This article defines work zero, homing and how to use it.
The Home position is a static position, this is set by using the homing switches installed on your machine. Work Zero refers to the position you want to start carving.
Home Position
When you initiate the Home Machine sequence, the machine will move first on the z-axis until the switch is actuated, then X and Y until those switches are actuated. The machine will then stop. This position will be the same every time and is used as a reference point to recall other points on the machine. Use this guide to test your homing switches: Homing cycle fails
X-Carve and X-Carve Pro have homing switches and this is enabled during the Machine Setup. To home the machine, click Machine > Home Machine.
Setting Work Zero
By default, this is the front left corner of your material. Your material can be clamped anywhere on the wasteboard so sometimes the Home position and Work Zero are the same. However, they do not have to be the same if you clamp your material somewhere else other than the front left corner of the machine.
When you click "Carve," Easel walks you through setting up the Work Zero position.
You can use the z-probe to accurately set the z-axis work zero to the top of the material. This is because the software knows the thickness of the brass puck and can calculate from there. However, you always have to set the XY work zero position manually by jogging the machine to the front-left corner of the material. You'll want to make sure you center the bit to the corner of the material.
Using Homing
If you Home the machine before clicking "Carve" ( click Machine > Home Machine), you will have set the Home position which can be used to recall other points on the machine. Once you set a Home Position, you can proceed through the Carve menu. After you finished the carve, you can reuse the Work Zero position by clicking the "Use last position" button.
For this to work correctly, follow this order of operations:
- Connect USB
- Setup project in Easel
- Home Machine (Machine > Home)
- Click Carve
- Probe material to set z-axis work zero position
- Move to XY work zero position
- Click Carve
- When carve stops, change the bit (assume machine has moved) or material (clamp in the same position)
- Re-Home Machine (Machine > Home)
- Click Carve
- Probe Material to set z-axis work zero position
- Use last position to have the same starting point as the initial carve
The "Use last position" button in the Carve menu will work best when you Home the machine in between carves. This is particularly helpful when running a two-stage carve or making multiple runs of the same project (as long as you clamp in the same spot or set up a jig).
Digital Readout
Digital readout shows the relative machine position. When you open the jog menu, carve walkthrough, or machine inspector, you will be able to view the machine's position.
You must home the machine in order for the digital readout to be accurate.
Related articles:
Walkthrough Tutorial: Two-Stage Carves (Roughing and Detail Carves)