Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: eskay on October 10, 2012, 06:25:30 PM

Title: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 10, 2012, 06:25:30 PM
Gentlemen, Newb here and and advice is required.   I've recently wrapped up a retrofit of an EMCO PC 50 Mill with new steppers, Smoothstepper, Gecko and Mach3.

I've got Y & Z axis manually actuating and homing perfectly.

The X axis, under repeated manual actuation (left/left/left) will intermittently change direction.   Likewise manually actuating in the right direction multiple times the stepper intermitently reverses direction.   Changing around motor leads moves the problem around.

When Mach tries to Home in the X axis it sit's and growls....

Thoughts?

Cheers!

Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: Hood on October 10, 2012, 06:31:38 PM
Can you attach your xml and I will see if your config is ok.
Hood
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 10, 2012, 07:14:32 PM
Sorry, I've had to back up into a PC to get this thing running after years of freedom from Bill.... what do you mean by XML file...?
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 10, 2012, 07:36:20 PM
OK, does this work?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 11, 2012, 06:43:58 PM
Any Thoughts?   How is the weather in Scotland?!
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: Hood on October 11, 2012, 06:50:34 PM
Sorry completely missed your reply, not sure how.
Will look at the xml in a bit but just wondering if you could clarify what you are meaning by
Quote
The X axis, under repeated manual actuation (left/left/left) will intermittently change direction.   Likewise manually actuating in the right direction multiple times the stepper intermitently reverses direction.   Changing around motor leads moves the problem around.
Are you meanng when you jog the axis via the keyboard it usually works fine but occasionally will go the wrong way?
Also changing round stepper wire bit, are you meaning tyou physically change the wires from one stepper to another and the problem follows the motor?

Hood
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: Hood on October 11, 2012, 06:58:52 PM
Ok dont see anything wrong in your xml except in the SS config you have very high settings for the filtering on MPG and Miscellaneous. Not sure if that could cause a problem but try setting it to 1.43 instead of the 1000 you have.
Can you try the jogging via the tab screen using your mouse and see if it still happens please.
Hood
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 12, 2012, 07:36:57 AM
Good Morning Hood,   Actuating the X axis by mouse or keyboard generates random directions changes.    For example if you repeatedly press X+ you get random direction changes.    Yes,  I moved the pigtail to the Y axis and the problem remained.

Scott   
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: budman68 on October 12, 2012, 10:33:22 AM
Scott, this happened to me at one point and it turned out that 2 of my stepper motor wires were just barely touching each other inside the connector housing, creating a short. I would recheck the wiring on your connector/cable.

Dave
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 12, 2012, 12:34:47 PM
I'll double check...at first I thought it was my dodgy soldering so I sacrificed a db9 cable and spliced into it to eliminate the potential for the problem...Thanks
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 13, 2012, 09:22:18 AM
Gentlemen,  I've adjusted the SS filter(s) down to 1.43, confirmed wiring OK and switched axis' to track problem and....... I've still got the problem!

It seems to me the problem is upstairs in Mach3.   Once again if I press X+ repeatedly the motor will change direction in a random manner. ???

Upon Homing, Z/Y perform flawlessly and when X ho,ming begins the motor just sits and growls, like its getting X+ and X- instructions at the same time.

Scott
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: Hood on October 13, 2012, 01:08:13 PM
Ok not sure what gets swapped out when you change the plugs on the G540 but can you try swapping pins in Mach and see. Say for example you change the pins around for X and Y, see if the Y now loses the plot or if its still the X that has the issues.
Hood
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 13, 2012, 04:59:53 PM
Brilliant I'll try it tomorrow AM!
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 14, 2012, 08:38:29 AM
Well,  reversed the Motor Output pins from X(2,3) and Y(4,5) to X(4,5) and Y(2,3).     Manual actuation changed on the keyboard - previous X arrows and Y arrows swapped functionality but random direction changes remain on the X stepper (albeit somewhat less frequent which doesn't make sense to me).

I guess I'll re-inspect all wiring points and await another idea...

Cheers
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 14, 2012, 10:19:48 AM
Gentlemen,  I'm going to blame my teenage Son with whom I entrusted soldering and heat shrink tube installation......I found my problem!!!

Thank you very much for your responses and help!!

Lastly, can you point a Newb to a thread where I can learn how to get her milling?

Cheers to all,  Scott
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: Hood on October 14, 2012, 05:54:28 PM
Ha ha thats right blame the young lad, well after all thats what they are for, kind of like in the house when there is a smell, the dog gets the blame  ;D
Good you got it sorted :)
Hood
Title: Re: Stepper Homing Issue
Post by: eskay on October 14, 2012, 10:22:39 PM
Yep,  Under the Bus with the Boy!   At least you're the only one on Earth that knows!!!  Don't tell his mother  I said that though... I'll deny everything!!!

Cheers and Thanks Again for your consideration of my problem!

Scotty