Mendel Max 1.5 profile and print footprint woes.

[TheSniper]

All, Im still having challenges setting up my virtual foot print. in regards to the actual print platform and what shows on the screen.
MY machine is a Mendel Max 1.5.
the print bed actual print surface is 230mm x 290mm Lets assume the bottom left of the print surface is X0 , Y0

My extruder (X Axis) will actually move about 20mm off the X print surface. So lets call this X -20.0
and the Print surface will move about 40MM below the Y axis. So lets call this Y -40.0

I did not see a MendelMax 1.5 in the new 3.0 release.

Software Ver: Im running the new 3.0

Wish I could change.
1: How could/can I get the UCS icon to end up at the Table 0,0 not the actual real world 0,0
this way when I see the build platform in Simplify3d what I see is what is useable.
Right now what I see is actually bigger than I can use. so i must be careful when placing parts near the edge as they will try and print way off the edges.


Not sure what to else add
Help?
Sam

[JoeJ]

It sounds like your printer's firmware has incorrect homing offsets. For example, if you set your homing offsets at -20,-40, then after you homed, the printer would already know that it is 20mm away from the bed in the X and 40mm away in the Y. So I would suggest fixing that, as otherwise you are fighting one problem with another.

[TheSniper]

Joe,
Thanks for the response / suggestion. Im going to have a look at it today when I get back to the machine.
I have what may be a dumb question:
Lets say you have a properly configured work surface. when the user looks at the build table in the software. where precisely is the UCS icon
in respect to the table?
Is it at the 0,0 mark or is it where ever the 0,0 mark is in relation to the over all work space. even if the workspace is bigger then the print table surface?
mine currently is inset from the edge of what looks to be the work surface.
seems like it should be right on the 0,0 line of the printable work surface so that its easier to line up parts in relation to the printable area.
thanks!
-S

[JoeJ]

Well the XYZ origin is usually only in two places - either at the front corner or in the middle. I've really only seen the middle of the bed used as the origin for Makerbot-style and delta printers. Most RepRap-style machines have the origin at the front corner.

If your origin isn't in the front corner, then you probably tried to set an origin offset (see G-Code tab of FFF settings or go to Tools --> Options, Machine tab)

But again, all of this would be fixed if you set proper homing offsets

[TheSniper]

Joe,
Okay, Could you verify what would be the preferred method. My scenario is #3 So My Actual print surface has clips that could get in the way. as well as my limit switches do not actually use the edge of the print bed to set actual zero.. Thus the offset(red area) . when I look at my Simplify3d UI I see the UCS Icon is inset from the actual bed by my offset.

I suppose I could set it up 2 ways.
1: the UCS located in the absolute bottom left corner. indicating the smaller/smallest footprint useable. In this way I would have to draw an imagnary line from
binder clip to binder clip. (when looking at the real print surface)
OR
2: show the entire print surface and have the UCS inset. This way Ill know where the edge of the print surface is but Ill have to be aware of the binder clips.

Axis details.
X: is offset because the carriage actually moves some 11mm to the left of the actual print surface.
Y: is offset for 2 reasons. 1: the table move beyond the print head by some 20-30mm as well as the print surface has binder clips that I want to be aware of.
Z: One thing I left out which my be important? My extruder assembly has my Z Limit switch attached and is dual purpose. 1 its the Lower limit switch. and 2 its the limit switch used for bed leveling.

I attached pics of the bed. Scenario # 3 is mine. as well as a screen shot of my Current UI in Simplify3d So that you can see where the UCS is relative to the bed outline.
Sam

[JoeJ]

Personally, I would probably go with scenario 2 and then just make sure to keep your parts away from the edge. That's the general consensus with many printers I have used. They define the bed size to be the entire platform size, and if there are tiny objects that interfere with specific sections of that, you just have to avoid them on your own. There's many many printers where this is the case.

I would also suggest getting much smaller binder clips! I've seen lots of printers that come with clips that only take up about 5mm of the bed

[TheSniper]

Joe,
So Ill try and setup with scenario #2. If I do this will the ucs still look like it is now or will it move the the absolute bottom left of the GUI window view.?

btw: My clips actually are smaller But I drew them in big to illustrate them better.
-Sam