Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: zoltan on May 04, 2007, 06:40:36 PM
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Hi,
Since version 59 I have a problem running big files (>600K). I do not know the reason why but in the middle or after the middle of the program the machine is skipping steps. It is not a mechanical issue as it does on all my machines small or big (I built four machine until now), and it does not matter about acceleration or speed, it is not an issue with the driver as I have changed the drivers - homebuilt and Gecko, it is not an issue about computer as it does it on any computer or laptop I have tried and also the driver test looks OK. The files are made with Vcarve with standard and arcs postprocessor or Sheetcam or Photocarve or Cut3d or Meshcam. I have suspected noise, but if I run small files it does not happen. It is very frustrating as right now I am hoping to start my business in couple months and I am struggling to learn as much as possible to do engravings, Vcarvings, litho, photocarvings, etc and I do not know what is wrong, and I ruined a lot of pieces/material. Is there someone who had or have this problem or I am just alone? Could someone give some help/clue what to try to fix it? Quantum on the same computer did not skip steps. I was thinking about General Config but I do not know all the settings there, so, I can not say if it is OK or not.
Thank you,
Zoltan
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Do you have the problem if you turn off the toolpath (on the diagnostics page)?
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Hi Brian,
Thank you for reply. I did not check yet. I must check, but this means to run a job a couple hours. I will do it. I was thinking about if the motors are not affected by the heat. They run really hot as I setup the current at the their stated current value on all machines, and I was thinking if it is not due to alteration of magnetic qualities and degradation of torque/dynamics. I must check with lower current too.
Zoltan
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I had a similar problem a long time ago with Photo V carve missing a few steps in the middle of a 2hr program. Cant remember what the solution was (if I found one) but will do a search and see if I can find the info.
Hood
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OK just looked and it seems I didnt really find why or what caused the problem. I installed Mach again and it seemed to cure it but wasnt really sure if that was the real cause. You can see what was happening here http://www.artsoftcontrols.com/forum/index.php?topic=226.0
Hood
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Thank you, Hood. I suspect that it is something similar as in Quantum I did have this problem until now. I stated abovethat my problems started with version 59 but I am afraid that I was wrong. I must check, as I have the feeling that it was 49 and not 59. I must chack my jurnal about Mach3. I am planning to reinstal ver 1.84 as it run very well on my machine and had no problems with and run the files again.
Any other opinions?
Thank you,
Zoltan
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It seems that my post disapeared. Yes it was version 49 when I had a jittering problem too.
Zoltan
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Hi,
Is here someone who run a big file (1M or bigger) on Mach3 ver.68, and do you have problems with skipping steps? I run Quantum, it is OK. I run 1.84 it is OK, I run 2.27 it is OK. I run 2.65 it is skipping steps, I run 2.68 it is skipping steps on the same file. Any ideas?
Zoltan
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Hi,
I have no other explanation than it is something wrong with Mach3 ver 68. I installed ver 1.84 run several big files no problem. Two files I tried to run on ver. 68, result = skipped steps, same cnc router, same parameters - motors, pins, etc, same computer, same controller.
Zoltan
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Did you test it with the toolpath off?
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No, because I could not find how you turn off the toolpath. Could you, please, tell me how to do it?
Thank you.
Zoltan
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on the diagnostics page you will see this button...
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Wow..Could you believe me that I was looking for it several times and I checked the diagnostics page but did not notice it? I went in the general config and unchecked everything about display, in toolpath menu did the same, but the toolpath was still displayed. I did not seen this button. wow...
I will check by saturday as until then I am travelling and have no chance to run the cnc router.
Zoltan
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No problem :) It happens to me from time to time ;D
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Hi,
I tried with toolpath OFF. It still loosing steps. Also, if I move to 25 Khz or 35 Khz the motors are making a strange noise and the machine is making a cranking noise like a broken ball bearing. I noticed also something interesting for the same Gcode, Quantum is running on a certain traiectory continously and Mach3 is doing it in steps with some kind of jumps making a lot of marks on the part and Quantum is not making marks.
What should I do?
Thank you,
Zoltan
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Yup,
Sounds like there are a few problems :( I would inspect the machine and look for any mechanical and or electrical problems that could be...
