Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: rameshtahlan on August 11, 2018, 10:47:07 AM
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Hi guys,
After many years I decided to convert my Router to USB Controller as my XP PC has to be thrown out.
Now these are the images of what i am using just for a trial run, before i actually touch my CNC electronic.
But for some reason the stepper is not moving.
I have set up Mach3 as per videos that show how to do it.
What am i doing wrong. The USB controller did not come with any CD. So am i supposed to load some software apart from Mach3 to use this USB Controller. I have not seen any such thing on youtube, and am unable to find any CD or software for this USB controller. Am i missing something.
The Stepper Driver has 4 inputs, 5V, CLK, DIR, ENA. I can't figure out where to hook up ENA as there is no ENA marked on the USB Board. But from many videos i can see that even if ENA is not connected anywhere, the stepper motor should run.
When i connect this grey coloured box called pf-frequency-v1 0 to the stepper driver, it works perfect and stepper motors runs good.
When i first connected the USB controller to the Laptop, i got a notification of installing driver, and then it said ready for use.
I went to Device Manager and it did not show any Yellow Triangle, and from a video i saw, what is written against Human Interface Devices, the same was on my Lap Top. so i assume the Lap Top to the USB input of USB Controller is also ok.
There is a Red light on the USB controller that comes on when i connect to LapTop. and it blinks, about 1 per second, What ever i do in the Mach3, this Red light remains Red and blinks at same 1 per second. I loaded GCodes for the Roadrunner and ran it. but the stepper motor did not make any noise or turn, is just appears to stay still.
If someone can look at the images and find some flaw somewhere i would be grateful.
i will post the images in sequence one by one to show what I have done and what i am using for the time being to get the usb controller working.
These are the screen shot of when i connected usb controller to laptop etc etc.
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These are the balance images of config of Mach3.
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and this is the hardware i am using for the time being before i touch anything on the Router as such.
The usb controller
the device to run the Stepper Motor Driver to know if my stepper driver is working or not, and with this it works perfect.
so i disconnected it and used the usb controller with laptop,,
but it won't work.
and the last image is of the stepper driver,
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I am hoping someone can spot something wrong somewhere,
or have i busted the USB driver.
when it did not work i though maybe i have not connected the power to usb controller at the pins marked 24v and ACM. So from the power i was using for the Driver Motors, i connected the power to these terminals, but nothing happened.
from the usb controller board i have connect the driver to pins marked XP, XD, 5V, to the correspond pins on Stepper Driver. And left ENA unconnected .
still nothing worked.
so i connected ENA to Ground still nothing happened.
then i connected it to 5v and still nothing happened,
the usb controller red light still blinks at about 1 sec interval.
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Have i Config Mach3 correctly, or am i supposed load smoother software for usb controller board.
I did notice in one video on youtube, then when i click on Plugin Control,
i only get one option of Video Window.
but the youtube winder there was a second option, which that guy selected, and that second option i am not getting,
could this be the problem, and does it also mean that my usb controller is not working.
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You need to install a plugin for your USB board, ot Mach3 won't recognize it.
Looks like you can get it here?
https://www.robotics.org.za/BSMCEO4U
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Actually, there is no plugin there.
Try downloading this file, and copy it to the Mach3\plugins folder, and restart Mach3.
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/RnRMotion.dll
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Hi,
or you could ask this guy....he has exactly the same board:
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,38089.0.html (http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,38089.0.html)
Craig
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Actually, there is no plugin there.
Try downloading this file, and copy it to the Mach3\plugins folder, and restart Mach3.
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/RnRMotion.dll
ger21,
many many thanks, will download and do as you have instructed. and will give an update in a while.
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Hi,
or you could ask this guy....he has exactly the same board:
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,38089.0.html (http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,38089.0.html)
Craig
joeaverage,
thanks a lot. just clicked on that link, and apparently it has that same RnRMotion.dll file that ger21 gave a link to download.
gonna do that now, and lets see. everything should work out. will update.
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Actually, there is no plugin there.
Try downloading this file, and copy it to the Mach3\plugins folder, and restart Mach3.
