By Dovydas Kersys · Chapter 26 of 58 in Machine Commissioning.
Before you begin: Follow the machine documentation, risk assessment, site procedures and lockout/tagout requirements. Commissioning can expose personnel to electrical energy, stored pressure and unexpected motion. Never defeat a safety function merely to make a test easier. Examples and diagrams are generic and must be checked against the actual machine.
Homing defines the machine coordinate system. Limits protect travel. Both must be proven at reduced speed before automatic positioning is allowed.
Why this matters during commissioning
A home routine that works from one starting position may fail from another. Commissioning should test realistic and worst-case approach directions.
Commissioning procedure
- Verify positive/negative software and hardware travel limits.
- Jog near each limit slowly and confirm stop behavior.
- Test home sensor identity and polarity.
- Run homing from several starting positions if the routine permits.
- Confirm final machine zero and repeatability.
- Test recovery after interrupted homing or limit activation.
Common failure patterns
- Home sensor also used as end limit and approached incorrectly.
- Offset sign wrong after homing.
- Axis can move away from a tripped limit only in software, but command logic blocks it.
- Absolute encoder home offset not saved.
Evidence to record
- Limit positions
- Home sensor state
- Home offset
- Repeatability result
- Recovery test
FIELD RULE: Test limits before trusting software coordinates.
Continue the series
- Previous chapter: Encoder and Feedback Verification: Commissioning Guide
- Next chapter: Braking and Controlled Stops: Commissioning Guide
- Browse all Machine Commissioning chapters
Adapted from Machine Commissioning for Maintenance and Automation Technicians, by Dovydas Kersys. © 2026 Dovydas Kersys. Featured cover image is an AI-generated editorial illustration.