Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: nvxwax on February 24, 2014, 11:24:39 AM
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Ok so I bought a 3040Z-DQ from ebay (I know) Im listing my problems and questions, the seller is just sending documents he does not even understand.
I have hooked this system up two three different computers (Dell GX620, Custom, Industrial PC), all of them have onboard parallel ports, I have tested them on both EEP and ECP settings in the bios.
The problem im having is like others, Cant get the 3 stepper motors to move with the keyboard (manual), well they will not move at all no matter how I try.
I have used the paper included in the box for settings, a pdf manual in the box (yes it has different settings), and another document the seller sent to test. I will list all the settings.
I did notice when I power the PC on and the Router controller the steppers lock (normal I think), as soon as I start Mach3 they all unlock. This is with all the settings and PC’s used.
I know there are lots of different controllers that are shipped with this setup, the one I have is the black box with T-D 3 axis controller
I’d like to get this thing working but I’m also asking for upgrade options, to change over to a gecko G540 setup. But first lets see if we can fix the controls I have now. I ran the port test in the Mach3 directory on all three computers and it passed (25000)
Setup from paper in box (labeled 3040T), I bought a 3040Z but the controller has TD on it. The Estop works with this setup.
Port 1 (0x378) Matches what I have in system settings
Kernal Speed 35000
Pin Setup
X Axis Step Pin 2, Dir Pin 3 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Y Axis Step Pin 4, Dir Pin 5 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Z Axis Step Pin 6, Dir Pin 7 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Estop Port 1, Pin 10, (Active Low)
Motor Tuning
X Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Y Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Z Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 700, Acc 100, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Setup from File on disk (labeled Desktop CNC Has pictures of the blue box controller), The Estop works with this setup.
Port 1 (0x378) Matches what I have in system settings
Kernal Speed 25000
Pin Setup
X Axis Step Pin 2, Dir Pin 3 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Y Axis Step Pin 4, Dir Pin 5 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Z Axis Step Pin 6, Dir Pin 7 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Estop Port 1, Pin 10, Active Low
Motor Tuning
X Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 10, Dir Pulse 3
Y Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 10, Dir Pulse 3
Z Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 800, Acc 100, Step Pulse 10, Dir Pulse 3
Setup from Seller (labeled 3040Z-DQ)Estop does not work, unit does have a probe with it.
Port 1 (0x378) Matches what I have in system settings
Kernal Speed 35000
Pin Setup
X Axis Step Pin 2, Dir Pin 3 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Y Axis Step Pin 4, Dir Pin 5 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Z Axis Step Pin 6, Dir Pin 7 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Spindle Step Pin 17, Dir Pin 1, Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Probe Port 1, Pin 15 (Active Low)
Estop Port 1, Pin 13, (Active Low)
Spindle setup
Use Spindle Motor Output, PWM Control, Base Freq. 200, Minimum PWM 10%
Motor Tuning
X Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 2500, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Y Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 2500, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Z Axis Steps Per 400, Velocity 700, Acc 150, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
That’s all the setup I have tried, I have tried all of them with the Kernal Speed at 25000 and 35000. No matter what I do the three axis will not move and the are free when Mach3 starts. Below is pictures of the controller I got with it, I cant find anybody with setups that have the same internals.
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q309/waxnvx31/2013%20Jeep/photo2_zps1b31774d.jpg) (http://s139.photobucket.com/user/waxnvx31/media/2013%20Jeep/photo2_zps1b31774d.jpg.html)
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q309/waxnvx31/2013%20Jeep/photo1_zps6873bc3a.jpg) (http://s139.photobucket.com/user/waxnvx31/media/2013%20Jeep/photo1_zps6873bc3a.jpg.html)
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q309/waxnvx31/2013%20Jeep/photo3_zpsfbcbea08.jpg) (http://s139.photobucket.com/user/waxnvx31/media/2013%20Jeep/photo3_zpsfbcbea08.jpg.html)
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Lets try for a few things.
Does this machine have onboard spindle speed control? (1 of the boards appears so).
Have you ever run or set up Mach 3 successfully? Not a knock, just trying to find where the issue might be.
Good the steppers do lock at some point, most likely a setting in Mach.
I would stick with the 25Khz on the set up. Especially with your steps per unit settings as they are. I personally think there is a mistake there but routers are different beasts. My reasoning, you state your motors are tuned to 400 steps per unit. Most steppers are 200 step per revolution or 1.8 degree per step. I wouldnt imagine a 2x micro stepping to be very smooth as I have always run 10x. Nor would its theoretical resolution be very low. Somebody else might chime in on that.
Your pin assignments are typical for your steppers. I see no issue there. Not sure of the ramifications of the active low for the step and direction as I cant remember but none of mine are checked on my USB Smoothstepper/G540/Lathe profile.
