Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: overdrive915 on November 09, 2009, 01:53:02 PM

Title: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 09, 2009, 01:53:02 PM
Hi I am not sure if i am posting this in the right place but here goes
I have just built a cnc engraver and am using a motion control 4 axis unit has anybody used Mach3 software to run a unit like this. I have just purchased the Mach3 software and have spent 2 days trying to get this setup to run with no success.
The steppers will only run in one direction that is when they run under test but as soon as i try to run a program the make a noise and do not run. Is there anybody who has managed to run a combination like this I would realy appreciate some help.
Thanks Stanley ??? 
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: Hood on November 09, 2009, 02:46:16 PM
Can you provide a link to what you actually have. If it is the chinese stepper drives have a look and see if there is an option to change between  CW/CCW or Step/Dir. Reason I say this is I recently fitted an extra spindle to my coil winder and the dip switch setting in the manual was wrong, it was opposite to what it should have been so when I had it set for Step/Dir it was actually CW/CCW.
Hood
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 10, 2009, 01:36:55 AM
Hi I'm not to sure how to do this but here goes http://www.motiongroup.com/cnc.shtml (http://www.motiongroup.com/cnc.shtml) this site has the equipment that I am using I did give them a call last night and they were unable to tell me if Mach3 would work on this system.
I have this setup on Max NC-10 wave drive  and LTP1 printer.
Thanks




Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on November 10, 2009, 03:00:09 AM
Could you tell us which of the manuals, shown on the website, relates to your controller. Their info is quite comprehensive but seems to lack some of the very basic details.

Tweakie
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 10, 2009, 05:05:23 AM
Hi It is the DLX 2000(2/3/4 AXES with I/O) manual that I have got.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: RICH on November 10, 2009, 06:46:30 AM
OVERDRIVE915,
I just quickly scanned through the manual.
First ask the manufacturer for the info on how to use their controller for Mach2 since they say it is compatable with it. There is a card internal to the controller box and not sure how that directs the signals from the PC to the motor drives / what influence a windows based system will have on it ( i think i read that if using their sofware it must be run using DOS . I can quess a few things but it is better that you get specific info from the manufacturer.

Ask them this:
How do i properly interface Mach2, which is a windows based program, to their controller? Are there any settings which you should be concerned with? ( ie; pulse width ) If they "mumble mouth" you / not showing support for their
product, get your money back! I know nothing about the quality of their motor drives.

RICH
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 10, 2009, 11:03:12 AM
RICH,
They say they have heard of people using the Mach Software and the system is working that was about all they could tell me. All I managed to find out was that maxnc built their controller.
 It has a LS7084 and a NE555 timer in it for each drive and then separate  motor controllers for each axis. I suppose if all else fails I will have to use their DOS software and build another system that will work with Mach Software.

OVERDRIVE915
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: RICH on November 10, 2009, 07:59:09 PM
You may be able to bypass their board and use the PP output to their drivers but,,,,,,you willl void any warranty you have. Their program is DOS based and that goes back a long time ago, and, i doubt very much it has the capability of MACH . Additioinaly in the info that i scanned it says / or implies that ouput via Windows  caused motor problems. I would have pushed to get my money back with a crap answer like that from them. Don't know what else to say.
RICH
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on November 11, 2009, 03:13:38 AM
Having read through the documentation, I think Rich has summed it up perfectly.
Sorry to say this but the controller you have is quite old technology compared with the modern stuff. It appears that the best it can do is quarter step and although this is OK eighth step or better produces much smoother operation and is far more tolerant to the acceleration/deceleration of mass.
If you are just starting out on CNC I think you would be struggling with this and would be better placed to use Gecko drives (or similar) for your machine.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 11, 2009, 08:51:22 AM
Hi I Have managed to find out what drivers they have in this unit  the sit link is http://www.nyden.com/products/2series/DC%20driver/sd230.htm (http://www.nyden.com/products/2series/DC%20driver/sd230.htm) Maybe you would be able to advise me as to what I will be able to use with them I would appreciate all the help that I can get as I would like to use Mach software as I find it very friendly to use.

