Buildbotics Forum

I have an IndyMill CNC machine with a 493mm X and 580 mm Y work area and I am trying to surface / flatten a rectangle board that is 475 mm X 563 mm Y. However, my CNC keeps giving me an error message regarding the "Y Axis is Greater than the Maximum Soft Limit". I understand that this means I am trying to cut further than my Y axis can actually travel, just physically looking at the piece on the work area it seems like it should work, but as soon as a run the program it gives me this error. I am using Instructables - Easel for my design so it auto programs the G-Code, and I am not actually writing the G-Code. I am using a 1" surfacing bit cutting in an offset pattern. I am a novice with CNC work, and I have never surfaced / flattened anything, so this is my first time with this type of cut.

Does anyone know how I can fix this from happening? I have tried changing the Y area of my work area to a larger number hoping that it would "fudge" it and trick the machine to work but it still gives me the same type of error. Thank you.
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Does the g-code program attempt to make moves beyond the soft limit settings on the SETTINGS->Motor page for the Y axis?

Keep in mind that the soft limits set on the SETTINGS->Motor pages are the absolute limits. When trying to decide whether the program will run beyond the soft limit setting, you need to consider any offsets that are set for the job.

For instance, let's say that your min soft limit is set to 0 and your max soft limit is set to 500. This means you should have 500 mm of movement on the axis. Now, if you put the work piece down in the middle of the table and then set of offset so that the work piece is at zero, you still have 500 mm of movement, but half of that available movement will be in the negative direction, so if your program attempts to move to +300 mm, you will get the error.

Hope this helps.