Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: gavna77 on July 28, 2013, 11:58:45 AM
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Hi All,
I hope you can help!
I don't seem to have any Y axis movement when i run a program to cut.
I can jog and everything works and even run a drilling program and everything works but when i run a cutting program the head will move to the correct starting poiint using x,y and z axis but then wont move the y axis when cutting?
Thanks in advance
Gav
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attach your xml and the code you are having issues with and I will see if I can find the problem.
Hood
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Ok thanks Hood,
The drilling section of the 'test' file is fine but cutting out the square doesn't happen. The 'x' axis moves fine but the 'y' axis doesn't move at all. Although it shows moving on the dro.
Cheers,
Gav
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Have sent you a private message.
Hood
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Hello Hood,
Would it be possible for you to have a look at my program at all?
Thanks Gav
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What is the problem when running that code?
Hood
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Hi Hood,
It runs fine to the start position and drills both the holes, then moves to start cutting the square and it will run down the x axis but not the y axis. Nothing happens on the y axis at all. Then moves back to the start position.
Thanks Gav
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Ok, not sure how I can test for this as the DROs are moving so Mach is certainly saying its sending the pulses out. I think I have a PCI port here that I can install tonight and I can then hopefully scope the motor pins to see if it is definitely outputting the signals.
I notice you are in Demo mode, obviously you removed the old licence but have you tried with the new licence?
Hood
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Hi Hood,
Yeah I have installed the new licence and it still does the same thing.
Many thanks for this you are a great help.
Gav
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Ok cant find my PP so not been able to test, however if the DROs are moving in Mach then that means the driver is sending the pulses to the port address assigned in Mach. The DROs are updated from the pulses the driver outputs so it has to be sending them.
Hood
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Ok thanks Hood,
Would you say that it most probably would be the board on the machine then?
Its strange everything works fine if i do a drilling program or even jog manually. But not if I run a cutting program.
Gav
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That is indeed the strange thing about your problem.
If you MDI a move does the Y axis work?
Hood
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Sorry Hood,
Is MDI moving it manually with the jog buttons? If so then yes but if MDI is manually inputting data then im really not sure what to type in to make it move!
Thanks Gav
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MDI is Manual Data Input and it is entering a move from the MDI line.
Say for example you zero your Y axis then you type something like G0Y10 then pres your keyboards enter key, the axis will rapid 10 units in a positive direction.
Similarly if you type G1Y10F10 the axis will move 10 units but this time at a feed rate of 10 units per minute (assuming you are in feed per minute G94) mode)
Hood
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Ok thanks, I will give this a try once i am at home later on today and see how we get on.
Gav
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I found the parallel port and have just checked with your xml and Mach is outputting the step pulses on the Y axis so looks like it could be your hardware or wiring that is the issue.
Let me know what your MDI tests reveal.
You have the kernel set to 60KHz when all you require with the motor tuning you have is 10KHz so I would suggest you set it to 25KHz and reboot.
It may also be that your drive is requiring a wider pulse, you could try using Sherline mode and see if that helps.
Hood
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Hi Hood,
Ive just tried the manual input and every axis works fine just as it should.
I will go and set the kermel to 25KHz and reboot as you say. Then if that doesn't work i'll try the sherline mode!
Ive tried 2 computers so know its not that thats the fault as this happens with both! May well be the board then. Will see what the next steps bring.....
Thanks Gav
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Ok so,
Set the kernel to 25KHz and no joy.
Then tried the sherline mode and that was worse! The MPG mode wouldn't even work then either so have set it back as it was.
Im really confused with this!
Gav
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Ok that is strange, do you know what drives, breakout board etc your machine has?
Hood
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To be honest Hood I don't.
I bought this from eBay as a home built machine and was working fine until i moved it a few months ago (maybe 6 or more?).
I haven't used this since then and just set it back up to run. I know its got a breakout board on it but I don't think it has anything else (no drive boards for the motors).
They are run straight off the breakout board!
I want to get this working again to make wooden craft items for my little buisness Ive started with my girlfriend. Make enough money to buy a decent machine!
So I'm now guessing I need a new board as it could be that what is the problem.
Might try a cheap one on ebay to test? lol
Do you have any suggestions or recomendations?
Your help is very much appreciated,
Gav
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Ok it will have drives but it sounds like its one of the cheap integrated breakout/drive boards, ie a Chinese TB driver board.
These tend to be problematic and now I know that is what you have I would say it is more likely to be your problem.
Gecko Drives do the G540 which is 4 drives and a breakout board all combined into a single housing.
What I would suggest however is you swap some of the axes connections around and see if the problem stays with the same pins.
Hood
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Sounds good to me Hood,
I will give this a go tomorrow after work.
I'm guessing if this is the problem then I could use the 4th spare drive on the board for the Y axis?
Just change the numbers in Mach3 in ports and pins?
Gav
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Yes connecting the Y to the spare axis will work as a good test, assuming of course that axis is not knackered ;D
And yes all it requires in Mach is you set the pin numbers to that of the spare axis.
If however you still have a problem then also try swapping the X or Z around as that will make it certain whether the problem is on the board or not.
Hood
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Hi Hood,
Were getting closer!
So I swapped the X and Y around and now the Y axis works on the program and not the X so it is the board!!!
I went ahead and ordered a new board last night just incase so that should be here for the weekend hopefully....
I would like for now to connect to the spare drive on this board but im not certain how to find the pin numbers? Do you know anywhere that could tell me? as googling around isnt really helping much!
My board is attached it is the TB6560 board
Gav
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Hood,
Were there!!! Ive managed to get it sorted in the last open slot and all is working again!!!!
Played around with some numbers i found here:
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=24081.0
Thankyou so much for all your help. I really can't thank you enough
Gav
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:)