Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Coastcutting on March 08, 2007, 09:00:46 PM
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Hello all,
I have a Dell Inspiron 8100 notebook (1Ghz) running Mach3 Ver 2.0.054. Using my original XML file that I backed up from a previous version, my router runs fine, however, if I open 'Config Motor Tuning' and then close it again, the router no longer runs - jogging does move the motors but at such a fine amount it is hard to detect movement although the DRO's appear to be changing correctly. Reloading the original backup XML file fixes the problem until I open motor tuning again. The only entries that look different in the config settings are the Step Pulse and Direction Pulse - if I set these to 3 close the 'Config Motor Tuning' and then open it again these have change to 2? Close and open the motor tuning again and they have reduced to 1 and again and they become 0. I doubt that this alone is stopping the router from running but I am puzzled why something changes by just opening the config motor tuning and closing it again.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Alan
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Post your XML and I will see if I can get that to happen to me... that is odd..
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Hi Brian, many thanks for your reply. In the meantime I have copied the XML file to another computer and it works fine. I also upgraded my original notebook to Windows XP Pro from Windows 2000 and the problem remains which tends to look like harware issue. I will upload my XML file shortly. By the way, it is the Step and Direction pluse setting - we need it set to 4 or 5 and everytime I open the motor tuning it drops down one. If it is under 4 then the motors just give the odd buzz and move vvvveeeerrrrryyyy slowly.
Thanks again for listening.
Alan
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Hi Brian,
XML file attached.
Kind regards
Alan
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Hello,
I have tested it here ans all is working well :) SO download the newest rev of the software and see if that fixes you...
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Hi Brian
Just downloaded R2.0.057, however, I still have the problem! It is not stopping me from running as now I know if I look at the motor tuning page, I have to set the step and dir pulse - no big deal. Other than that the software is great. We have just built our own 2400x1200x350 router - up and running within an hour of wiring it up! The only issue we have to sort out is the homing offset. Homing works fine, just can't get it to travel off the switches a set distance automatically.
Thanks again for all your help.
Alan
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Try using sherline mode and tell me if that fixes your problem
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Hi Brian,
Tried the Sherline mode - made no difference to the software, have not tried it connected to the machine.
Alan
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Try it, you will not need any extra time...
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OK Brian - I will let you know how we get on.
Thanks
Alan
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Hi Brian,
Tried the router in Sherline mode - it works fine no matter what the Step or Dir pulse is set to. Does all this make any sense to you?
Kind regards
Alan
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Yup ;) And it shold make your machine run a bit better too... It all has to do with the drivers that you have
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Hi Brian,
Now you have got me really confused. Are you talking about the stepper motor drivers or the computer screen drivers etc. This problem exists even without the computer attached to the router (Gecko 202's through a Bob Campbell breakout board) so I can only assume that it is the computer drivers - if so why would the machine run better? I also tried Quantum - same problem so it looks to be a computer incompatibility.
Kind regards
Alan
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What we did was give a longer step pulse (VERY long) and it is cleaning up your problem. AS long as it is running better I am happy...
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Hi Brian, I guess what you are saying is that in Sherline mode the fact that the Step and Dir pulse alters makes no difference so we do not have to worry about it. Is this called a work-around? ;D I think that the answer is that there is something strange with my notebook computer - no matter, it is all running fine - thanks for all your help.
Kind regards
Alan