Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: peterm on April 14, 2013, 09:20:11 PM

Title: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 14, 2013, 09:20:11 PM
Here we go again... >:(
So, I shut off Mach3 yesterday and the machine also. Today I turned everything back on and the Y axis is not moving.
I haven't changed anything. The motor is powered asI cannot move it. The other axis work fine.
The Y DRO moves but the motor does not turn.

Any suggestions?


Thanks
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: RICH on April 14, 2013, 09:45:35 PM
Enable the axis, check your wiring, maybe swap cables and see if there is a problem with the drive.

RICH
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 11:57:42 AM
I swapped the cables from the X and the Y. Same problem. The Y moves and the X DRO moves but the Axis does not turn.
It has to be software related since it works when I reverse the cables.....
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: Chaoticone on April 15, 2013, 01:03:08 PM
Quote
The Y moves and the X DRO moves but the Axis does not turn.

This proves it is not software or mechanical..........  you should start troubleshooting the wiring.

Brett
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 01:35:51 PM
I'm in the process of rewiring the whole thing....lets see if it helps.

thanks
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 02:57:36 PM
Ok, I just checked all the wires and re-soldered a few connections.
Here's were I'm standing now.

The Z axis is the one with a problem.
Whichever motor is plugged in to the Z axis DB9 connector on the G540 will not work.
I have plugged in all the connectors to the X and Y outputs on the G540 and they all work.
The problem is with the out coming from the G540. Not sure if this is a Mach3 issue or the Controller.
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: Hood on April 15, 2013, 04:32:42 PM
Attach your xml and I will look at that to see if there is a problem in it.
Hood
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 05:12:36 PM
Thank you.
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: Hood on April 15, 2013, 05:29:49 PM
Ok, there is nothing wrong in your xml as far as I can see and I just hooked up a smoothstepper and a scope to the Z axis outputs and the pulse is coming out of pin 4 perfectly. So you either have a faulty SmoothStepper,  a faulty Gecko or faulty wiring between the SmoothStepper and the G540.
Hood
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 05:36:07 PM
Thanks Hood.
The wiring is fine since all the axis work if plugged in to a different connector.
Since the XML is fine I guess the only option is the Gecko or the Smoothstepper.

appreciate the help!
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: Hood on April 15, 2013, 05:39:18 PM
I am saying if there is a problem with the wiring it will be between SS and G540, this conclusion was reached because you said all axis moved ok on other outputs. That means its either a problem with SS, G540 or wiring between G540 and SS and I think the wiring is the most likely :)
Hood
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 06:11:08 PM
Well, the wiring between the SS and the G540 is a ribbon cable. There isn't anything else. Gotta be the G540.
Bummer....gotta send it in and wait for it.

thanks
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: Hood on April 15, 2013, 06:13:34 PM
Nope, these ribbon cables are often a source of problems, they are often not crimped correctly.
Hood
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 06:22:18 PM
But its been working fine for a few weeks and hasn't been touched....
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: RICH on April 15, 2013, 06:27:25 PM
Quote
But its been working fine for a few weeks and hasn't been touched....
So what has changed since it was working fine..........only way is to carefully check it out as recommended.

RICH
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: Hood on April 15, 2013, 06:27:40 PM
well my guess is still the cable. If you have an Ohm meter you can remove it and check continuity between the pins on either end.
Other thing you could do is connect the Z axis to the 4th axis output on the G540 and reconfigure it in Mach for those pins, thats assuming you  are not using a 4th axis. Unfortunately that wont tell you if its the cable or the G540 though but it may get you running.
 If you have a scope or a voltmeter you could start testing the outputs from the SS and then test at the end of the cable if they check out ok.
Hood
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 07:17:29 PM
Thank you. I just got back from Radio Shack and replaced the cable. Same result.
I'll try using the 4th Axis and see if that works.
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 15, 2013, 07:25:08 PM
I tried using the 4th (A) Axis but didn't work. The Y stopped working when I tried so I'm guessing I'm not doing something right to get the other axis to work...
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: Hood on April 16, 2013, 03:16:55 AM
Can you attach your xml please.
Hood
Title: Re: DRO moving but motor not turning...
Post by: peterm on April 16, 2013, 09:01:11 PM
Thanks Hood but I already sent the drive back to Gecko. Hopefully it was the problem.