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/RnRMotion.dll
So i downloaded that .dll file
put it in mach3 plugin folder.
and clicked on that plugin control,
and got option to select RnRMotionControllrECO-V2.0
and bang,
the stepper is working great.
thanks guys,
with these forums and the internet, this world would be a dark place for most of us.
thank you again.
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once i download the .dll file and put it in plugin folder on mach3,
i got this option.
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Now the USB Controller is working just great.
thanks guys
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Actually, there is no plugin there.
Try downloading this file, and copy it to the Mach3\plugins folder, and restart Mach3.
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/RnRMotion.dll
Ger21,
Hoping you can extend some more help.
it there a link to a video or something somewhere, which shows how to set up Mach3 when using a USB Controller on Win7.
all videos that i find only talk of Parallel Port system, and give all the pin numbers for Ports and Pins set up,
but somehow cannot find a video for USB Controller Ports and Pins setup, and Motor Outputs. Infant even the Port Setup and Axis Selection is different for USB Controller. I am just doing a hit and try and going crazy.
Or is there someone in this forum who has put up screen shots for this.
i just don't seem to find it anywhere.
Thanks.
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Hi,
you have bought a USB connected external motion controller of dubious origin with no manufacturer support.
The issues you are having are not Mach3 issues and unless you are fortunate enough to find someone on the forum who
has extensive experience with that particular board then you will get exactly what you paid for.....not much.
Should you consider replacing what you have or want another unit then carefully consider products by Warp9 Tech Design, CNCDrive
and PoKeys. All three enjoy industry leading reputation for support.
Craig
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Here's a manual:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/USB%20Motion%20Card%20STB4100%20Manual.pdf
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Hi,
you have bought a USB connected external motion controller of dubious origin with no manufacturer support.
The issues you are having are not Mach3 issues and unless you are fortunate enough to find someone on the forum who
has extensive experience with that particular board then you will get exactly what you paid for.....not much.
Should you consider replacing what you have or want another unit then carefully consider products by Warp9 Tech Design, CNCDrive
and PoKeys. All three enjoy industry leading reputation for support.
Craig
I agree, Unfortunately i did not realise i was ordering from a place with no support.
Thanks.
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Here's a manual:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/USB%20Motion%20Card%20STB4100%20Manual.pdf
Ger21,
Many thanks again,
you have been of great help.
Now finally things are beginning to work.
Regards.
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Hi ger21
I got the whole router working with the USB Controller, all seemed well. I did motor tuning, and also got the steps per unit done, and it would form a circle perfectly. Homing was also working perfect.
However, did have to tune motors agains and again, and also change Micro Step values in the Motor Driver, which are not set to 8 for X and Y axis, which i guess means 1/8 steps.
Now suddenly one issue has started, regarding Homing.
Earlier when i would Reference all, in Program Run panel, each axis one by one would go to the Home sw, tough it, then move a bit away very slowly, then move slowly towards it again, touch it, and then finally move off and the lYellow Home Sw activated light would go off in the Diagnostic panel, and Auto Zero would also activate.
Now for some reason, the Y axis started to behave odd once it reached the Home sw, Now when it touched the home sw, it moves away a fee bit, stops, and again moves away a bit more, and stops, and the home sw is still active, so everything stops. It is supposed to move sufficiently away till the home sw moves to a position and Yellow light goes off. As a result , not other axis can home.
I then tried in the Diagnostics panel, to Ref Y, and exactly the same thing is happening, Same if i click on Ref X. The system when Homing does not move sufficiently away from the Homing sw. So now i have to click on Reset, and uses arrow keys to move X and Y aways from the Home sw.
Has the program got corrupted, and i need to uninstall and install again, or have i busted the USB board for some reason.
I have attached an image of the Motor Home/soft limits. And also attaching the Motor Inputs and Input Signal images, just in case something is wrong there.
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I am hoping the small video i have taken can be attached,
to show how the axis moves to home position, then it moves back in two small parts, and stops, but does not move sufficiently away for the Yellow lights to go off.
having problem uploading the video, so have posted the link below.
https://youtu.be/Qq_i0VjRTS4
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Hi,
on your Inputs page you have all limit switches and home switches assigned to one input, and even worse you have chosen pin 3.
