Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 06:25:07 AM

Title: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 06:25:07 AM

Hi Guy's

 Another Newbie question can't seem to find any answers to it so thought i'd ask,

 When operating my motors in rapid speed by holding the shift key I get a constant locking of motors even when running a G-Code, but in motor tuning I can run them as fast as I want without any motor lock up's at all  ??? .

 When I'm back in the main Mach3 screen and press the ALT key to bring up the MPG screen and try operating motors at rapid speed again by pressing the SHIFT key all the motors work perfect no locking at all and I can run a G-Code without a problem as fast as it can go  ??? .

 If anyone has come across this problem I would love to know how you fixed it.

 Thanks
 Shane.

 4 x Nema23 300Oz
 Gecko G540
 48v 7.3A PSU
 Mach3

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: Chaoticone on March 20, 2013, 09:59:23 AM

Welcome to the forum Shane!  Not sure what you have going on unless your motors tuneing is just way high.  Do you have backlash comp enabled?

Brett

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 05:13:02 PM

Hi Brett,

I'm not sure, as I haven't had a great deal to do with the Mach3 program have WASTED a lot of time on those TB6560 drivers  >:(

Could you point me in the direction as to where that setting is please.

Thanks
Shane.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: Chaoticone on March 20, 2013, 05:19:18 PM

The motor tuning is in config., motor tuning and backlash comp is in config., Backlash.  Just be sure that the Backlash Enabled tick box does not have a check in it.

Brett

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 05:21:39 PM

OK, Thanks will check it out and let you know how it goes.

Shane

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: ger21 on March 20, 2013, 05:36:36 PM

Try turning off the toolpath display and see if it helps. If your PC is marginal, the toolpath display can use a lot of resources.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 05:48:18 PM

Hi Gerry,

I think you might be onto something there because when I move the MPG screen off the tool display motors lock up again and when I cover the tool display with the MPG screen again motors run perfect.
Could you tell me where i turn that off please.

Thanks
Shane

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 05:52:35 PM

I checked the backlash settings and the enable box does not have a tick in it.

Looks like it might be my computer..

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: Chaoticone on March 20, 2013, 06:06:05 PM

On the diagnostics page, above the reset button.  Toolpath on/off button.

Brett

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 06:16:23 PM

Thanks again Brett, I will try that.

Shane

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 09:55:37 PM

Hi Guys,

By turning off the tool path screen the problem is fixed very happy thanks !

With that said does anyone know what could be wrong with my computer ?
Is it too slow?
Graphics card?
Or something else.

Thanks
Shane.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: ger21 on March 20, 2013, 09:56:54 PM

What are the specs of your computer?
CPU?
Video Card?

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 20, 2013, 11:54:15 PM

Hi,

I hope this is all you need if not let me know.

DELL OptiPlex 745

Windows XP Pro
2.8GHz
2.00 GB of Ram

Nividia Geforce 8400GS 512MB

Thanks
Shane.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 21, 2013, 03:52:44 AM

Would lowering the Kernel speed help the computer ?

just a thought.

Shane.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on March 21, 2013, 07:10:01 AM

Hi Shane,

Ideally you should not have the Kernel speed set any higher than you need it to be.

I often run GCode in excess of 300,000 lines of code and I always make a point of turning off the Toolpath Display before hitting Cycle Start. Problems here, I think, relate to the graphics card capabilities rather than the PC, but I may be wrong.

Tweakie.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: ger21 on March 21, 2013, 11:48:46 AM

I've heard that there's a specific model of Dell that doesn't work well with Mach3, but I don't know which one.
I use an older GX150 (I think)
1Ghz PIII
256MB Ram
Old Oxygen VX1 video card.

It works fine, but I turn off the toolpath with anything over about 200,000 lines of code, as it'll start causing delays when pressing jog buttons.

Make sure your PC is set to standard and not ACPI.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 21, 2013, 07:05:51 PM

Thanks heaps Guys i'm going to get into the habit of turning off the tool path every time i'm ready to cut now.

Gerry, could you tell me where I look to see if my computer is set to standard please.

Thanks
Shane.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: ger21 on March 21, 2013, 09:35:33 PM

Should be the first item in Device manager, listed as Computer. Clic k the + or double click Computer and you'll probably see ACPI PC.

Instructions on changing to Standard can be found in the Optimization guide. Note that this may require re-installing the OS.

http://www.machsupport.com/downloads/XP_Optimization.txt

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: ger21 on March 21, 2013, 09:37:20 PM

You shouldn't need to turn off the toolpath with less than 150,000-200,000 lines of g-code loaded. The fact that you do points to an issue with your PC. I'd try to resolve that rather than just turn off the toolpath every time.

Title: Re: Motors locking when not in MPG screen???
Post by: shane w on March 23, 2013, 05:54:30 AM

Hi guys,

I did what you explained and checked what computer was set up as then went to the link and did that aswell Gerry ,it caused a few headaches but got it all done tried it out today still does the same thing when tool path is displayed motors lock up in rapids.
Tried a small 10,000 lines cut today with tool path closed and ran perfect, I would still like to somehow get machine running with tool path open. I will take my computer to a computer shop next week to see what they say and see if it can be fixed.

Thanks For all your help guys appreciate it.

Shane.