatic X, Y, and Zed homing, we also have the automatic XYZ homing altogether. All this does is essentially run through the automatic Zed, automatic Y, and then automatic X procedures in that order.
The manual homing allows the user to move to a particular position. For instance, let’s say we move to a particular position along the Y axis, and once we’ve moved to our desired position—perhaps this position is close to the edge of the machine—we would like to assign this point to be the zero for the Y axis. In that case, we’ll simply press the manual Y button. This zeros the coordinate for the Y axis, and a similar procedure is available for the manual X and manual Zed buttons.
Coordinates Section Location: The Homing panel is located on the main navigational bar across the top of the software to the left of the Optimum CNC logo. Click on the HOMING navigation button drops down a menu of options for Automatic Homing (X, Y, Z, XYZ), for Manual Homing (X, Y, Z, XYZ), for Soft Limits (ON/OFF), and Soft Limits Override (X, Y).
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NOTE: To avoid incorrect positioning of the torch, homing the Z-axis after program update or program restart is mandatory.
Pressing on the Homing Procedure button in the top bar brings up the Automatic Homing tab (shown on the right): The homing widget contains the following:
Homing procedure for the X, Y, Z axes, as well as a procedure to run all three procedures one after another. Note that the system must stop at the sensor position during the homing procedure. If the system moves past the place where the sensor is located and does not stop during the homing procedure, then the most likely culprit is an issue with the homing sensor.
Buttons to manually set positions for X, Y, and Z axes to 0 (for instance, if the current machine position is manually adjusted to be taken as the home position)
Button to Release Z axis, disabling the software limits for the Z axis
Toggle to Enable or Disable software limits (this can otherwise be set through the check mark in Machine Settings >Inputs/Outputs/Sensors > Limits)
Click here for info on Soft Limits & Soft Limits Override
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