Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: H-Wheeler on March 07, 2008, 08:37:26 PM
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Hi guys,
I'm in Hilo, Hawaii not much CNC pros here but I'm still looking for some help, started with Master5, crashed a few times over the years and got up and running with Art's help and the guys at alignrite, NOW in 2008, I'm running an older IBM cpu with Windows XP pentium3, 1.70 GHz, 128 MB of RAM, DB25 Printer port cable, CPU male and into a Testra 4x483 SoftStep female running the stepper motors of a Wolverine3 from Alignrite, by the way takes 4 complete turns of the dail to move 1 inch, spindle is an AStro 250. I have some capture video of my system if anyone wants to see if they can help me figure it out. My steppers useto scream when I turned the cpu on, now it's a clunck sound when it comes on for a second, and then turns with no resistance or torque, when the mill is running right I'm in CNC heaven, I'm good, I only bother people when the mill is down, like NOW!, can you guys take a look, do I still need a breakout board with the Testra 4x483 and a new port cable, my steppers are DEAD!......H-Wheeler, Wheeler means I'm in a wheelchair for the past 30 years , vietnam vet. The reason I'm into CNC is, I did casting hot metal, but was limited to size, a friend said to go billet for Biker stuff so here I am, HELP.
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Hey H-Wheeler,
The video would probaly help. Has it ran at all on Mach3.
Brett
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If you are saying there is no torque on the steppers when the system is on, that means there is no power to them so check out the power supply and make sure a fuse hasn't blown or whatever.
Another feature on some boards is a "disable all axis" pin that has to be grounded before the axis work - check if you have one, and make sure it is permanently grounded, or if it is grounded. make sure it is a good firm connection.
Pardon me asking - has this system ever worked - if it has, what has changed (if anything) to make it not work. This will give us a clue as to what might be wrong.
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Hi C,
Yes the system has run before , but when a new CPU is used I have to re-tweek it to get it going, can I send the videos to you, if I can?
Hey H-Wheeler,
The video would probaly help. Has it ran at all on Mach3.
Brett
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No - a much better idea would be ( seeing it is winter over here in the UK) - for a small consideration, I will fly out and spend some time with you diagnosing the problem over a few beers.
If we can't manage that, I suppose the video will have to do.
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Having studied the pictures - this is a standard system of output from LPT1. At first I did not see it, but I just have (having written all the rest of the reply).
There is an enable jumper - labelled JP2 - the legend reads, I think -
Top - External - 4 - Enables Drives - Normal
Bottom - Drivers always enabled
Check if you have any of these jumpers connected. I personally would connect the bottom one - and have the drivers enabled all the time otherwise, I assume, your will need some sort of enable/disable switch for it.
If this was the problem - ignore the rest of the diatribe.
Assuming this unit is working correctly, I can see no reason why your system should not work.
Try this and see what happens.
Get one motor - preferably away from the lathe/mill on a workbench or somewhere. Connect your unit to it on the X motor set of contacts. Connect the power supply to the unit. Turn on the unit. You should hear a clunk from the motor and if you try and turn the motor manually it should put a a good resistance to being moved. If this is the case, we must assume that the unit is working correctly.
Turn to your computer - with Mach3. I assume you want the miller with three axis (although to set up does not make that much difference).
Before connecting your computer to the lathe -
Try jogging the axis - do the DRO's jog up and down. If they do not check on Config/System Hotkeys and set the jogg keys to what you like - generally X and Y go on the up and down, left and right arrows, I have my Z on page up, page down. Click the jog you want to set, and press the keyboard key to set it.
If the axis will now jog turn to Config/Ports and Pins. Ensure the top left PORT1 is enabled.
Same page, select Motor Outputs - you will have to set up these as the instructions on the top of your driver unit. As well as step and direction don't forget the step port, direction port which should be 1.
Switch off the driver unit, plug in your printer cable and turn back on. You should get the same clunk. Your motor should now respond to jog controls for the X drive motor.
If this is working so far, you are home and dry.
You can test all the outputs from the computer by merely setting the same output pins for the Y and Z axis and seeing if they work.
You can test your driver by connecting the motor to the other two outputs and repeating the same tests - altering the pin numbers to suit.
If it hasn't worked this far there are some other tests you can try on the LPT1 port (principally to check the voltage your computer is putting out - which should be 5volts - some computers only put out 3.5volts which is not enough for reliable operation).
As far as tesing the driver card, that is a bit beyond me, but if you can borrow another computer and test Mach3 on that, that is the way to go.
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Hi, H-Wheeler
Just another opinion hear.
Looking at your stepper drive picture, I would not change any Jumpers, All the
Connections you need are in the Printer cable now.
Looks like to enable your drives you need to set External-4 pin 17.
Config, Ports & Pins, Outputs to "Enable1" see pic 1
After starting Mach3 "Reset" should turn on the drives.
If it doesn't change the Active Low State to "X".
Config, Ports & Pins, Motor Outputs as in Pic 2
Dose your Mill have a forth axis A, "R axis" as in the Picture ?
If not then don't put in the A axis pin numbers
I wouldn't set the "Home" switches up till you get it going, Motor Tuned.
Config, Ports & Pins, pic 3
I think the "Active Lows" are set correct, If not change them to the other state "X"
Then on to Motor Tuning,
Let us now.
Hope this Helps, Chip
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Hi, Rich
No Egg throwing hear, Just People helping People.
Maybe will get an update soon.
