Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: saurabhsaurc on October 10, 2018, 03:56:09 AM
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Hi Folks,
I'm a complete noob to Mach3, although I have extensive experience in CNC/robotics. I need help in setting up my USB Mach3 board to work with my stepper motors.
Now I'm not talking about the parallel port breakout board since my laptop doesn't have a parallel port. I'm talking about boards like this
https://robokits.co.in/automation-control-cnc/controller/usb-cnc-controller-mach3-4-axis-100khz-interface-board-mk1
The documentation provided is extremely limited so I am having trouble wiring and operating the software. I got this far (see image attached )
XP and XD ( pins 2 & 3? ) are connected to stepper driver's CLK+ and CW+. EN+, EN-, CLK-, CW- are all connected to ground through a terminal block.
This ought to send step signals when I give CNC codes, but it doesn't do anything at all.
I read somewhere that I ought to wire up the left side with 12V connected to 10V and Gnd to that Gnd. Why would the Mach3 board need external power supply? It doesn't run the motors, all it does is send step and direction signals. I'm also mystified as to why 12V should be connected to 10V.
The other problem is that my Mach3 software doesn't seem to be able to process G-Codes.
It loads up fine, even detects my board, but when I click 'cycle start' it just goes to the first instruction and sits there. Sometimes it has trouble generating toolpath too.
I have set the pins for X axis to 2 and 3 in the configuration.
Thanks for you help!
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Your board needs a 12 / 24Volt supply to function.
Tweakie.
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So, where should I connect it? On the 10V/Gnd terminals on the right side or somwhere else?
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The 12/24 Volt supply connects to the 24V and ACM/DCM (as appropriate) terminals.
I think you would be wise to contact the supplier of your board to obtain the full manual / instructions etc. before proceeding.
Tweakie.
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Okay!
I connected the power supply to 24V and DCM. The board is now active, and holding torque is being provided to the stepper motor.
But in the software, I cannot get the motor to move, still. When I click cycle start, it does nothing. Sometimes when I click reset, it says RnR control board not found!
Pin configuration is given in image. Is there any other config I need to do?
Here's the sample g-code, it's really simple.
G00 G90 G94 G40 G54 G80
T1 M06
M07
G01 X30 F200
G01 X10 F200
M09
M05
M02
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As I have already mentioned you should contact the suppliers of your board for the complete manual and set-up instructions.
Tweakie.
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Their knowledge is not that much honestly.. that's why I'm posting here :)
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Their knowledge is not that much honestly.. that's why I'm posting here :)
That pretty much explains it all.
In my view, if a manufacturers / suppliers fails to fully support their product then that is tantamount to an admission that their product is total crap and probably will never ever perform as intended.
There are a number of reputable manufacturer’s of Motion Controllers that do fully support their products and that is perhaps your direction forward.
I use both a Warp9 ESS and a Pokeys 57CNC – both have excellent customer support and excellent documentation - perhaps check out their websites.
Tweakie.
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Success!
I managed to get it to work by following instructions on this site
https://buildyourcnc.com/Item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board
Even though I didn't buy it from them and my board looks a little different from theirs.
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Excellent ;)
Tweakie.
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Hi again,
So I've managed to set up my stuff just fine mostly. Only one thing is there which is the spindle setting. I want to use STEP/DIR to control the spindle.
I have set up the spindle control to step/dir, and then set the pins ( in Ports and Pins ) to 2 & 3 ( where the x-axis was connected ). However, nothing happens!
I cannot get the spindle to work. Even more annoyingly, the MPG (displayed on the screen ) is able to jog the 'x-axis' motor, even though I have disabled the x-axis in ports and pins and set those pins to 0. What is the actual concept of 'pin numbers' in Mach 3?
Edit: Now I am even more confused with this 'pin number' thing. When I set y-axis pins to 2 & 3, it doesn't respond to y-axis commands either! So are the pin numbers hard-wired to the particular axis?
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Your controller probably doesn't use standard port and pin number settings.
It also may not support a step/dir spindle.