Pin 3 is NOT an input, its an output, in fact its an output for the y axis according to your Motor page.
Also you have in your Home and Limits page specified that Z is to Home but you have not enabled the Z axis motor in your
Motor page.
Try this suggestion: wire your three home switches individually and assign each to one input. I would not bother with limits until
you understand homing. You have tried to combine all limits and homes into one input, you are not the first and wont be the last.
If that one input activates Mach does not know whether the X axis is about ready to sail off the end or whether the Z axis home switch has triggered.
Try:
Estop pin10
XHome pin11
YHome pin12
ZHome pin13
Disable X+,X-,Y+,Y-,Z+,Z-
Craig
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joeaverage.
Can you please confirm that the pin no you have suggested are for USB Controller system, OR for Parallel Port system.
Cause when i select those pin no of the axis, the machine is just pushing against the end of the bed, it goes past the Home sw and continues to push against the wall so to say, till it want to break it.
I am not sure if a USB Controller has those pin no available for use.
Please Confirm.
I am using a USB Controller with a USB cable and NOT a Parallel Port printer cable that has 25 pins.
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joeaverage,
I have intentionally disable the Z axis,
so that i can first sort out this homing problem with X and Y axis first.
earlier all 3 axis were homing perfect.
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Hi,
its your controller, there is no way I can tell. Certainly the numbers I have given apply to a parallel
port but most external motion controllers intended for Mach3 follow the same numbering.
Look in the manual for your controller, you require inputs for home switches. I think your assignment of pin 3
is an output.
If you don't want the Z axis to Home disable it in the Homing and Limits page, otherwise Mach will attempt to
home the axis but not be able to move it because you have no Z axis motor.
Craig
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Found the problem why the Homing was not working properly.
Somewhere down the line while Tuning Motors, i changed the Micro Stop to 1 or 2 on the Motor Drivers, so the axis moves a particular distance, and it was enough to move the table back far enough to operate the micro sw.
Then i changed the Micro Step to 8, so now the distance move became very small, and the micro sw would not operate.
To solve the problem i have oriented the micro sw trigger arm in such a way that it gets triggered wishing that small distance the table moves back after hitting the Home sw.
Now all 3 axis are Homing Correct, all 3 axis are of 1/8 Micro Step.
Z axis now activated and also but on 1/8 Micro Step.
Cheers. Finally, all systems working perfect.
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Hi,
its your controller, there is no way I can tell. Certainly the numbers I have given apply to a parallel
port but most external motion controllers intended for Mach3 follow the same numbering.
Look in the manual for your controller, you require inputs for home switches. I think your assignment of pin 3
is an output.
If you don't want the Z axis to Home disable it in the Homing and Limits page, otherwise Mach will attempt to
home the axis but not be able to move it because you have no Z axis motor.
Craig
Pin 3 is input, and now the system is working perfect.
all 3 axis Home properly.
USB Controller input pins are different,
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I have WIN XP and a USB to DB25 adapter. Trying to install a LPT port with no success. I need a LPT port set up with I/O address so I can use Mach3. Does anyone have any experience using a USB to DB25 Adapter that can help?
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I have WIN XP and a USB to DB25 adapter. Trying to install a LPT port with no success. I need a LPT port set up with I/O address so I can use Mach3. Does anyone have any experience using a USB to DB25 Adapter that can help?
The USB to DB25 adapters do not work.
You will need to look for a motion controller such as the Warp9 ESS or the Pokeys 57CNC , etc.
Tweakie.
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I have WIN XP and a USB to DB25 adapter. Trying to install a LPT port with no success. I need a LPT port set up with I/O address so I can use Mach3. Does anyone have any experience using a USB to DB25 Adapter that can help?
The USB to DB25 adapters do not work.
You will need to look for a motion controller such as the Warp9 ESS or the Pokeys 57CNC , etc.
Tweakie.
Thank you for your support
EDIT; Advertising removed from quote.
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you should not need to do anything at all. Install Mach3, carefully follow the mach3 install instructions, configure your machine and that's it. Sounds easy doesn't it? All I am saying is that you don't need anything special just because you are installing in Win7.