Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: keverett on April 16, 2012, 08:09:55 PM

Title: the devil is in the details --or welcome to my nightmare.....
Post by: keverett on April 16, 2012, 08:09:55 PM
I just finished reconfiguring all my control wiring/circuit boards in a nice cabinet on the side of my diy 3 axis cnc router (34" x 46").  I went through and did all the shorted-path testing like a good service tech and found everything in fine shape.  So, I held my breath and plugged it in and switched the 24v DC to the control circuitry-- and fireworks.  Come to find out my DC switch had reversed leads on the down stream side so all my control circuits were back driven.  Called the folks at probotix and they gave me their condolences but all of the boards were probably junk...., BOB, stepper drivers, and relay dirvers, all toast.  The only saving grace was I had the sense not to connect my parallel port to the computer during this test.  Whew.  So when you're like me and sweating over the possiblity of ground loops or a short hidden in all the wiring, don't forget to check the polarity!  I blew a 5 amp main fuse and all the 3 amp board fuses during this debacle , but not soon enough, apparently.  Drat (not what I actually said when it happened).

 But this is not why I've started this thread.  In the meantime while building my new control box, I installed a new used computer and loaded Mach 3, etc.  I was ready to go, I thought.  Setting up with the previous computer was a piece of cake and everything was running great with the electronics in a jumble on the bench, cutting carving, etc. So after frying all my installed boards, I pulled from my spares and tried to just turn a stepper motor with the new computer but Mach 3 comes up in this "simulation" mode and I can't for the life of me get around it or get it to see the auxillary BOB and stepper.  Can anyone give me a quick explanation of what "simulation" is and how do I get rid of iit?  Thanks in advance. 

still banging my head against the wall...

Keith
Title: Re: the devil is in the details --or welcome to my nightmare.....
Post by: BR549 on April 16, 2012, 08:18:03 PM
It means the driver was not loaded when you installed Mach3. Rerun the driver test and it should loadup the driver for you.

Just a thought, (;-) TP
Title: Re: the devil is in the details --or welcome to my nightmare.....
Post by: keverett on April 16, 2012, 08:35:33 PM
Thanks, I'll give it a shot.
Title: Re: the devil is in the details --or welcome to my nightmare.....
Post by: keverett on April 18, 2012, 08:25:03 PM
I downloaded Mach3 again and this time the driver loaded correctly and I'm not in simulation mode any longer.  The computer is talking to the CNCand all is functioning according to plan.    On another note i've found that the only thing trashed in my electroci mishap was the bob.  I've installed a spare and I'm back to where I was before only my new controller setup is working as it should.  Thanks for the help.