To use a touch plate on any controller, all you need is a conductive flat material with a known thickness and some wire and alligator clips. Solder a wire to the touch plate and connect the other end of the wire to the free input terminal of the controller. Connect a wire with an alligator clip to the ground of the controller (on the Mach3 USB controller, this ground is the DCM terminal, or the digital gnd on the 24VDC power supply). Connect the alligator clip to the end mill.

You can either use a script to serve as the probe, or you can use the ref all home button and setup the touch plate as a home switch.

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I there a tutorial on hooking up a Z axis zero touch plate to the usb controller?

To use a touch plate on any controller, all you need is a conductive flat material with a known thickness and some wire and alligator clips. Solder a wire to the touch plate and connect the other end of the wire to the free input terminal of the controller. Connect a wire with an alligator clip to the ground of the controller (on the Mach3 USB controller, this ground is the DCM terminal, or the digital gnd on the 24VDC power supply). Connect the alligator clip to the end mill.

You can either use a script to serve as the probe, or you can use the ref all home button and setup the touch plate as a home switch.

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I connect wire to cmd- and to in2. I cant getbit to work, what arecthe corresponding ports and pins to usenin mach3? Please help.

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Hello, Can I hook up a Z axis touch plate to the usb controller?

Are you able to install a newer version of Mach3? If you are worried that your configuration will be lost, you can save the configuration by copying all of the XML files from the Mach folder. The XML files contain all of the settings that you applied in Mach3. Just in case the XML files are not compatible with the new version, make sure not to erase the current Mach3 that you have on the machine.

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[575] Hi, I have an old version of MACH3 V1.84 - Can someone tell me where to place the USB motion drive as there is no plugin folder in this version.

The instructions on how to use a plate for z-axis homing (moveable sensor) can be found here:

http://www.planet-cnc.com/faq/moveable_sensor/

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Using your USB control board, is it possible to install and use a Z axis touch plate? If yes, what board connections would it be installed to?

You can use the mach3turn in the mach3 loader and simply enable the motor outputs. For the inputs and outputs, make sure to use port 3 for the port number and reference the terminal description for the pin number (i.e. IN2 is Pin 2). Don't forget to use the plug RNRMotion.dll in the plugins folder first.

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[575] Where can i find a xml file for maxh3turn?

If your PC is unable to communicate successfully with the Mach3 USB controller that you purchased, the problem can exist outside of the controller. If the problem is with the controller, then my controller will work. If the problem is not with the controller, then the problem will persist.

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[575] I have one of these but pc says device is faulty. If i buy one from you will you be able to fix such problems

Yes, you can use a corner plate very easily. You will want to make a corner plate that has three independent plates that do not conduct with each other. Each of these plates will be connected to a different input (i.e. IN1 for X, IN2 for Y and IN3 for Z). The end mill or tool that is inserted into the spindle will connect to V- of the 24V power supply, or the DCM on the controller, which is connected to the 24V V-. Then, you can use the ref all home button on the program run screen of Mach3.

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[575] Is there a way to use an X,Y plate that will only be responsible for corner finding?

Yes, the blueChick kits are available. You can get the shipping rates automatically in the shopping cart. There will be a calculate shipping button on the enter shipping information section of the shopping cart.

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CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME THE AVAILABILITY OF 12X36 BLUE CHICK 4.2, AND COST FOR SHIPPING TO ZIP 72802 IN RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS?

If your motors are hot to the touch, this is normal. Current is being drawn by the motor coils as the motor moves and as the motor stays at a position. If the motor is not using the current in the coils to move (holding it's position), the energy will be translated as heat (rather than motion, sound or light). Even while moving, some of the energy will be lost as heat. Remember that energy cannot be created nor destroyed.

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Are the stepper motors on x and y axis suppose to be hot after running for approximately 30 min. I can touch them but they are hot.

Yes, you can use a conductive metal to serve as a zeroing block for the Z axis. All you need to do is connect the block (conductive metal) to one of the 4 inputs on the controller. The end mill must be connected to the DCM terminal (the GND of the 24V power supply) of the controller. In the inputs dialog box (config-ports and pins-inputs). Under the probe line, enter port 3 and the pin used for the block.

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[575] Hi can I use a zeroing block with mock three interface board and do you have one I can purchase and directions on how to set up

You need to set up the homing/limits parameters. You can find this screen by clicking config->Homing/Limits. Make sure to wire the home switches on separate input terminals (i.e. X home switch on IN1, Y home switch on IN2, etc). You can add the limit switches to any of the IN terminals, even on the same IN terminals where the home switches are located.

Check out this video on how to wire multiple switches on a single terminal.

