function gotoZ(s,check,currzpos)
    ZPulseRate = 38400;
    if(check<200000 && check>-200000)
        str = sprintf('%06d',abs(round(check)));     % abs needed so that no +&- in neg numbers
        if((check) < 0)                 
            newstr = strcat('-',str);    
        else
            newstr = strcat('+',str);
        end
        disp(strcat('moving to position:',newstr))
        % end formatting ---------- -------------------------------------------- 
        fprintf(s,'M');        fprintf(s, newstr );  pause(0.035);
    end  
end