Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: quinny on January 12, 2007, 02:09:58 PM
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Hello,
I'm another newby to the world of cnc. I'm running mach2 and I've bought a plug and play 4 axis driver box with 3 steppers. My pin setup is correct according to the person I got the drive from and its set to 25khz in mach2. I also tested the x axis to get the correct speed for the steppers in config/motor tuning.
Once I mounted them to my mini mill, I realized that the x axis worked fine, but the y and z seam to stall in spite of having the same setup as the x!!
Has anybody else had this problem? Would it be something to do with the configuration on the computer, or an issue with the hardware? all of the motors work fine when plugged into the x axis...
Thanks in advance for any advice you could give me,
Steve
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try setting the speed of the other axis to be less... sounds to me like you have a problem with the other axis taking more power to move. This is not a problem and it happens to everyone :) See if tuning fixes it
Thanks
Brian
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Hello,
I've tried dropping the other two down but unfortunately they're still stalling. I also tried dropping the x axis down as I thought that that might be sapping all the power for the other two but that also had no effect.
Could it be a switch thats been set as a default that doesn't suit my set up?
The only other thing I can think of is that the ports have been wired up incorrectly for the steppers.
tis a little confusing...
Thank you for replying so quickly Brian,
Steve
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Hey Quinny,
Can you post your xml and some more info about your set up.
Brett
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Hello Brett,
Please find attached the xml file. I'm running the machine out of the "rutex" option in mach2 as instructed by the man who sold it to me. The thing that might be different between my machine and his is that I think he's running an older version of mach2. He sent me a screen print of his pin setup and the page was different to mine. I don't know if that makes much difference to my problem.
I think the circuitry is german as it has t. ostermann printed on it, which I'm guessing is Thorsten ostermann who I have found with a google search. I'm running nema 23 steppers on the worlds smallest milling machine, which I'd have thought they could handle!!!
Thanks for taking the time to look at my post,
Steve
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You should be running Mach3... I hate mach2 ;)
All that said I don't get why you need to run in rutex mode... I think we should get your ports and pins setup for Mach3. Are you good with that?
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Hey Quinny,
Brian is right, as usual. He is allways right. ;D
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Hey Brian & Brett,
Setting up on mach 3 would be cool, the only problem is I have my tax bill to pay at the end of the month :'( . Is there a demo version of it that I could play with until I can afford to settup the full version?
The other thing I was wondering is how much is the full version?
Thanks guys,
Steve
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ok, took the effort to look at the purchase tab, DOH! Well done me for paying attention!!
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I didn't see above if you already own Mach2, but if you do, you don't need to purchase Mach3. just transfer your license over to the Mac3 folder.
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hello,
I'm affraid I haven't bought a copy of mach, I was going to buy once I had it up and running. Are the downloads all demo until you activate them, or is that only available on mach2? If not then I'll just have to plug at mach2 until I have the money for mach3...
thanks for the time,
Steve
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Yes, you can download Mach3 demo. (you've probably already figured this out). You can do quite a lot with the demos.
You can also install Mach3 without un-installing Mach2. Just don't run them at the same time. This will allow you to use Mach2 while getting acquainted with Mach3
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Cool,
Thank you Bloy! At least I can find out this solves my problem!
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ok,
I've downloaded mach3, set up my pins for the steppers and put in the address of the parallel port. Now nothing works. Are you sure that you can have mach2 & 3 on the computer at the same time? I'm not using them at the same time. Is the there anything else I need to input re configuration other than what I've already mentioned?
Steve
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Yes you can have Mach2 and 3 on the same computer without a problem, just as long as you dont try and use both at the same time.
Make sure you have the axis enabled (often overlooked ;) ) also make sure you have the port set for each axis (1 or 2)
Hood
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I'm really confused now!
It appears that I can only control the x axis with mach2 and only control the y axis with mach3! Everything else stalls pending on which program I use. Anybody got any ideas?
I've made sure that all the axis are enabled and all the axis are set to port 1 as there is no port 2. I really don't know what to do now.
Steve
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Hi Steve,
Check your motor tuning settings in Mach 3. I can help more Monday if you you don't have it straight by then.
Brett
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Can you attach the your xml file for both Mach2 and Mach3 and I will see if I can find a problem. To attach them go to the full reply page and you will see a button for advanced options, use that to attach the files by browsing to your Mach folders and selecting the Mach3Mill.xml and Mach2 one also.
