3018 CNC Limit Switches & Universal GCode Sender 

Files are available here: www.thehardwareguy.co.uk/download-3d-models

Great video and overview of the UGS. I've used Candle to control my CNC 3018, but have downloaded UGS recently. Just haven't had time to test it. You brought up the homing function, which in my opinion makes the limit switches well worth it. After homing, machine automatically knows the absolute position of the spindle. That allows using different workspace coordinate systems, G54-G59. With them, jigs and holders with different zero points can be used, without needing to jog to that zero point manually. Also when machine knows spindle's absolute position relative to the limit switches, we always know where the highest point of Z axis is and spindle can be set to retract to that height. There is so much more than meets the eye with these limit switches. Thanks for the video!

Hey Hardware Guy, thank you for sharing your work. I just built a DIY Mini Mill using a Dremel and drill press frame with a cheap X &Y Table converted to Stepper Motors. And I added a 3 D Printed Housing for the Dremel to have Stepper driven Z axis. Now I want to add Limit switches but i was not clear on 3 or 6. But I see from your video a single switch is ok if you add the soft stop dimension. This is so clear to me know I feel safe with 3 switches and the soft stops. Thank You so much. Great informative video. I am going to machine a slot in the chassis of antique Model Train engines so I can drive 3D Printed Fan Smoke, Puffs and Digital Sounds for Steam Exhaust, Chuffs at 4 times per Drive wheel revolution. That is why I choice the DIY Mini Mill I had those parts and convert to CNC using Arduino and the CNC Shield. I am amazed at how simple it was to build the machine and add the CNC bits and like you said with UGS the whole control and setup. I have trouble remembering the buttons to open certain windows for setting, and I wish the designer was more GUI Friendly. I am ready to design and print switch brackets and cams now then wire them up. I was told the Z Axis switch should not be wired to the Z + or Z- terminal but to the Spinlde on or off bacause I operate my Dremel on/off manually not CNC controlled. Hey Thank You very much. Dennis ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4LjwjdlHPYI.htmlsi=-3fYaIo_wFNPsSOO

Just what I needed. Well put together, clear tutorial, thank you 😊👍

Thank you for the precise explanation. Alwsys nice to watch your videos. I am just starting to get my home built machine going with GRBL and Arduino CNC shield. So this information was very, very valid. Have a good day.

When you wire your switches directly to the mainboard it's best to check if your controller board has debouncing capacitors or not. If there is no capacitor install a 10-100NF capacitor in parallel with your every switch to avoid noise and misreading on limit switches.

Great tutorial! This helps a lot with my newly built setup.

Taken the plunge and I have become a member , looking forward now to doing some learning. Cheers. Bill M8-)

Just to say a BIG Thanks for this video, I must have watched at least 40 videos looking to find how to change Machine Home permanently from rear right to front left after adding additional limit switches on my Genmitsu 3020 Pro Max. Plenty using G54 and work home position but nothing for the Machine home.

Thank you for an excellent presentation.

Very helpful. Many thanks.

Good info to know. Nicely done.

Super helpfull! Thanks

Thank you sir! (I haven't placed any limit switches yet, NOT YET!) Very good and clear video I think I will use this to make simple PCBs, Over time I want to mill PCB as a kind of SMD PCB but with normal components. No hassle with mirror writing or anything, just the part on one side. ( this because they are usually simple PCBs for RX TX and filters ) Thanks again and Healthy and Friendly Greetings from the Netherlands! Rob

Limit switches are best when using the nc (normaly closed) contact. This to get the machine stopped also when there's a cable brake. No other situation will detect that kind of trouble. Also using shielded cable for limit switches where one side of the shield is connected to the chassis of the machine and the other side is floating is the best way to get it done, with no false signals coming on them and the mainboard giving weird reactions...

Great explanation!!

thankyou for the video

My 3018 prover came with six limit switch’s. Been trying to mill a spoil board that slots. Everything starts just fine but hits the y-axis limit switch, how do I resolve this?

Great video. My 2030 Pro max is great but never got my limit switches working properly. The home position is also wrong so I hope to be able to get this all reset and safe to use properly now.

thank you👍

Thank you for taking the time to make these videos its very much appreciated. As a pensioner (76) with limited funds I would like to get involved with learning new skills. I know that under a tenner (British currency )isn't a lot to ask for all the hard work that goes into making the videos but could you not make it cheeper for people on a low or limited budget please. Thank you. Please stay safe. Bill M8-)

Thanks, very informative and UGS looks a lot nicer than Candle.

Thanks pro😄

Can you start up the machine, instantly begin jogging and expect it to hit soft limits? My guess is you need to start with a homing routine like you did, right? So if you get to impatient to wait for homing and you jog the router a bit to where it needs to be, you can easily overjog and run in to the limit switches.

Nice video. Is there an option for creating a custom screen as Mach3 has?

Hi Great Video thanks will this work with 4030 V2 Genmitsu cnc

Any way to drive dual y axis with independent homing control switches

all very nice. but can you explain the limit switches and what they do?

Quick question, how do i get into the gcode so i can manually change it? It is only giving me the visualizer option

Hi I am trying to set limit switches in UGS but when I press the limit switches the green squares do not change colour put the alam comes on and have to reset. What am I doing wrong can you help please.

If you are running a program and decide something isn’t right and hit stop, why does this program zero the axis’s? Is there a way to prevent this?

any chanse u cn help m8 i go the same controler board itch i am trying to set up on 2 axis laser engraver but i kneeding to turn on the z axis and one of the x and y axis switches as wont work proply as keep expecting to z and rest the limit sitches so homes ok but soon try do engraving just smash to end its limits

Thanks for the video. I have set up limit switches, same as yours, but the machine will not back off far enough on the Z and Y axis to release the switch, so it sets an alarm. If I try to move X or Y by jogging, they will move 1 step then set the alarm again.I have to manually move the axis so I can jog. When I go to the settings, $27=1.000. I try to change it to 2.000 or 1.500 but it gives me an error 3 code and won’t change it from 1.000. Any ideas?

I made my own 50 x 70 cms,. CNC and installed USG on GRBL and when I try to install the hard limits and soft limits with the Setup Wizard everything works up to the moment I have to introduce the limits of the machine but if I try to jog the machine, it gets into alarm and don´t move. So I have to manually disable hard limits switch so I can jog the machine but obviously the limits end out of the real limits of the machine. I can see you you can jog your machine with soft land hard limits enabled. What could it be? Thanks.

🔥💕👍

Hello, I need a way to set the z-axis directions because it works in the opposite direction. Please help me

Arduino uno Grbl shield wiring limit switch not working Universal software how to be fix problem

so I cant disable z ?

Great video but big shame that you don't say a single word about the controler board to which the softare is connected to

The first what i encountered as a beginner was a Freezing VEVOR 3018 PRO with a .cn file generated by Fusion 360 . The Firmware of the VEVOR 3018 PRO has with G_Code G19 (select the YZ plane) a bug. The progress stops and the spindle just keeps rotating and no communication is possible anymore. Need hard reset. ru-vid.commk0A7qj7N0s see also ru-vid.comQzzSysvoXXg.