Is "disable spindle relays" checked? I believe it should be (it is in mine)
On mine under "motor control", use spindle motor output is checked as is Step/Direction motor, PWM base is 5 and PWM minimum is 0%. This area has always stumped me and I dont know why. It could be vocabulary, I dont know. My spindle does work though.
Do you know how to turn your spindle on via the MDI line? M3 S750? for example (clockwise with a requested speed of 750rpm) Again not a knock just not sure of what you need to get going. I had no idea even after my machine was wired correctly. There is and was a bit to learn.
Keep posting.
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Thanks for the reply,
Im going to play with it a bit more after work today, Im not sure if the spindle can be controlled in Mach3, The control unit has an on / off switch and a speed pot to control it, As for my experience with CNC, Well none, this is my first, i do run a 3d printer but that's a completely different beast lol.
William
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Keep us informed.
Yeah I have the 3D printer too. It is a different animal though it uses the same GCode. I never hear of anyone hand coding it.
I will be happy to walk you thru what I know. I will pm you my number if you want to call.
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Ok so i have not made any progress, Here is where im at
Everyting off
Turn on the CNC Controls (Motors Lock), Turn the PC on (Motors Still Locked), Start Mach3 (Motors Unlock), Click reset and try manual moves (Nothing), Close Mach3 (Motors still unlocked), SHut down windows (Motors lock)
Mind how my mind works lol, Im not sure the attachment worked so i also left photo-bucket links.
I found this in the Mach3 manual
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q309/waxnvx31/2013%20Jeep/ScreenClip000000_zpsc5a30a81.jpg) (http://s139.photobucket.com/user/waxnvx31/media/2013%20Jeep/ScreenClip000000_zpsc5a30a81.jpg.html)
Here are the settings i used for this round, I took port pin reading in both states (With out Mach3 and With), Its how my mind works, Im wondering if there is a pin that needs to be enabled for this setup to work.
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q309/waxnvx31/2013%20Jeep/ScreenClip000001_zps9ada7b05.jpg) (http://s139.photobucket.com/user/waxnvx31/media/2013%20Jeep/ScreenClip000001_zps9ada7b05.jpg.html)
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This is just a stab in the dark (I am mobile). How is pin 17 configured? Try enabling it. It is a charge pump. Some controller will not perform anything without the presence of that signal. It is worth a try. It won't hurt anything if it isn't set up that way. I just won't work, kind of like now.
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Thanks Fast, Ill try that out tomorrow after work, I have been wondering if there is a pin i need to set some way to get it to work, The motors locking when the PC is on makes me thing the controller works, But just does not have all the signals it needs.
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As a test I just did a few things.
First I turned on my controller, steppers have some resistance but easily turned by hand.
I then opened Mach, no change in steppers until I hit the reset (which was of course flashing since Mach was just opened). The steppers then locked.
Then I went in to configuration and unchecked my charge pump (in my case pin 16 port 1), apply, ok and the steppers went limp again. Of course I rechecked it as this was a test. I mistook 17 for 16 when I spoke before, though both are potential outputs.
Judging from your chart I suspect pin 16, active low unchecked (to keep the pin high I think) this voltage being high 3.35 or above has your steppers locked.
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It looks that the pin 16 is the Enable pin. Try changing it's polarity in Ports and Pins.
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Is it normal to have the steppers lock when just the PC is on? Sounds like your system leaves your steppers unlocked until your in mach3 and the estop is reset.
Ill setup the output port tonight, I dont have any pins setup in that section, the instructions never said to lol, in inputs i have the Estop (working) and Probe (Working)
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As Zasto states, it could be an enable feature too or instead of the charge pump. Under outputs in the config menu of Mach you will see "enable" assign the pin 16, port 1 and see if it works.
The charge pump operates a little differently and is a safety feature.
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From my, limited, experience, Chinese drivers and/or BOB's don't have Charge Pump input, mostly only Enable.
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Thanks guys,
Ill try that when i get home, I will be so happy if i get some movement lol
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Zasto you are probably right. Sure hope so for nvxwax to really get hooked!
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And we have movement lol, It was enable 1 set to Port 1, Pin 14
I also had to turn on Dir low on the X axis to get the direction right
Next i will try to get some soft stops working
Thanks guys, Im sure i will have other question :)
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On a side note i changed the steps per to 200, made a big difference, 400 was noise, My final setup is below
Port 1 (0x378) Matches what I have in system settings
Kernal Speed 25000
Pin Setup
X Axis Step Pin 2, Dir Pin 3 (Dir Low) (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Y Axis Step Pin 4, Dir Pin 5 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Z Axis Step Pin 6, Dir Pin 7 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Probe Port1, Pin 15, (Active Low)
Estop Port 1, Pin 10, (Active Low)
Enable Port1, Pin 14
Motor Tuning
X Axis Steps Per 200, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Y Axis Steps Per 200, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Z Axis Steps Per 200, Velocity 800, Acc 150, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
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You are in mm? Correct?