Hood
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Hello,
I've had a go at the motor tuning, reduced it right down but had no joy. Thanks for taking the time to look at my problem guys!
the mach2 xml is posted earlier, please find attached the xml for mach3.
Steve
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doh!
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Steve try Sherline mode... Could you tell me who got the driver box from?
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Hi, Steve
Try this XML I set your port to std. port1 378 un-checked the sherline 1/2 step & mod-buss box's.
Give it a Try, Chip
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Hello,
Thank you for the try chip, but that port address doesn't communicate with my parallel port. When I bought my dell 5150 in March, it came without a parallel port. When I bought the driver box, it came with parallel port connections (I didn't realise as I was new to cnc!). So I had to install one in my new computer, hence the odd port address. Could that be the problem?
Hey Brian, I've been trying to get the box working since april and the company who sold it to me has tried to be helpful, but I wouldn't want to cause them any trouble by naming and shaming. I'm based in the UK and I'm guessing that most of the guys using the forum are based in the US and are probably unlikely to buy from the same place.
I think I've already tried it in just sherline mode, as I've been looking at past posts on the forum to try and find similar problems. I'll give it a go again...
Thanks guys,
Steve
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There are quite a few of us from the UK, me, John P, John S, Graham Waterworth, fdos and a few others who I cant think of right at the moment.
Is it from Marchant Dice? seem to remember someone having problems a while back with one from them, was that you?
As for the Port address, no it wont cause a problem as long as it is what device manager is saying it is.
Hood
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Hi Hood,
I didn't realise there were lots of people from the UK, Sorry.
I did get it from them, but they have tried to be helpful. I've only recently joined the Forum, I've mainly been going to marchant dice for help since I've had it. I thought it might have been a problem at my end with my parallel port instalation but the computer recognises it and says the drivers are up and running. The port address is set to that in my device manager as it has been since I had the machine. Thought I'd try you guys as i've hit a bit of a wall and only really want to play with my machine. I think Kevin (marchant) is running an older version of mach2, as he sent me a screen shot of his pin setup and it didn't look like the latest version of mach2 that I was running. Should I try that? or should I try getting in contact with the company?
Steve
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Can you post the screenshots, should be able to work out what is what. Do you have any details of your drives, power supply ratings etc. I will have a look at their site and see if there is any info there. Going back to an old version of Mach2 is not the best idea, you want to get up and running in Mach3 and if you cant with the proper settings then I would think it more likely its a harware issue, whether thats computer or control.
Hood
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Steve
You might want to contact Jacko from this thread, http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=982.0 I thought I remembered someone with the Marchant Dice stuff. I presume its all working fine for him now so if he has the same hardware you could ask if he would send his xml to you and it should put you on the right track. You will get his email if you click on his name to get to his profile.
Hood
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Hello Hood,
I didn't really get anything in the way of a manual with the box, all I know is that the steppers are DCNC 57-061-01 (1Nm), The drivers and interface are 2.1amp, it has a ring core module 225VA and 45V, 12V and 5V DC (5amp module) according to the description on ebay.
Brett has been in contact and said it might be my parallel port instalation, I think I'll try the machine on a friends PC to see if that solves the problem.
Thanks for the leed, I'll drop Jacko a line to see what happened with his machine.
Thanks for the help,
Steve
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Not sure if its been mentioned before but have you checked to see if your parallel port cable is a direct cable and not a crossover? You can do this with an ohm meter or even a battery and bulb.
Hood
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Hey Hood,
By that are you referring to the power feed to the PCI card? If so then there isn't a power cable directly to the card, it gets its power through the connection slot in the mother board. I have noticed that there is power coming down the leed from the parallel port to the machine as some of the LED's in the machine are slightly on even when the machine is off (that probably means nothing!). Should be able to test on another person computer later this week, fingers crossed!
Steve
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Hey Quinny,
I think Hood was refering to what most would call a printer cable. It looks like a printer cable but it's not. The cable is straight through, pin for pin on both ends.
Brett
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I mean the cable that connects the parallel port to your breakout board (if you use a breakout) It is a 25pin D Connector cable like printers used to use before they went USB. Some of these cables can be straight, ie the wires go from pin 1 to pin 1 , pin 2 to pin 2, 3 to 3 etc. Some cables however have crossovers ie pin 1 at one end could go to pin 3 at the other end of the cable, this type is no use. If you have a multimeter put it on the continuity setting (or Ohm) and test between all the pins from one end of the cable to the other, they should all match 1:1, 2:2, 3:3 etc.
Hood