Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Cosha on December 12, 2010, 03:13:00 PM
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Hello Everyone...
Im Begging Anyone to help me with this, i have tried everything I Can Think Of.....
Ok, i have been using Mach3 for 2 years on my little desk top CNC Machine.
I took out my machine to take to a workshop to get a few bits sorted, i got there any for some reason my X movement has gone totaly...
I have opened my CNC controller, all 3 stepper boards have power, all LEDS are showing that there is a correct signal from My desktop to the controller, and 2 of the 3 stepboards are working perfectly...
So what changed in the 30 min drive to the workshop?
I have spend 2 days SOLID trying to workthis out and i just can't im totaly upset about this as i dont think there is anything i can do...
Can Mach3 totaly stop a signal getting through to my cnc controller?
I cant find any documentation on my stepper boards, all i know is there 'Langenfeld 2.1a stepper board rev 1.2'
I have checked and re checked everything, but i can find out whats stopping this motor from moving...
I/O Port On PC = 0x379 - Same as Mach3
Like i said the other 2 motors are working fully under Mach3 control, now im at a loss...
Can someone throw some ideas that i might have missed out on?
Thanks in advance...
Cosha
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If you have a scope check to see if the step pulse is coming out of the port when you jog the axis. If you dont have a scope you can check with a volt meter and you will see the voltage change as you start jogging, its not the best way but will let you at least see if there is an output.
If there is a signal coming out then the problem lies in your cable, drive, motor or breakout board. If it doesnt then its either the port or your Mach Config.
Hood
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Hood, Thanks You For Helping Me!
You helped Me Back in 2008, when these same boards were in 'Sleep' Mode' (Enabled Port 1 Pin 17)
I have attached a quick sketch to show what i have found:
The 'Interface Card' Looks to be working fine, 4 LEDs indicate C/Z/Y/X Are getting information/have power
Each Board is Recieving 36v From The PSU
Each Board has green LED On (This Tells Me its getting signal I Think)
On the Stepper Board that is working, i get something like this: (But dont quote me - its in the ball park range)
5v - 3v - 5v - 3v - 5v - 0vGND
i have checked this at the pins
On The Non-Working Board
0v across all of the pins on the actual board - Nothing at all...
I have taken the board out to check / look for dry joins, broken parts etc, nothing! Still looks like new!
The boards are:
Langenfeld 2.1a stepper driver rev 1.2 - (No documentation ATALL on the internet)
I just dont understand where to fault find?
Mach3 Configuration:
All I did was unplug the Unit (Powered Off) & Un plugged the Stepper drivers
No Changes made to Mach3
The i found out it was not working, I deleted my Cosha.xml configuration file from Mach3 folder - then dropped a back up .xml configuartion back in...still the same problem
Now thats as far as i can go, i just don't know what else to do!
Any help would be great!
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It would seem from your description that it is the drive that is faulty, one way to check is swap it with another axis drive and see if the problem follows the drive. If it does then its the drive, if it doesnt then it could be the interface board.
Hood
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Now this is where i think somethings not right with Mach...
If I plug Say for example:
The 'Z' ribbon from the interface to the right hand board - I get no movement
The 'Y' ribbon from the interface to the right Middle board - I get no movement
The 'Z' ribbon from the interface to the middle hand board - It works
The 'Y' ribbon from the interface to the right hand board - It works
It would seem that each output from the interface is spacific to the driver (i don't know how that would even work, as its only a signal & all boards are the same
Also the interface board as a small (looks Like & monitor plug) for dignostics i think:
Its just all strage very strage...
My other option is just to bin it, or make a CNC lathe just using 2 axis!
Im gutted that i cant find any information at all
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I found some paper work...
http://www.pro-tos.de/site/download/handbuecher.html
But i cant work out what im actualy looking for
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None of the drives manuals open for me :(
Hood
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No me either!
I feel so lonely with this now, i can see this costing me ££££
I just dont understand how it can go from perfect to junk in a 30min drive!
Well - Since its dead, i might aswell post some pictures of my machine in its prime!
http://fpv-community.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=47&highlight=workshop
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The German ones open but not the English version, no real detail though.
Graham
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I have had a look over the german one, but i dont actualy think its the correct board anyway?
My only next step it to look for an electrical person, to test it all, as im not overly confident to what im actualy looking for!
There is no reason for MACH3 to do this is there?
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Cant think of anything.
Hood
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Just had a E-mail back from the company that makes these boards:
'two chips need to be replaced, the big one that connects to the heat shrink and the longer one near it'
Also that to much heat could of stopped it working and recomended further cooling with some fans...
I just replied to find out how much the chips will cost me! Gulp :-(
the chips look like they pop out of a casing, so im not sure if my soldering skills need to come into play yet or not!
progress...I hope!!!
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Hopefully the chips will be cheap enough, if not may be better to get other drives, but that will depend on the price.
From the description it sounds like they are socketed so carefully lifting them out and putting the new ones in will be all thats needed.
Hood
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Chips are 5-Euro for the pair...I just hope it is actualy the chips!
Well it took me 2 years to build my CNC machine (Costs & parts etc...)
I wont be buying a new controller anytime soon!
If all Fails, Ill just have to decomision my cnc router, and figure out a CNC lathe, i have an old portas belt driven lathe at home - needs something done with it!
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Thats reasonable enough :)
Hood
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I Thought so too,
Fingers crossed that this will actualy be the problem, failing that, i shall send it all off to him and get him to give it a MOT for me...
Thank-you though Hood, you have always been a star to me!