What is your micro stepping value? If you are running 200 steps, then this is full step. I would most likely run a 10x micro stepping value with 2000 steps per. This would also make your theoretical resolution 10 times better.
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Would i only have to change that value in Mach3? As you know im a total newb lol, This wont hurt anything will it?
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Would i only have to change that value in Mach3? Which 1? the units of measure or the steps per unit? As you know im a total newb lol, This wont hurt anything will it? No but it will take some recalculation depending on which you change.
Changing the steps per unit due to raising the micro stepping rate (from 1 to 10) will require a change at the BOB too (generally they have either a jumper or a set of DIP switches for configuring this). As long as both are raised to the same level (in Mach and on the board) no retuning of the motors would required (if they are moving the correct distance now).
Changing the unit of measure from mm to inches or vise versa will require a retuning. Not hard just a little tedious. You would need a dial indicator and a 1,2,3 block.
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I have been following this thread as I just received a 3040z-dq from an amazon purchase. I am unable to get my machine to respond at all. I used your final settings in Mach3, but to no avail.
I get nothing. I am running an older computer I had with windows xp and a parallel port. I ran the parallel port test software that indicated it was working.
Any more suggestions? Thanks in advance.
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I used your settings too and it kinda worked. The motors run forward (positive direction) nicely and smoothly, but when I reverse the direction (negative), it "locks" and stops. This is happening to all the motors (XYZ), but most commonly on the Y motor. Sometimes, the Z and X motors work fine going forwards and backwards (upwards and downwards), but they still occasionally stop and "lock". To fix this lock I need to press random jog buttons and find one that works so that they "unlock" and work again. On the other hand, the Y motor still locks when going reverse. It moves backward for a short time, then it locks.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Jannes
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I have also trouble with motors not moving. Can someone helps me please?
it is like lpt doesn't work or software doesn't recognise ports.
Also when pressing stop button on controller board macg3 does't recognise it was pressed!
my settings is the same as this
Port 1 (0x378) Matches what I have in system settings
Kernal Speed 25000
Pin Setup
X Axis Step Pin 2, Dir Pin 3 (Dir Low) (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Y Axis Step Pin 4, Dir Pin 5 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Z Axis Step Pin 6, Dir Pin 7 (Step Low) Step Port 1, Dir Port 1
Probe Port1, Pin 15, (Active Low)
Estop Port 1, Pin 10, (Active Low)
Enable Port1, Pin 14
Motor Tuning
X Axis Steps Per 200, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Y Axis Steps Per 200, Velocity 2000, Acc 200, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
Z Axis Steps Per 200, Velocity 800, Acc 150, Step Pulse 3, Dir Pulse 1
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I also purchased a 3040 a couple of days ago- here is where I am at.... Up and running, and starting to learn how to run gcodes. Been a machinist for many years but no previous experience with machines like this. So I have much to learn. I am using the mach3 demo at the moment but I have other software to experiment with later on. I will probably get the mach3 full version soon though, so far I really like it and it has some add on features I can see using later on. (like the coil winder)
Hello Blisk- I hope you have yours going by now. Mine is the 3040DQ 3 axis version and using the settings you posted works fine, with the exception of the "steps per" in motor tuning. I had to change this from 200 to 400 as everything was half sized. For example a 30mm long movement was only moving 15mm. Other that that no problems, but I am still reading the setup manual on fine points.
I'd like to know if the 35000 kernal speed would improve things and if it is normal for the steppers to whine at some slow speeds. The velocity speed is also very fast for me, and I'd like to slow it down some until I get limit switches installed.
Speaking of adding limit switches- the controller I have has the same JP-382A board that is shown in the photo of the first post of this thread. I don't see any provided connections on the board- so should I just connect them to the Estop connection? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
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Yes I finally make it to work manually so I can move on X,Y andZ axis. Problem is because mach3 doesn't work on windows 64 and that is major doubt on buying mach3, I have demo now also.
Second problem is Parallel port PCIE card, it doesn't work, so I have pulled out some old PC with parellel port builded in.
And third thing I tried is windows 7 64 but installed with XPmode this also didn't work at all.
So finally I have installed windows 7 32 bit and that works.
Problem si because I don't know how to prepare file for milling and what settings to use.
I have an STL file and I have put into the SLICER to get Gcode. But how to setup, which drill I will use, what size of drill, how fast drill should cut material how deep it should cut into, etc.
And how to mill so the object will not fall out when you mill it to the bottom
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And how to mill so the object will not fall out when you mill it to the bottom
Most CAD/CAM software will allow you to create the Gcode with 'tabs' to stop the finished part from falling out. Another option would be to mount your stock onto the spoil board with double sided sticky ( as well as the clamps, if necessary ) that is usually enough to hold the finished part in place. There are also other options - as you are starting to discover, CNC is a never ending journey of learning.
Tweakie.
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hope you got it sorted only just seen this x pins are 16 17 on mine y 4 5 z 6 7 a 8 9 e stop is 10