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Author Topic: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3  (Read 13067 times)

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Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« on: January 14, 2013, 09:15:22 AM »
Hi,

I am setting up a CNC machinefor my workplace. It has run using mach3 before but is now using a new drive system and PC.
I am a complete newbie to CNC and require help setting up.

The machine I am using is :

http://microdream.co.uk/dell-optiplex-gx520-desktop-pc-pentium-4-ht-3-2ghz-1024mb-ram-80gb-hard-drive-dvd-rom-windows-xp-professional-sp3-preinstalled.html?gclid=CKyf9rnJlLQCFSTLtAodFTwAhQ

And the system with which I hope to drive my CNC with is the System4C from DIYCNC.COM. Which I have assembled but currently have not plugged in as I just wish to test Mach3 first.

I have downloaded the trial version of MACH and at this stage would like to test that my motors will turn.
My CNC machine is not plugged in yet, I wanted to test MACH 3 first but am unable to use my keyboard arrow keys to jog or change the values in the xyz axis

Where lies my problem?

Any advice

Please help :-\
-------------------------------------------------------

ports and pins:


port enabled
0x378

25000Hz.

Motor Outputs

X axis  Green, step pin 2, Dir Pin 3,Red , Red, step port 1, Dir port 1
y axis  Green, step pin 4, Dir Pin 5,Red , Red, step port 1, Dir port 1
z axis  Green, step pin 6, Dir Pin 7,Red , Red, step port 1, Dir port 1
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2013, 09:25:07 AM »
is the reset flashing ( bottom left )
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2013, 09:50:35 AM »
I Have turned that off.

I have been following this tutorial, at around 19:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5_bzkhU3JQ

he mentions changing the step pulse from 0 in motor tunning.
I entered 1 for both and and behold i was able to jog. I set them back to zero after to see if the would stop and found I was still able to jog so I dont fully understand what the fault actually was but it seems to be working now. My next step is to attach my system 4 via the parrell port which will mean changing my pins and ports according to the manual and see if I can control my nema 23 motors.

So the problem may rise again.
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2013, 10:24:06 AM »
I have now connected my system 4c from DIYCNC.com with the parallel port cable, changed the pin settings to as shown in the manual and I hae no movement. I can still jog the motor values on the screen using the keyboard but my motors themselves are not moving. The motors aren't making any noise, though the system is on.

x axis green, step pin 3, Dir pin 2, red, red, step pin 1, Dir pin 1
y axis green, step pin 5, Dir pin 4, red, red, step pin 1, Dir pin 1
z axis green, step pin 7, Dir pin 6, red, red, step pin 1, Dir pin 1
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2013, 10:41:24 AM »
Are your motors properly connected to the drivers (wired properly) and connected (wired properly) to the control board?
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2013, 10:48:19 AM »
Yes, I have checked them several times they are in the correct order with good conections
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2013, 10:50:31 AM »
its seems that although I have changed my pins settings to those stated in the user manual, mach3 isnt communicating to my driver system through the parallel cable.
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2013, 10:53:09 AM »
are the motors locking when the system is turned on (the ballscrews are stiff to turn by hand when locked)
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2013, 10:54:53 AM »
Is your parallel port turn on in the bios by chance?
Re: Urgent help needed. Setting up MACH 3
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2013, 10:55:28 AM »
you will hear a pronounced thump when they lock