OVERDRIVE915
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on November 11, 2009, 09:45:27 AM
Those drivers look ideal to use with Mach and the documentation is good, identifying the step and direction pins ( which is what you need to know ).
You should have very little trouble hooking these up directly to your LPT port ( as it looks like the opto isolators are already included in the driver ).

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: RICH on November 11, 2009, 10:14:16 AM
HMM.....
Very brief look at the driver manual. Looks like you can bypass their board and go directly to the driver.
You can select 1/8 step for microstepping, the frequency rate may limit ipm, disable the current limiting function ( if automaticaly turns off during an idle time you may have problems) and  they give you what you need in general, so that looks promising.

Now, how the other board is tied into the drivers ( ie; if cable that's rather easy, if via the board it's  mounted on then you need to trace it all out PITA/ not impossible ) and i haven't the foggiest idea without looking at it.
You'll probably need to do some rewiring where the DB25  is connected to the first board.

STRONGLY,  suggest you find someone that is familar with electronics to help you out as otherwise you can ruin what you have. Also before you attempt doing all this try and find out how the drivers preform after a modiication
as you may go through a lot of work and not be satisfied in the end.

FWIW, I have four drivers sitting here that realy need to be run by programing via dos, etc, and a rep was kind enough to say they were "old" technology,  yes you could convert them , but their operation would be very unsatisfactory. I kind of got that feeling about you drivers, but then, i can be totaly wrong.

It's your stuff......LOL,
RICH
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: RICH on November 11, 2009, 10:18:33 AM
Tweakie could be right on the drivers, like i said, i know nothing about them.  ;)
RICH
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 11, 2009, 11:04:57 AM
Hi I found a manual on the stepper motor driver and found out which pins are used I have attached the manual with the pins could you tell me if I would be able to go directly from the LPT port.Pins 1-5 are used from the LPT1 breakout board'
Overdrive
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on November 11, 2009, 11:58:52 AM
The final diagram on page 6 looks like the way to go.
You will need 6 output pins from the breakout board (step and direction for each of 3 axis).
My LPT port handles 20 mA to ground OK but LPT ports may not all be the same so observe a little caution here (current limiting resistors if necessary).

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 12, 2009, 05:37:16 AM
Hi
Thanks for all the info and steering me in the right direction I will be attempting these connections in next day or two and will let you know if I blow up my PC or if it works
Overdrive ;D
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on November 12, 2009, 06:15:10 AM
It will work - I have every confidence in your ability.  ;D

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 17, 2009, 11:17:04 AM
Hi to all
I have tried to override the breakout board and connect straight to the drivers from the LPT1 port. I am getting forward movement on the A axis fairly good and no reverse. X Y Z only small movement forward. Happy so far with the progress but I think the problem is on the LPT1 port not giving enough supply or I have already blown the port, have ordered a new breakout board will wait for it to arrive and then try again in the meantime will sort out all the limits and do some programming to get started  and test a printer on this port.  ;D
A Big Thanks to all for the help.
 
Powerglide4949
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on November 19, 2009, 06:58:54 AM
Tweakie

Happiness is ;D  I have managed to get this system running with much perseverance and it has payed off. I now have a new problem where the system runs for about 2 minutes the motors stop turning I am running straight from the LPT1 port could it be that there is not enough power being supplied from this port or do you think it is something else. Could you please try help me on this one.

Thanks Overdrive915
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: RICH on November 19, 2009, 07:16:13 AM
Take a look at the current limiting.
"disable the current limiting function ( if automaticaly turns off during an idle time you may have problems)"
RICH
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on November 19, 2009, 08:38:58 AM
Suggest you wait until you have your new BOB before going any further. Have patience my friend.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Motion Controller to Mach3 Problems
Post by: overdrive915 on July 07, 2010, 09:17:23 AM
Hi to all
I have just received my BOB and have wired up the motors and tested all is working so far, I would like to thank you all for the advice you have given so far I will be asking more questions in the next few day's.
Thanks Again ;D