Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: jovimon on September 17, 2007, 05:16:48 PM

Title: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: jovimon on September 17, 2007, 05:16:48 PM
Hi everyone, I haven’t found anything in the forum about to configure Mach3 to run two step motors in one axis clockwise and counterclockwise ¿Could anybody tell me how to do it?.

      Thanks    Jovimon
Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: Hood on September 17, 2007, 05:37:42 PM
Not sure I understand but if its just a case that at the moment both motors run the same way it might just be a case of reversing the wires to one of the motors.
Hood
Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: Greolt on September 17, 2007, 08:54:03 PM

G'day Jovimon

Say one is called "X" and the other "A"

Slave them together using the menu item under "Config"

You have probably already done this.   ;D

Then go to "Homing/Limits" also under the "Config" menu, and select "Reverse" for the appropriate one.

That will do it.

This presumes you are using LPT.

If using homing switches you can have one for each motor and Mach will home each one individually.

Handy on say a gantry axis where it will confirm the gantry squareness when homed.

If using only one home switch for both slaved motors then there is a selection under "Gerneral Config"
to "Home Slave With Master Axis" and Mach will home them as a slaved pair.

Greg
Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: jovimon on September 18, 2007, 03:42:40 PM

G'day Jovimon

Say one is called "X" and the other "A"

Slave them together using the menu item under "Config"

You have probably already done this. ;D

Then go to "Homing/Limits" also under the "Config" menu, and select "Reverse" for the appropriate one.

That will do it.

This presumes you are using LPT.

If using homing switches you can have one for each motor and Mach will home each one individually.

Handy on say a gantry axis where it will confirm the gantry squareness when homed.

If using only one home switch for both slaved motors then there is a selection under "Gerneral Config"
to "Home Slave With Master Axis" and Mach will home them as a slaved pair.

Greg


Hi Greg, Actually I want to know both cases:
(1)   one lead screw, two motors "pulling the same way" (one CW at one end, and CCW at the other end).
(2)   Two motors two leads pulling in parallel (for the same way).

Is your explanation for the first case (1)?

Hey Greg, by the way ¿What does X++ means in Mach?, maybe I skip it in the manual. Don´t foget that I´m a newbie. ;D
                     
                       Thank you   Jovimon
Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: jovimon on September 18, 2007, 03:49:38 PM
Not sure I understand but if its just a case that at the moment both motors run the same way it might just be a case of reversing the wires to one of the motors.
Hood

Hi Hood, As I´m explaining to Greg (above) I want to know both cases:
(1)   Two motors, one lead screw pulling the same way (one CW at one end, and CCW at the other end).
(2)   Two motors two leads pulling in parallel.

                     
                       Thank you   ;) 
Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: Chaoticone on September 18, 2007, 04:03:46 PM
Jovimon, If I were going to try to put two motors on one screw, I'd want them to drive by a belt and not a coupling. I would also use the same step and direction pins and wires for both drives.  The reason I say this is because timing will be ultra critical if you hook two motors to one lead scerw. The belt should help eliminate this I think. I have used two motors to turn one shaft like that and it worked very well. If you want to run two shafts and two motors, just slave them, or use the same step and direction pin for both drives.

Brett
Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: Greolt on September 18, 2007, 05:09:45 PM

Hi Greg, Actually I want to know both cases:
(1)   one lead screw, two motors "pulling the same way" (one CW at one end, and CCW at the other end).
(2)   Two motors two leads pulling in parallel (for the same way).

Is your explanation for the first case (1)?

Hey Greg, by the way ¿What does X++ means in Mach?, maybe I skip it in the manual. Don´t foget that I´m a newbie. ;D
                     
                       Thank you   Jovimon


Jovimon

The explanation above was for case (2)  particularly the homing bit.

Case  (1) You would want the two motors and drives to be perfectly matched and as Brett said drive them from the same step and direction pin
             I'm sure it has been done but I would be wary of two motors driving one screw.


X++ I take to mean jog at GO speed or a percentage of it as set on screen


Greg

Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: jovimon on September 18, 2007, 06:13:59 PM
Jovimon, If I were going to try to put two motors on one screw, I'd want them to drive by a belt and not a coupling. I would also use the same step and direction pins and wires for both drives.  The reason I say this is because timing will be ultra critical if you hook two motors to one lead scerw. The belt should help eliminate this I think. I have used two motors to turn one shaft like that and it worked very well. If you want to run two shafts and two motors, just slave them, or use the same step and direction pin for both drives.

Brett

    Thank you Brett
Title: Re: How to configure two motors in one axis?
Post by: jovimon on September 18, 2007, 06:17:51 PM

Hi Greg, Actually I want to know both cases:
(1)   one lead screw, two motors "pulling the same way" (one CW at one end, and CCW at the other end).
(2)   Two motors two leads pulling in parallel (for the same way).

Is your explanation for the first case (1)?

Hey Greg, by the way ¿What does X++ means in Mach?, maybe I skip it in the manual. Don´t foget that I´m a newbie. ;D
 
 Thank you Jovimon


Jovimon

The explanation above was for case (2) particularly the homing bit.

Case (1) You would want the two motors and drives to be perfectly matched and as Brett said drive them from the same step and direction pin
 I'm sure it has been done but I would be wary of two motors driving one screw.


X++ I take to mean jog at GO speed or a percentage of it as set on screen


Greg



   Thank you Greg