Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => FAQs => Topic started by: lanos62 on October 05, 2011, 02:21:36 PM
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Hi all,
Am retrofitting a cnc router and am having problems getting mach3 to jog or generally move the steppers. My stepper/breakout board supplier , reckons all is ok with the wiring etc.
Because the stepper lock and lights are present when they are turned on. Am running xp. Not well up on electronics so any help would be appreciated.
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Hi Lanos62,
Welcome to the forum.
If you read through Chapter 5 this should explain the steps you need to take for everything to be set up correctly. http://www.machsupport.com/docs/Mach3Mill_Install_Config.pdf
In particular check that your parallel port address is correct.
Tweakie.
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iam having possibly the same problem. evrything on my pc screen acts normal and acts as if its moving my plasma table in in deed it isnt. ive tried about everything. even re-loaded windows xp. still to no avail. can somebody please help me.
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You need to provide a lot more details of your controller / motor drivers / setup / etc
Tweakie.
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My bad, first of all Iam using a (CandCNC MP1000-THC) to run my table, appears to be running normal as it did before. iam also running on an brand new load of windows xp. i installed the software as well the the license, and as i said before it all acts normal until it comes ti,e to actually drive my plasma table, it does nothing. any ideas, suggestions, or trouble shooting tips would be greatfully helpful.
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Check with Device Manager to make certain that you have entered the correct port address for both LP1 and LP2 into Mach3 (and that both ports are enabled) and whilst in Device Manager also check the setup of the serial port COM1 is correct.
Tweakie.
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How do I know what the right port adress is?
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Thanks for your help btw, also now before when I would push the keys to move my table, the numbers on the xyz axis would grow and shrink according to which key I pushed, now that won't even work. Any suggestions?
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How do I know what the right port adress is?
Start/Control Panel/Performance & Maintenance/System/Hardware/Device Manager/Ports (LPT1 : LPT2 : COM1) ;)
Thanks for your help btw, also now before when I would push the keys to move my table, the numbers on the xyz axis would grow and shrink according to which key I pushed, now that won't even work. Any suggestions?
Check your keyboard settings are correct for your country in Control Panel under Regional and Language Options.
Tweakie.
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Thanks a lot tweakie, I will try some of those suggestions later in the day, my boss is crawling up my ass about how many man hours I've wasted on getting my table trouble running. Ill be sure sure to check back and let u know what I come up with. Thanks alot
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I still have problems getting my keyboard to communicate with mach 3. The keyboard reacts to every other program on my comp. But not mach 3. So therefore it is impossible to check if it runs my table, I don't have a clue why either, before today, when I would push the buttons to move the plas table, it would make the x,y,z numbers grow and shrink as normal, but now it doesn't.
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Happy new year mach3 users!! I believe I have found the source of my problem in getting my plasma table up and running, I do not know how to solve it thou. When I try to put my port address into the ports and pin config, it will not save them, it always goes back to the default even thou I hit apply. I also wonder if my thc is even being recognized because when I ran this same table and same components as before, the reset light would flash if my thc box wasn't on. And now it doesn't.
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What are your actual port addresses ??
What addresses does Mach revert to ??
Tweakie.
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Port #1 0Xbcf8. Port #2 0Xaf00
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Also my keyboard works fine in every other program, and it works for changing the pins and port addresses for instance, but it will not move the x,y,z, axis numbers larger and smaller as it did b4.
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The numbered arrow keys behave differently if Num Lock is selected but other than that only certain keys are affected by the keyboard regional settings features within Windows.
Both port address you have given load and stay OK here - Check in device manager for device address conflicts.
Tweakie.
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Okay so that really doesn't answer my question about why previously when I pushed the arrows, the x,y,z, axis numbers on mach3s page would move accordingly, as they always have for the last 4 years. Whether the table was on or not, those numbers should grow and shrink according to waht numbers you push.