Thanks, Chip
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Aloha Guys,
I'll take each one as they are, I just tested the DB25 for continuity, It's straight through, checked the connections from the back of the driver box to the stepper connections and their good, , unchecked and disconnected Y and Z in motor outputs,changed the X settings in motor outputs, step-7 and dir-6 to step-9 and dir-8, it gave me an error message in the config. check facility under output signals check, I put it back to the original settings and the error message was gone, after i rebooted, "no port/pins error found. I need to know how do you check for the 5v going to the steppers with the multimeter, at the connection of where? Do I do it when it's hot, I'm no electrician, and the multimeter's not mine(lol). I'll take everyone's advise because it hurts not to be cutting. Thanks again GUYS, I'll let you know what I find out.
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Just a Question........in the diagnostics page , is the pulse frquency suppose to move as in 25455-25451-25461-25453 etc. etc.etc, because I have 2 computers that run Mach 3, but only one is hooked up to the mill, and that one does not move, the one not hooked up to the mill is for checking the code runs. I have tried to use this comp but it's the same problem. I'll send a screen captures of my pins/ports pages if that will help, and no I do not have any limit switches at this time. Thanks though.....Aloha
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Hey Wheeler,
Check your voltages to the steppers at the end of the cable that hooks to the controller. If you check a direction pin should be high (5V) for one direction and low, (0) for the other. Hook you meter from the metal on the outisde of the connector to ground and you hot, touch it to the direction pin for that axis. Jog that axis with the keyboard in both directions. Should see the voltage change. The step signals are harder to read as they are fast in most cases.
Brett
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Hi, H-Wheeler
Config, Ports & Pins, Outputs to "Enable1" see pic 1
After starting Mach3 "Reset" should turn on the drives.
Did you try changing this, If it doesn't change the Active Low State to "X".
Pulse Frequency may not change much at all, is the Time in Int changing see pic.
Post your XML file.
To: Post your XML
If you have a Standard Install of Mach you'll find the xml's in C:\Mach3 folder.
Find the Mach3Mill.xml, Make a copy of it and Re-Name the copy to a unique name, your nameMach3Mill.xml should work.
Use the "REPLY" Button then Attachment Options, "Browse" to C:\Mach3 and find the file, Double click on it and Post.
Thanks, Chip
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Hi RICH,
I posted the settings to see if anyone could see any screw ups on my part in my settings, when I mentioned Don, that happened months ago , we tried to get it going, but still no movement even following his settings, but still NO RESOLUTION, I was frustrated They are in New Mexico and I'm in Hawaii, after a few weeks of settling down I decided to come to this forum for help, Matt just wanted to charge me with no guarentee of getting it going, Ive had this driver box for about 2 years, the driver box before this crapped out on me because 2 stepper drivers went south in the box, so I had to replace it with my current driver box, when the mill is going I'm good. THE STEPPERS ARE STILL DEAD :'(. Iv'e been e-mailing the MAN at TESTRA, and he said:
Hi,
I am running a wolverine3 from Alignrite, my motors are not getting any power, the fan works, but no movement, how can I test it. I am running Mach3 with the settings on the cover in ports and pins, but still no movement. How can I test it to see if power is going to motors?
Do I need a breakout board, or is this it?
No breakout board is needed.
Question:
There are green lights by each of the motor connectors. If lit they indicate that
the drivers are running. What is the status?
There is a red light next to the output connector. Is it lit? This indicates
that the drivers should be enabled.
If the above is true, you can try turning the motors by hand. If they are powered
this will be difficult.
If all above is ok, I would bet on your settings in Mach3.
Align-Rite is supposed to be providing you support on this.
Have a Great Day!
Thomas W. Hart, Jr.
President
Testra Corporation
1201 N. Stadem Drive
>> There are four green lights from left to right next to the motor
>> connection
>> outputs, I'll number them 1 2 3 4, only 2 and 3 are lit, the red light is
>> on, I do not use a 4th axis. The motors clunk for a second or scream for
>> about 20 seconds then go silent, then the wheels can be turned manually,
>> no
>> resistance.
It appears that you may have more than one problem here.
Output 1 (X-axis) light should be lit indicating a bad driver.
Question: With Mac3 disabled what happens when you just turn on power to the box?
Describe the lights. Then turn on Mac3 and enable and disable the drivers. The
red light should be able to be turned on and off. When you do this the drive to
the motors will also be turned on/off. Describe what happens.
Have a Great Day!
Thomas W. Hart, Jr.
President
I'll do what he said, and get back to you..............MAHALO PLENTY
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Hi, H-Wheeler
Most of your pic's don't show up hear.
If you have the mill power on and as you say, When i startup the computer the steppers wherl and move, then there trying/working as the printer port is in a test state.
If your UP, Send me a Personal Msg. with your Phone #, I'll give you a call now, If not i'll call tomorrow after 9:00 pm fla time.
Thanks, Chip
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silly, I know, but i saw the headline "stepper motors dead!" and the sticker "very hot!" and thought there was an electrical fire issue... i think I've been up too long
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Hi RICH,
Spoke with Chip this morning to recheck some settings, did some tests,rearranged some numbers , figuring it could be the driver box......quote author=RICH link=topic=6153.msg40748#msg40748 date=1205358267]
Hi H-Wheeler
Quietly on the sideline till after you talk to Chip.
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Howzit Chip,
Got your message, again thanks for your patience, moved the X and Y to 6400 steps per 1 inch, did it with a ruler too!, acceleration at 20, and velocity at 50 and still adjusting till I get it right ,L O L .Does not the Z double the steps, I have Z at 6400 steps too, just a question here, to deal with gravity and the weight of the spindle and metal frame work, I thought thats what I was told, just have to fool around with the velocity and acceleration, did a test cut and it seems to be going good, just need to keep an eye on the feed rate so I don't jump any steps. I am grateful for your expertise on this matter of CNC. Thanks for being a friend. Mahalo.............................Arnold