Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: wade16 on December 12, 2013, 12:32:30 PM
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I have installed the Mach3 program on a second computer with no problem. I coppied my XML file into the Mach3 folder. When I turn on the computer, Mach3 loads correctly and in the config pins and settings, everything looks exactly the same. When I jog the 3 axis, the motors move very slowly and have a chattery movement to them. If I try to rappid, the motors make a high pitch noise and will not move. I played around with motor tuning, but that made no difference. My printer port is set correctly. What might be causing this problem?
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Poor pulse from the new computers PP, run the driver test to see what t looks like.
Could also be your drives/breakout board require 5v signals and the new port is only 3.3v.
Could also be you are requiring a wider pulse.
Hood
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Is there any way to correct those issues?
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I ran the driver test. There were long spikes on the graph. The Pulse Per Second rate was 1740.
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I noticed the driver test is named Mach2. Is there a download available for Mach3? The Driver test screen does not display all the test results at the bottom under the graph.
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If there are big spikes then you need to sort things out, there are steps detailed on the ftp site that some find helpful but on some computers you just can not get things working well with the parallel port. These computers are rare but hey do exist.
Hood
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What is the FTP site?
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ftp://machsupport.com/Extra%20Information/XP%20Optimization%20Guide.txt (ftp://machsupport.com/Extra%20Information/XP%20Optimization%20Guide.txt)
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Hood,
I downloaded the demo Mach3 Version3.043.066.exe, and when it installed, it loaded the parallel port driver. When I ran the driver test, all was excellent. Is there a way to install just the parallel port driver on my computer with the licensed installed Mach3 program? I think I need the updated driver to make my port work correctly. Also, the demo had a newer version of driver test than the one I have on my computer. Can I get a copy of the newer driver test file? Am I able to obtain the latest Mach3 version upgrade as a licensed owner of the older version?
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You can download and install any version of Mach2 or Mach3 under your current licence.
To get the driver installed on your other computer simply running the driver test will do that. It will run and give you an error but you let it complete and then close it and that should be the driver installed. Next time you run the driver test it should work correctly.
Hood
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Hood,
I ran the driver test from the demo version on the second computer. It ran with no problems. When I tried to move the table in Mach 3, there was no response. I even transfered my XML file. I loaded the demo Mach 3 onto the second computer and it loaded the parallel port driver as part of the installation. When I ran the demo Mach 3 using my XML file, the machine responded normally with axis movement homing. Somehow, I can't just load the parallel port driver without installing the demo. After I ran driver test, it did not seam to load the driver.
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Hood,
I finally found out that if I installed the demo version in the same folder with my old version, it would find the license and install the full version including the port driver. I now have the second computer up and running with my mill. The only difference I have seen so far is when I rapid travel any axis, it starts quick and then slows down for about 1/4", then increases the speed until it is full rapid. What would cause the start movement to slow to almost pause for a moment and then resume rapid? I tinkered with motor tuning, but that did not eliminate the start-slowdown-start continue movement. My old version did not do that. I am using my XML file from computer #1.
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I wonder if you have backlash enabled with a very low speed or high shuttle accel setting?
Brett
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Where do I check for backlash enable?
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I found the problem. the Shuttle Accel setting is set to 1 second. When I change it to 0, the problem goes away.