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Ok. I fixed a part of the problem - I switched off CV feedrate button, actually I wanted to change the value from 1 and I could not save the new value. Once the button was off Mach3 started to behave like Quantum, almost, smooth movement without those steps in continous movement, the noise on 25Khz and 35Khz almost vanished. I read the Mach book and I did not find out what is this button for and how you can use. I found out two sections in the book about CV but no mention about the button beside a picture of a screen with. From help I understood it implements function 3600 ?? Could someone help me understand what is this button for and what I can do with it? Thank you. The quality of cuts now with CV feedrate off is ok and the machine is running very smooth, unfortunately at big files, no samll files at all, the program is skipping steps I could see it today when for a moment the scroll of program lines just speed up and the machine skipped steps. I do not think is something mechanical or electrical just because with Quantum and ver 1.84 it does not skip steps, it could be just a setting or something like this, especially as it seems that I am the only one experiencing this.
Thank you,
Zoltan
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Do a search here on the forum, there has been extensive discussions on CV especially concerning light weight machines such as shopbots
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I have read all the posts with special attention those in "new CV features" but could not found an explanatio on this button and how you can change/save from +1 to let say 100. I would like to experiment with but I do not know how to work with it.
Zoltan
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Zoltan what is your steps per unit and are you runnin in inch mode or mm mode?
Thanks
Brian
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Hi Brian,
I am running in mm mode, and I have 100 steps/mm, as on one rotation the screw is making 20 mm and I am running 200 steps/rev motors by 10 microsteppings Geko drivers.
Thank you,
Zoltan
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I am not sure did I understand right ? I think I have similar problem in last month.
What is your step and dir pulse lenght in yours settings in the "motor tuning and setup" ?
My first post, and sorry for my English ???
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It is 5, both.
Zoltan
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Do you use any USB- devices in your PC ?
JuKa
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NO. I am planning to mount a Joystick. Jus bought one.
Zoltan
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Okay, we have had you check this but could you please post the graph that you are getting from the Driver test? I would like to see what your pulsing looks like :)
Thanks
Brian
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I do not know how to get it?? I run the driver test and it seems very, very stable and smooth. The spikes are very small. How I can capture in a screen to post here?
Zoltan
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There is a Print screen button on your keyboard (should be over the insert key). go into paint and press Ctrl V and that will paste the screen shot into paint so you can work on it.
Hope that helps and I think the small spikes are the problem
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Hi Brian,
I captured three screens. The first is when I first run the driver test. The other two were captured when I run the driver test second time.
Zoltan
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Please run only the drivertest and not mach 3
sorry about that
Brian
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OK. Sorry. I did not know. Still, learning and experimenting.
Zoltan
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Not a problem :) We all have to start some place 8)
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OK. I did again the driver test. I captured twice the screen. Please, find it attached.
Thanks,
Zoltan
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Any comments regarding these screens? I do not know if they look ok or is there something wrong which can give the skipping steps.
Thank you for help.
Zoltan
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What do you have for Ram in the computer?
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512 M. Is there a problem?
Zoltan
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I was talking to Art about it and we are thinking that it could be a ram problem...
Run MsConfig and turn off all everything in the startup tab. That may help
Thanks
Brian
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I have run already as I made the optimization, all steps have been done. You can see on the screen that I have nothing installed on the computer besides Mach3 and Quantum, and the instalattion is a standard one.
Zoltan
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Is this a desktop or a notebook computer? Is it shared Ram for the video (onboard video)?
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It is a desktop. I must check the video board. I do not know. It is a DELL GX240.
Zoltan
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Dan found this :
I have a customer that was haveing problems with his large cnc router.
The problem was with only 1 axis the X axis.
He is using my 4 axis control unit with 4 G201's and my 42V 25A power
supply. He is using my 1303 oz in motors and the 752 oz in motors on
the X and Z axis. After several phone calls we finally located the
problem. The problem was with windows Update. Every 40 minutes it
would activate in the background and cause the X axis to loose position.
I'm passing this on in case there are others that are having phantom
problems. I had him run the optimization procedutres and now his
machine can run continuously for 8 hours with no lost steps.
Dan Mauch
www.camtronics-cnc.com
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Hi Brian,
Thank you very much. What I should do to check as the optimization procedure have been done already?
Zoltan