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Also I've tried the system hotkeys and everything works fine, very frusturated, maybe did I download a bad copy or something? Iv e used mach3 for 4 years, so I believe I have a pretty good knowledge of the program, but nothing seems to get me running, is there anyway I can download it again? Will I need a new licence if I do? Any suggestions would be fantastic at this time, there's a pretty good chance that I'm going to be laid off if I can't get my plas-table up and running. Thanks for all your help thus far tweakie!
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In the Mach folder copy and save your .xml file for the profile you are using (mine is called ‘Mach3Mill.xml’) this has all your settings. Also copy and save ‘Mach1Lic.dat’ this is your license file. If you are using a special screen or have screen buttons programmed with your own macros then also save the .set file (mine is called ‘1024.set’).
These files should always be saved as a backup just in case.
Download the latest lockdown version from the appropriate page here and run setup over the top of the existing installation - see if that improves things and if necessary copy and paste the files saved above into your new Mach folder.
I think I have covered everything (long while since I did this).
Tweakie.
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I'm sure you're onto it Tweakie but I have a couple of suggestions if it helps.
chadgarber
Might sound stupidly simple but...
1) Have you accidentally turned jogging OFF? Hit Ctrl-Alt-J and try your arrow keys again.
2) Enter your port addresses again and ONLY use the mouse for Apply and OK - not the <enter> key. Just enter the number part of the address NOT the 0x part - It doesn't make any difference here but I have a vague memory of something...
PS: I might be being paranoid but I'd try to get those port numbers accepted before you do too much else. The system will write to whatever I/O range you have set there. Not generally a good thing.
Ian
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Thanks a lot for your input and suggestions. The "jog" wasn't the problem, and I got the ports and pins to accept my address now, but sense the keyboard won't move the axis accordingly, I don't know if my problems solved or not. I hired a "compter tech" to figure it out a week ago and he was into the configs, and function configs etc.... I betcha he turned something on, or off that made my key board no work but its so weird just because under config, system hot keys, my up,down,left right, works perfect, but not on the actual program, is there a possibility that someone could email me what the "general config" should be? There is so many boxes to check and uncheck that I'd bet that this is my problem.
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Also, under my "driver test" my pulse rating stays at 0 percent, with 0 pulses per second, until 15 seconds go by and it says "mach1 test complete".
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Okay, keyboard up and running, the drivers weren't installed properly. So now everything on the mach 3 screen is running as normal! Finally. But,I still can't get normal function out of my table. I believe it something with the ports and pins, when I use the first address on my parallel port properties, it does nothing, but when I use the second number it slightly moves the head but in the wrong direction.
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At least you are making progress.
What do you mean by first and second numbers ??
From the Resource I/O Range it is the first number in the range that is used.
Tweakie.
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Chadgarber,
Please ignore my earlier post.
I have spent some time thinking about the troubles you are having and have concluded that it is not a Mach problem but rather an installation problem.
If you do have a corrupt installation of either Windows, Mach or CandCNC you will be chasing straws forever.
In your position, I would put aside the existing PC – obtain another old PC with a fresh installation of WindowsXP and nothing else, print out a hard copy of the CandCNC installation instructions then follow them to the letter, transferring your PCI parallel port cards to the new PC and installing / setting Mach as appropriate.
Tweakie.
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Hi guys, its been a couple weeks since I've been on the forums due to a health complication with an extremely close loved one. Anyways thanks for all your help this far and I'm so close I can taste it. Everything is running 100percent normal except when it goes to cut my selected part on my plas-table, it runs entirely normal except my plas-head turns on, pierces a hole, the head turns off, then keeps going as if its cutting my part. Any help would be appreciated!
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Hi yall! Does anybody know how to get my e-stop switches on my plasma table to work? Before whenver I'd push the buttons on my table, it would make the reset button flash off and on. Now it doesn't.
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Does anybody know how to turn on/off my e-stop? I've looked to no avail and I've posted a couple posts about it with no answers yet. I have 4 e-stop/ limit switches that act as if there are not connected when in deed they are. Is there some sort of test? Or something I need to do? Thanks a million and happy cutting!
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another newbie here….my keyboard will not jog either. new install of latest version. will jog from screen buttons, no problem. If anyone knows why, please let me know.