Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => Third party software and hardware support forums. => Topic started by: john_co111er on February 20, 2018, 07:16:56 AM
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My DIY gantry is being uncooperative with the Z axis control. I had added a torch height controller a few months back so the control of the Z axis was now being done by the THC. From a physical standpoint the only change was the step and direction commands came from the THC unit instead of from MACH3. SO the THC decided to become uncooperative and I removed it from the system.
Hooked the cable from the BOB back to the driver board and nothing from the Z axis controls.
Switched the cable from the Y axis to t he Z axis driver board and it drives the Z axis well.. Switching the cables back and changing the pin assignments in Ports and Pins and the "failure" follows the pins. They are enabled in Ports and Pins (6 and 7). I am certain that there is somewhere the pins are disabled but I am at a loss as to where.
I'm using Mach3, WinXP
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Hi John,
If you could attach your .xml file then we may be able to spot the problem.
This file is in your Mach3 folder and it is called <your profile>.xml (typically Mach3Mill.xml)
Tweakie.
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The XML file
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Hi John,
Your .xml file runs just fine here - there is nothing disabled.
Are you connecting your Z axis to the correct pins ?
You mention pins 6 & 7 - in your .xml the Z axis is set-up on pins 4 (step) & 8 (direction).
Tweakie.
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Interesting. Here is an image of the Ports and Pins page. You can see clearly that Z axis is pins 6 and 7,
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Looks like the .xml you posted is not the same one you are using - perhaps check that you do not have a couple of .xml files with similar names ?
Tweakie.
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I don't know how that might happen. There was only one file named THC300.xml on the computer. I had to rename it before I could upload it because it said there was already a file named THC300.xml on the system. I am not very literate with all the files and programs. I use the programs to make parts so I need more coaching than the average poster.
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Hi John,
Bottom right of the main Mach3 screen is your Profile.
Look in your mach3 folder for the file which has this Profile.xml
Tweakie.
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It says THC300 as the profile which was what I uploaded only having changed the name so it would upload.
I have tried reloading Mach3 and the problem follows pins 6 and 7. Whatever is attached to them doesn't work. I have swapped cables and even the breakout board but pins 6 and 7 fail to work. I suppose it could be bad pins on the parallel card. I'll replace that and see.
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something is strange, if i look to XML,
it says something else:
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I don't understand what you mean. Those pin combinations correspond to the step and direction pins of my breakout board. Motor 0 is the X axis, Motor 1 is the Z axis and Motor 2 is the Y axis. Granted the order is strange - XZY instead of XYZ but this definition has been working OK for years
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sorry that was unclear,
i meaned ro Tweakie's answer where he assumed Pin 4 and 8.
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Sorry guys, my mistake - I was picking up the wrong .xml file at my end.
As John suspects, it could be bad pins on the parallel card or the BoB.
Tweakie.
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It turned out to be a bad ribbon cable that attached the port inside the computer to the BOB. Those PIC connections are hard to find. Thanks to Tweakie for support.
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Excellent, I am pleased that you have found the problem.
Tweakie.