Homing CNC without GRBL

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi all,

For an art installation im using a lot of technical aspects of a CNC machine, however what I am making is not exactly that. My installation consists of two axis powered by two Nema 23 stepper motors, two DM556T drivers and using a v3 CNC shield for my Arduino. Both axis have two limit switches and as of now everything works out fine. The only problem is that I was recommended to home my installation, since it would be beter for my installation to know when it is nearing a limit switch. I do note use GRBL and I am not experienced with actual CNC machines. Is there a possibility to home, or set a 0 point in a CNC-like installation without using CNC software and just Arduino?

2

The limit switches are quite easy to incorporate into almost any code.

You can also incorporate any unused limits to perform slow downs etc. near the end of travel if you are not using GRBL.

You may want to include your code so I have also posted some common help below.

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Thanks to all those who helped and added to this list.

3

Robin2's simple stepper code tutorial will show how to write code for a stepper without a library. To keep track of the stepper current position, add or subtract steps from a currentPosition variable depending on the state of the direction variable.

To home, step 1 step toward the switch in the direction of the home position, check the state of the limit switch, step 1 step, check the state, rinse, repeat till the switch changes. You are home. Set the value of the currentPosition variable to 0.

You may need to add code to move off the switch if the machine starts on the switch and you want to make sure that it is at home. Move some steps back off the switch and home as usual.

Do an initial home at a faster speed then back off and home again at a slower speed (like Grbl does) to increase accuracy and repeatability of homing.

1 Like
4

only additive technique device, like 3D printer, will be homed.
other CNCs should be calibrated on rim or center of material piece.

5

What does that actually mean ?
It does not make much sense as the OP did not mention 3d printers.

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