Hello AVID community,
I’m new to using AVID machines and to using Mach 4. I need some help getting an AVID PRO4896 fixed up / being used properly and I think I can get there with a little forum Q&A. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Just for reference, I have a lot of experience using a ShopBot PRS Alpha and the ShopBot3 cad cam control program for doing 2.5d work. This has been helpful in understanding enough to run the PRO4896 for a couple of days, but I still have some adapting and optimizing to do. I’ll explain more..
I arrived at a new location after being offered a freelance CNC milling job to find an operator zeroing the Z by making very small and incremental steps until the bit just barely touched the material surface and then hitting zero Z. He pointed out an aluminum machined zeroing block sitting on top of the control box. Surely, using that must be the intended way to zero the Z axis but I have no idea what the procedure is. The operator asked if I could get it working with the zeroing block.
Unfortunately the machine needs more than that.. The frame was recently moved from an old location and it needs a lot of levelling, and possibly some squaring, which I will get to. But that I can handle based on previous experience. There is also an issue with the rack and pinion setup needing to be lined up better. The machine hops a little bit while moving the Y axis.
My first question is -How does one zero the Z using the AVID zeroing block and Mach 4? If it helps I am using Aspire for my tool paths. If there is a step by step instruction list on doing this I would find it extremely helpful.
Second question - What is standard practice for zeroing the X and Y while using the PRO4896 in Mach 4?
Lastly ( possibly more questions to follow ) - What are the outer X and Y dimensions of your bed levelling files for said machine? I have to generate a file for doing this and store it on the shops PC for future use.
I think that’s all I want to ask for now, thanks for reading. 