Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: diyengineer on April 11, 2013, 02:13:25 AM
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First off i have this:
http://littlemachineshop.com/3503
Inside that machine, it controls the spindle (DC motor (all factory)) with this board:
http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=4645&category=
Just plugged it in, using the .xml mach files that came with the machine off the CD (may be old?) dialed in each axis pretty close, but can't get the spindle to turn on by hitting F5, Manually entering MDI/MDA M3/M4 S1000, etc.
Here is the REALLY ODD part!
When i hit the top Z limit switch, the z axis stops, but my spindle instantly starts to rotate! If i try and continue to jog up, it will jog my spindle?! As soon as i jog down off the limit switch it stop rotating.
Can anyone explain this? The spindle under motor setup is not sharing any pins with the other axes.
Really impressed with this little mill, but i can't believe they didn't supply a decent .XML setup for true plug and play operation.
Earlier today, i hade the parallel port address set wrong, and it was jogging multiple axis (xandY) at the same time in one direction, not allowing them to reverse?
I'm using a PCI parallel port add in card, not using the standard parallel port address. I found the correct address under device manager.
Thanks for the help
DiyE
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http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,9561.0.html
^ Going to check this .xml reader out in the morning to possibly make some sense or find any errors.
Requested new updated .xml from little machine shop also..
Until then ill be up all night trying to research what is going on.
Thanks!
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Seems your Limit switch is connected to Output pin of Spindle???...
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I will look when i get home. I will upload screen shots.
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Easiest way would be to attach your xml
Hood
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OK! I will upload that also!
Thanks!
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Ok so here is my .XML
I fired up mach, then turned on mill, waited a few seconds and clicked the red reset button. Went to jog X axis and y axis moved at the same time!!! After 20 seconds, they then moved independent of eachother.
This thing has a mind of its own haha..
Thanks guys.
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Well more info.. Figured i should test the big red estop button on the machine. While mach was open and active, i jogged to confirm it was live. I then hit the estop button, and mach did not see any error. I then jogged the machine while the red estop mushroom button was fully depressed...
The only real way of stopping this is flipping the breaker, or pressing "reset" inside mach 3. I sure aint going to reach around the machine to flip the switch on the side if it is freaking out.
Also, under my diagnostics page, my M1++ and M1-- limit LED is illuminated even without the machine on? When the machine turns on, lights remain on.
Funny business.
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See attached pics for more info.
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More info attached.
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Ripped into it pretty good. all panels off, checked all fuses, uses a pair of angled pliers to do a light pull test on all wires. Everything was tight and no loose connections. I found a couple of the stand offs that hold the boards loose, and tightened those. Didn't notice any chaffed or burned wires. I did notice all the motor wires pass right next to the big transformers at the bottom of the case (noise?). Another thing i noticed was on one of the drivers (top driver) the "B" phase B- and B+ phase wire were backwards from all the rest of the drivers... I don't know if that was on purpose or a mistake.
I also traced the E stop mushroom buttom wires back, along with the micro switch for the plexiglass door back. They are tied in together at the BOB. They are connected, so i don't know why they wouldn't work.
Hmm...
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Further testing...
Mach is completely unaware of any limit switch. It doesn't show at all on the diagnostics page.
The upper plexi glass door estop switch does nothing. The mushroom estop also does nothing.
The X and Y limit switch are odd also.. I have a X+ limit, x- limit and Y+ & Y -.
If I'm jogging Y+, and trigger the Y+ limit it stops. If i trigger any of the other 3 limits while jogging Y+ it wont stop. I thought they were all tied together, and it was to stupid to know the difference but apparently it does, hence why usually it homes one axis at a time on my other machine.
I checked for voltage (ac or DC) at the estop, and found nothing.
Now im officially stuck. haha
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finally got the M1++ M1-- LED off by disabling active low on the X+ and X- limit. See picture.
Turned off active low on the Y and the Z and the LEDS for M2 and M3 ++ and -- illuminated..
Something is fishy..
haha
>:D
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There is something weird with that port address, is it definitely the correct address? If it is then maybe try swapping the slot it is in, if you have a spare slot, and start the computer and see if you get a different address.
Hood
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Ya that's the address its telling me. I think it's also weird. Later this evening ill do as you suggest and well see what happens! If that doesn't work out I may have to get a new pci card?
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Ill swap the card and the address first and check that. Little machine shop got back to me with there current .xml file for the 3501 and 3503. Hopefully between those I can get it going.
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So, Swapped the PCI card to the only other open PCI slot, and now im getting E010-E017 and E000-E007. The only address that gets movement is the upper address of E017.
Installed the new .XML file and im getting the spindle to turn on with the command M3/M4 and off with M5.
However, the Y axis will only move in one direction, and any axis when jogged will also turn the spindle?!
It's gotta be a bad PCI address?
I still get no feed back from the limit switches in mach.
I'm going to attempt to test the pin out from the parallel port. See what the heck is going on from there..
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Here is the newest .XML file.
So atleast the spindle is moving now (only one direction)...
But lost bi direction in one of my other axis..
Maybe ill move the PCI card back with the new .xml file and try that again.
Little machine shop 3503 Sieg KX3 .XML attached (april 11th 2013).
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OK! :D
So far so good! Everything works, and my motors are roughly tuned, and are repeating to about a .001".
Spindle works clockwise, and counter clockwise, and i tuned the spindle RPM to where its within a few rpm of actual!
I think what did it, was that i enabled the parallel port under BIOS. Even though its not "onboard" the motherboard, it must control the PCI devices?
It gave me the option of output only, bi-directions, EPP or ECP. I left it at ECP and it works.
My limits and E stop switch now work too, and it also homes itself!! Yay!
Uploaded the newest .XML for the 3503 KX3 incase anyone needs it in the future. Sieg's tech support wouldn't even send me the current .xml file, little machine shop came through as usual and provided an amazing response time, and all the files.
I'll continue to update and tune the machine, and also upload and edit the .xml incase anyone else is in need.
Thank everyone.
DiyE
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That is good to know, may help someone else in the future :)
Hood