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[575] my axises X,Y,Z will all light green along with my soft limit switch button. When hitting REF ALL HOME no axis move and all my DROs go back to ZERO

Controlling a 3-axis or 4-axis motor configuration, you will need the following items drivers/motors/controller. Our electronics combo comes with the items mentioned and with power supply/miscellaneous items.
The only other item needed will be a computer (with controller software) to communicate and view controls of your motors.
Using the Parallel breakout board will use Mach 3 software, and USB will use Planet-CNC software.

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You can use this link to see the videos on how to connect the electronics together and make them work: https://www.buildyourcnc.com/tutorials/tutorial-Electronics-USB-Interface-Wiring

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hey, where can i see the steps how can i control 3 or 4 step motor? can i use the Axis Electronics Combo? or i need to connect controller?

We created that label under the carrier's website instead from our system.

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Thx I am tracking the package. Thank You for the great service.

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My pleasure. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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Hi, My order LZ549382405US does not exist under my account info. Can you tell me why? Thx

"Semi automatic" measuring is possible.
1. Place movable tool sensor (touch plate) on material.
2. Click "Measure Offset Z". Tool will move down, touch sensor and move up.
3. "Measure Offset Z" button is still down.
4. Click "Offset - Current Z" - this will set offset Z
5. Click "Measure Offset Z" again to release it and restore normal mode."

The connections to the USB interface is as follows:
- The spindle is connected to the gnd terminal (which is also connected to the end mill). Alternatively, you can connect the gnd directly to the end mill is access is permitted.
- The touch plate (movable tool sensor) is connected to the Z-- terminal.

What will happen: When the end mill (gnd) is in contact with the touch plate (Z--), there will be a connection from gnd to the Z-- triggering this Z-- action and the software will recognize the connection (like a button press, or a limit switch triggering).

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How do I connect a Z-Axis touch plate to the Planet-CNC USB interface?

The THC and the triggering of the plasma are actually two different functions of a controller. To trigger a plasma cutter, you can use one of the outputs of the Mach3 USB controller (out 1, 2, 3, or 4). That output can be connected to a relay that connects to the two wires that will trigger the plasma.

This video will show how this is done:

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[575] How can I wire/ configure for a plasma cutter without THC? Plasma cutter has a cnc port, where when you short two of the pins, it activates the cutter. Just looking to see how to make that short when pressing f5 in Mach3.

To connect the stepper motor drivers to the Mach3 USB interface card, you will need to follow the wiring diagram here: https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/Electric%20Wiring%20Diagram.pdf
which can be found here: https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board along with all of the other manuals associated with that interface card.

Please note that the DC+ and DC- on that wiring diagram (power supply to thye stepper motor drivers) is not correct. The DC- is connected to GND on the drivers and the DC+ is connected to VCC on the drivers. Typically, the DC+ on the power supply is labeled V+ and the DC- is labeled either COM or V-.

If you are having any issues with the wiring, please let me know and I will elaborate. Thanks.

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Yawl sold me a ST-USB MOTION CARD I have surched all your electronics and can't find wring instructions I need to know where to connect X,Y and Z to this controler

Yes, if you need a replacement part on your machine please call us at 281-815-7701.

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I have a blacktooth laser engraver. The Y Axis stepper motor needs to be replaced. Can you please provide me with the information I would need to replace this motor.

You can determine if the area is serviceable by:
- selecting the items you want to purchase on the website
- go to the cart (shopping cart top left of any webpage)
- log in, or register
- Enter the address and click on calculate shipping.

The webpage will return the direct rates and whether your area is serviced or not. Feel free to enter any address as long as you are able to receive the package from that address.

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WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT SHIP ANY OF YOUR KIT PRODUCTS TO THE UK?

The largest CNC machine we make at this time (12/04/2015) is the GreenBull 6'x12' model. This model has 2 options for Z-axis travel.

The short-z option has a total Z travel of 5.75 inches. From that you would subtract the length of the end mill used and the thickness of the spoil board to determine the maximum material thickness. (Example: If the end mill extends 1.25" from the collet and the spoil board is .75", then the material could be up to 5.75 - 1.25 - 0.75 = 3.75 inches in thickness). This is good for most sheet-type materials.

The long-z option, used mainly for large 3D carvings, requires a custom frame and allows for up to 36" of travel.

The tolerance of our machines, like any machine, depends on several variables. The major variables include the manufacturing tolerance, the type of machine control used, the precision of assembly, the thoroughness of maintenance, and the initial and ongoing calibration of the machine. Because we sell kits only most of these variables are outside our control. Therefore, we are hesitant to guarantee a certain level of tolerance for an end user. However, in our experience, tolerances of .001" are readily achievable with our machines.

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What tolerance can I expect from your largest cnc machine and the laser cutter? Also, what depth can I get on the z axis?