# Problem with XYZ Probing EX Controller **URL:** \ **Category:** General Chat\ **Created:** [February 22, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428 "2025-02-22T15:16:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/1 "2025-02-22T15:16:02Z")
I am having an issue with the XYZ probe completing the process for measuring. The process will complete when using a .250EM but when trying with a .50em the process does not complete. When the process gets to the Y Axis it stops on the touch and gives an error of z axis exceeded. ![Z Axis Error](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/e/ec066425c6a7c29292540f6711d797e561240296.jpeg) ![Stop on Y](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/6/6226ab7cf145395539d1d79cf71e13e305ac0bdc.jpeg) ![Probe to big](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/9/9522e79892a69caaa1d466e2584fdfb0f5f358d8.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/2 "2025-02-22T16:05:59Z")
The work around that I have found is to use a .250em to probe XYZ and then put in a .500EM as tool 2 and touch it off the tool height setter. I just dont think this should be the work flow ---
**Author:** ![NLE](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/nle/32/3880_2.png) [@NLE](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/NLE)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/3 "2025-02-22T21:13:09Z")
Does it give the same error if you touch off a .5EM that is the same length as the .25EM? ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/4 "2025-02-22T22:28:30Z")
Yes it does. I tried to do Z only as well. Does the same thing. Goes down touches the plate reverses touches it again and stops ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/5 "2025-02-23T01:09:14Z")
What does .250em and .5em mean? Diameter? If so, what’s happening is this: The software knows the diameter of the tool. If the tool is potentially too large to hit the plate, or it might hit your work surface on the way down you get that option to move it from side to side before it touches off. This is normal behavior. Also, you have a screen shot there of the touch plate utility too, are you asking about that? Because I am talking about the message that comes up when you do a tool change. ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/6 "2025-02-23T16:08:06Z")
Yes 1/4 End Mill and 1/2 End Mill. I am referring to initial work piece setup not a tool change. When using the XYZ probe to get work piece zero with a 1/2 end mill ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/7 "2025-02-24T13:07:21Z")
> [@BreAly](#): > > I am referring to initial work piece setup not a tool change. When using the XYZ probe to get work piece zero with a 1/2 end mill Ah ok, so what’s the error you’re seeing when trying to use your mobile touch plate to setup your workpiece? ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/8 "2025-02-24T14:23:10Z")
the dreaded Z axis travel exceeded Specifically 907 Z axis tavel exceeded, move\_Primitive.cnc, line 23 Pic 1 above shows the exact error also pic 2 shows what is happing at the time of error on the machine. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/9 "2025-02-24T14:56:14Z")
It looks like in that picture the touch plate is triggered. Did you try and start the probing routine with it triggered? Or did it do this when it was not triggered? In the wizard can you give me pictures of this screen: ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/6/67dc52ee92999c85f28175d7799fa6a1ab79b013.jpeg) and this screen: ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/8/87a515c15ccdfea8709f028051045872aae2240a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/10 "2025-02-24T15:34:10Z")
I initiated the XYZ Probing utility to measure the work piece. It measured z and x normally started to measure y. moved to the back of the plate touched it once backed up then touched it again and stopped. When it stopped is depicted in original pic 1 and 2. ![Machine Setup](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/8/897cdfc9f43266303dbef7f28234ea3e4b32dba8.jpeg) ![Motor Jog](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/b/b4e3b07c12f54b6fba0a9627be6c9631ad9ec9c2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/11 "2025-02-24T15:40:42Z")
Is there a reason you have “custom soft limits” on? Also, do you have an 8" or 12" Z? ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/12 "2025-02-24T15:44:40Z")
As far as custom soft limits no?? Not sure why that is that way 8" Z ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/13 "2025-02-24T15:47:11Z")
As far as soft limits. I just thought it did that when I performed the Travel Limits Utility ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/14 "2025-02-24T15:50:31Z")
The issue here is that your machine is not allowing you to travel as deep as needed in Z. You have a pretty thick piece of material on there, and with the thickness of touch plate (and the length of that bit) you should have more than enough travel to get to the touch plate. Have you successfully probed material and cut jobs in the past? ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/15 "2025-02-24T15:54:45Z")
Yes works perfectly with 1/4 and 1/8. This issue only came up when attempting to measure with a 1/2. What I did ultimately with this job is. Probe with a 1/4 and then reinserted the 1/2 as tool 2 touched off the tool setter and ran the program. This worked fine its just another step if using 1/2 EM. ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/16 "2025-02-24T15:57:24Z")
Also the 1/4 used is 1 inch shorter length then the 1/2. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/17 "2025-02-24T16:03:23Z")
> [@BreAly](#): > > Yes works perfectly with 1/4 and 1/8. This issue only came up when attempting to measure with a 1/2. The only thing that I can think of that would explain what is going on here is that you didn’t run the MTC routine after installing that 1/2" tool… If that’s the case the Z doesn’t know where it is relative to the tool height. So that could mean it thinks it’s reaching down too far OR when it goes back to the “z clearance amount” it thinks it’s at the top of travel Did you measure this 1/2 tool off of the tool height setter using the MTC button before trying to run the touch plate utility? ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/18 "2025-02-24T16:12:53Z")
Yes I ran the MTC before using the XYZ plate. However, I just ran it on a 3/4 piece and was able to complete the process. The piece that I was originally using was 1 3/4 thick. So this has something to do with the length of the bit and the thickness of the piece being measured. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/19 "2025-02-24T16:32:06Z")
Try turning down your Z clearance amount, maybe to .3 or something. I wonder if it’s hitting the top of travel. Also, what version of the software are you on? 5.18? If so there were a few minor updates to the touch plate utility. One of them was how Z moves are handled after a probe. You now get the option of moving up a fixed amount, or automatically to the top of your Z travel. Before updating though try to adjust your z clearance amount ---
**Author:** ![BreAly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/34f0e0/32.png) [@BreAly](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/BreAly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428/20 "2025-02-24T16:41:22Z")
Oh wow I need to update. Where does Avid hide the file? [Next page](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/problem-with-xyz-probing-ex-controller/4428.md?page=2)