Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: bpsd on February 08, 2012, 01:52:08 PM
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Newbie question
Our school has a Easy Loader CNC Plasma table. Blue Series, 4x8. Currently we have no good documentation on the set up of this table as it relates to the Mach 3 software. Currently we can run the X axis no problem, but have no movement on the Y axis. I did check the Y axis motor by connecting to the X axis driver, and that works fine, proving the motor is working correctly. I have been testing the motors by using manual operations within the Mach 3 software. This system is connected to a Windows XP system with a parallel cable. I have tried different cables with no change in function. I have tried toggling various settings, one at a time, in the configuration with no change. I did the automatic set up of the limit switches for both X and Y and that seem to work fine.
I am looking for suggestions as to what to try next, and/or setup information for Mach 3 and our table, so I know that is configured correctly.
Thank you for any assistance. The school has had this table for 4 years and it appears it has never worked correctly.
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hi bpsd - welcome to the forum
best bet for starters is to post your .xml file. This can be found in c:\mach3 and will be called <your profile name>.xml
<your profile name> is displayed bottom right of your mach3 screen.
post it here using the "additional options" at the bottom of the "reply" page. (not quick reply).
to post it rename it as bpsd1.xml
Ian
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One question, the system we are running this on has an intergrated video card. The system requirements state:
"Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM"
Could this be part of our problem?
Cheers and thanks.
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Trying to attach our .xml profile and do not seem to be able to get the reply to post?
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One question, the system we are running this on has an intergrated video card. The system requirements state:
"Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM"
Could this be part of our problem?
I think every build I've ever done has used an integrated video card - never had a problem. Local conditions may vary.
every file posted here must have a name that hasn't been posted before. you need to make a copy of your xml file and rename it to something like bpsd123.xml then attach it.
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See attached profile
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xml looks OK.
I did check the Y axis motor by connecting to the X axis driver, and that works fine, proving the motor is working correctly.
OK so we also know your parallel port pins 2 & 3 are OK AND that the cable lines 2 & 3 are OK AND that the cable earth is OK. So now try connecting your BOB pins 2 & 3 to your Y driver. Any commanded movement in X should then move Y. If that works it suggests pins 4 & 5 are suspect. If it doesn't it points at the driver.
(I'm assuming any LEDs on the drivers arn't giving us any clues?) - pics might be a help maybe.
Ian
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I may need a little help in identifying what BOB pins 2 & 3 are. Sorry.
When I first started troubleshooting this, the driver for the Y axis, did not show a lit "clock" LED. One the recommendation of the vendor, and after testing the Y axis motor on the X driver, we replaced the Y driver. Now the Power and Clock are lit on both the X and Y drivers.
I have attached photos of the Y Driver before replacement.
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Your pics are very small but looks like you have a PMDX 122 breakout (nice board I might add ;) ) Pins 2 and 3 are top right block on your picture. You have blocks of three terminals there, two pins and one common so next along is 4 and 5 then next block 6 and 7 and last is 8 and 9.
Hood
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I noted when I looked at the drivers, that the Y driver was connected to the 6 and 7 block. So, since it was not working, tried moving the 4 and 5 terminal block and now it works! So whomever set this up, did it in-correctly.
Thanks for the help. Without the clue to try using expected pins, I would not have tried switching.
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You could also have just changed the pin assignment in Mach but suppose changing the wiring makes it more logical as its the next block along :)
Hood