Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: bigbloke on November 16, 2011, 05:26:17 PM
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Hi
I have a Smoothstepper with C32BOB.
I did get it all working a year back on the bench but since then have been distracted by other projects. I have now built it all into a nice cabinet and wired up for installation into the machine.
Unfortunately the PC had to be replaced in the intervening time and as a result, I lost the working XML and settings.
On the new PC, I have downloaded and installed mach, the current Smoothstepper driver and plugin and the latest C32 R4 XML, I have re created the input and output port settings in Mach from the scrrenshots in the documentation I did last year. Both PCs run 64bit windows 7.
The PC starts mach up nicely, offers a choice of profiles, offers a choice of interfaces so I take the C32 XML option and the Smoothstepper interface, the 3 working happily lights come up on the smoothstepper, so far so good.
Mach 3 comes up with a re-configuration e-stop, which I clear. It then comes up with an external e-stop which I clear, it then shows an emergency which I clear, this basically goes on forever. It seems to take a couple of seconds to realise that it has a problem after clearing then it goes right back to an emergency.
I have disconnected everything but the smoothstepper and the power for the C32 to simplify the setup, this didnt seem to change the behaviour of the setup.
Have tried setting E stop to active low but no joy so set it back to normal.
Does this sound familiar to anybody. Probably a really simple error, I just cant see it.
Any help / thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
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Do you have limits enabled? If so they could be the issue if you have the active state wrong.
Hood
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Hi Hood
Just checked, No limits are set, auto zero is set on all axes.
Any other thoughts ?
Thanks
Paul
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attach your xml and I will have a look.
Hood
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Here it is, I hope
Thanks for looking
Paul
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So just to clarify you do have limit swotches on the machine but when you look on diagnostics there are no LEDs for them?
Also do you have an E-Stop switch? If yes is it a Normally Closed switch and connected to pin 10?
Hood
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Hi Hood
Yes, I do have limit switches on the machine. They are not actually connected up yet.
To exclude any external wiring faults as far as possible, I have disconnected all inputs and outputs apart from the E stop button.
The e stop is on port 1 pin 10 and is normally closed.
I can get comms with the smoothstepper going just fine but as soon as I put power on the C32, the emergency light comes on in Mach. If I monitor the LEDs then nothing is lighting up except the Emergency LED.
I have now even tried turning all inputs and outputs off in Mach ports and pins to see whether that makes a difference, it doesnt.
Baffled
Paul
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Strange that its fine unless you power the OB, try changing the active state of the e-stop and see what happens.
Hood
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Hi Hood
I've now disconnected absolutely everything but the gnd and 5 V, as soon as the power is applied, the board sets emergency and wont clear.
I've logged a call with CNC4PC, I'm starting to wonder if I've damaged something.
Cheers
Paul
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Seems strange its fine until you power the bob as I would expect an E-Stop without the BOB powered as its looking for a normally closed signal and I would imagine without the BOB being powered the SS would see it open.
Hood
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Hi Just an update.
Embarassingly, it seems to have been a wiring or switch fault on the e-stop. Arturo suggested I just use a short wire link on the board estop terminals to eliminate any potential wiring issues. The problem cleared immediately.
Strange though, I thought I had done the same a couple of days ago before posting on here.
Still nothing moving but at least the board seems to be responding. I can hopefully work through the rest over the next few days.
Thanks very much for the help & advice.
Paul
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Good news and dont be embarrassed these things happen to everyone :)
Hood