Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: appalachiatools on April 16, 2009, 10:23:10 AM
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I'm having difficulty setting up mach for the first time. I've never seen my motors run and can't get them to jog. My driver test comes out "system excellent". I've done everything in the videos for setting "ports & pins", motor outputs, and motor tuning. My guess is it needs an odd configuration in mach. Power supply is good. The motors have good holding torque but will not jog. I am entirely new to cnc & mach although I have had my machine a couple of years and have been watching the mach videos since. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
Rick
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Do the DRO;s show movement when you jog an axis? If not check the Jog Control is active.
Hood
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yes, the DRO's show movement
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You got a link to a manual for the drives?
Can you attach your xml also?
Hood
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Here is the address to my drive, MD808. Hate to sound completely ignorant...my xml ??? Thanks for your help.
http://mcsupplyco.com/uploads/images/drawings/pdf1/md808.pdf
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Your xml is the Mach config file, you will find it in the Mach3 folder on your drive, if you use the standard mill profile it will be called Mach3Mill.xml, if you have a custom profile it will be the name of the profile.xml.
Copy it to your desktop and then rename to appalachiatools.xml and attach using the additional options on the reply page.
Hood
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I'm thinking this is what you want...I appreciate your help
--Rick
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Ok your xml looks fine assuming you have the pins asigned correctly with what you actually have connected. Your port address is non standard so I assume it is a PCI card, if so just confirm you have the address correct. If all checks out then remove the cable from the port and put a voltmeter between a Dir Pin and a Gnd pin and jog that axis one way then the other, the meter should show 0v one way and 5 the other, let me know how these tests work out and if needed we can go further.
Hood
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I tested at my c10 parallel port card and got no reading at all on my dir (pin 3) ???. I've pulled the cable and will read at the pin itself in about 5 minutes when my son gets home...need a third hand. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks.
--Rick
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OK...2.5 vdc constant on pin 3. Nothing changes when I jog in either direction. Same voltage on pin 2 and same results. When I plug the cable into the parallel port card, I get no reading at the pin (terminal) dir or pulse. The led on the card is on and there is 2.5vdc at the 5v terminals.
If you were referring to the I/O range setting for LPT1, it is 0378. There is another range under that that has a low of 0778. I had it set to that when I sent you the xml but changed it back. I have been trying everything I can think of in the ports & pins settings.
--Rick
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Sounds like your port is the problem, just double check you are on the correct pins and make sure you dont have anything such as a printer setup and something in the print queue.
There are programmes that can test the port, not sure how good they are but if you do a google you should find some.
Another thing to check is that you have a Time in Int and a Pulserate showing on the Diags screen.
Hood
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This is a brand new computer...well brand new refurbished IBM thinkcentre from tigerdirect for $200...bought specifically to run this cnc.
On the diag screen,
time in int. -3.5 - 3.8
pulse freq. - 25274 - 25275
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No printers installed...
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Run this program. It will show what is happening at the parallel port.
Set slow jog to 20% and you will see the step line blink and the dir line will change as you change directions.
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OK, I feel like an idiot...when I switched from female to male in the program you uploaded, I realized I was on the wrong pin. My dir pin for the x axis is 3.28vdc when I jog one way, 0 the other. I still cannot read anything at the dir terminal (3) of my parallel port interface card when I plug the cable in. Think the card could be the problem?
--Rick
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If terminal 3 is connected to the pin that is set to X dir in Mach 3 then I would suspect the board.
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Thank you both for all your help. The board is suspect and I'm looking for a replacement, Any suggestions?
--Rick
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I like the PMDX122 BOB and use it on all my machines.
However make sure you have the BOB wired correctly as some of them require an enable signal (or a jumper wire) Also check your cable is not suspect by checking continuity from pin to pin.
Hood
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Have you checked the 5 volt power input to the C10?
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I'm starting to suspect the jumper settings on the board I have. Could you take a look at my board at
http://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/C10R8_User_Manual.pdf
There are a couple of jumper settings that I am not sure of. The board was just wired sloppily and hanging out of the cabinet when I bought the machine.
I am an electrician so I know just enough to be "extremely dangerous" when it comes to electronics.
THANKS!!!
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There is 2.5v at the 5v terminals on the c10 board
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Do you have a 5v supply into the card? If so is it putting out 5v? Also do you have either the enable switch or a jumper wire fitted?
Hood
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My next question was to be...do I need the jumper between the 5v & EN terms? At the 5v terms there is 2.5v coming off the parallel port.
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You need 5 volts on the EN connector next to the power input connectors.
Jumper X6 must be on Pins 1 & 2. Jumper X7 could be tried first on Pins 1 & 2 Then on Pins 2 & 3 if 1 & 2 don't work.
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You can jump from 5 volts to EN.
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You also need to feed 5v in from an external supply at the 5v and Gnd (X1) If you dont have a supply that is your problem. You can use a 5v from your computers supply if its near at hand, the red wire on the molex connectors should be 5v, but check first in case I am getting mixed up, almost certain though, 5v red, 12v yellow.
Hood
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OK, I installed the jumper from 5v to EN, jumpered x6 pins 1 & 2, x7 pins 1 & 2
I now get a signal at the dir terminal when jogging the program but my voltage at the terminal is 0 one way and 1.66v the other direction
If I jumper x7 to pins 2 & 3 there is 1.6v present at the dir term. without jogging but 0 when I jog in one direction.
There is only 1.6v at the 5v terms.
My motors will still not move. Do I need a separate 5v supply to the board?
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Molex connector ???
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Molex connector = the power connector you shove into a CDROM or Hard Drive.
Hood
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6.7 volts at molex connector...Too high?
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Got it! 5.1v...let me try that!
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wow, you need a better PSU in your computer, the regulation is all screwed. Unless you are testing between yellow and Red, that will give you about 7v as red black is 5 and yellow black is 12.
Hood
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IT WORKS!!! You guys are AWSOME! ;D
I've just finally got started in the world of CNC!
I'm going to reconnect my y & z and start playing! ...or learning!
Thank you!
--Rick
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great news :)
Hood