New CNC Router Start up Problem

[kolias]

Here is something strange

Switched the power on and all the board lights are on (4 driver boards + the BOB 2 lights), the 4 motors started to hum and I say looks good BUT....

Soon I opened my Laptop cover, the 4 driver boards lights go OFF. I tried several times and the same thing happens.

Any ideas what I’m doing wrong?

[kolias]

I resolved the above problem, had to do with the jumpers settings on the BOB

Now all lights are on, mach3 is configured on the laptop and on the diagnostic screen “Port1 Pins Current state” 7 of the little squares are green and on the “Input Signals Current State” all squares under are black.

No other lights are lit on this screen, but although the motors are humming, motors dont move neither the DRO’s

Any idea what I’m doing wrong?

[ger21]

First, Mach3 should always be running before you turn on the power to the drives.

Which 7 squares are green?

[kolias]

On the diagnostic screen (Alt-7) there are little squares like lights just under the heading "Port1 Pins Current State" and the same under the heading "Input Signals Current State". To me since the input signals current state squares are black (off I guess) mach3 doesnt see my motor inputs ?

I do have mach3 on right now and still the same when I turn the power on/off to the motors, motors huming but they dont move

[kolias]

Perhaps the printer cable is not good? its a new one and at the store they had a gadget to test that all pins are connected and they were. Is there any way to find out myself with mach3?

I run the driver test file under mach3 and it says “system under mach3 control”, pulsing too fast. Does this test the printer port or the printer cable?

With an ACME 1/2-10, 5 start, I have set all 4 motors to 3200 (1/8 step = 8x200 = 1600x2 =3200). I had it at 6400 (1/16 step) and change it to 1/8 just to see if there is any difference but there is non

[Hood]

Did you close Mach before running the driver test?
BTW the driver test will not test the hardware, it will just look at the stability of the pulse internal to the computer.
Hood

[kolias]

Yes I closed Mach before the test

It looks like that my Laptop has no affect on the CNC, even the Estop button doesn’t work.

Is there a way to test that the printer cable communicates with my control station?

[Hood]

Laptops are not really supported unless using an external motion card/controller. Having said that the issue normally is with poor pulses etc due to the power saving features.

Start by unhooking the cable from the port and put a volt meter between a Dir pin and a Gnd pin and then jog that axis and see if the voltage changes.
Hood

[kolias]

I know about Laptops not been supported but on my previous CNC I used a Laptop and it worked fine. I have disabled the power function on the Laptop and the only program installed is mach, nothing else. I also run it from the AC plug only. My work space is limited and thats the reason I use Laptops

ok I will check the voltage as you said (I will assume that is the printer port from the BOB)

Thanks

[Hood]

Best to start your checking by unhooking the cable and putting the meter direct to the port.
Hood