Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Flash Gordon on September 28, 2008, 02:51:42 PM
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Once I turn on the system and press the reset switch (Err/Reset and ENC+ ) The motors start by themselves I must have something wrong on the control side of the drive but I have no idea where to look. Any help would be appreciated.
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Sounds like you are not getting the feedback from the encoders. Check the power to them and the channel wiring.
RC
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Once I turn on the system and press the reset switch (Err/Reset and ENC+ ) The motors start by themselves I must have something wrong on the control side of the drive but I have no idea where to look. Any help would be appreciated.
Flash,
Does the runaway occur when you power up the Geckos, or only when Mach3 starts up? If it's when you power the Geckos, then it is almost certainly an encoder hookup problem. If it's when you start up Mach3, are by any chance using "brains", or do you have a SmoothStepper?
Regards,
Ray L.
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HimyKabibble
The motors run away once The fault light on the drives goes out on power up
I have included a picture of the encoder with wires.
The wires of the encoder are wired to the following Gecko drive terminals
Encoder Drive
Thick Black ENC-
White 5 VDC ENC+
A Red Wire Phase A
B Brown Wire Phase B
Direction Wired to Pin 2 on Breakout Board
Step Wired to Pin 3 on Breakout Board
Common Wired to 0v on Breakout Board
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WOW...are you sure that is a good encoder? He's had a pretty severe knock on the head there.
RC
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Flash,
That appears to be a differential output encoder, which won't work with a Gecko, as the Gecko inputs are single-ended. Unfortunately, your best bet is probably to toss those encoders, and buy some suitable single-ended ones from US Digital.
Regards,
Ray L.
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Himy, Not to disagree with you, but take a look at this :
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,8008.0.html
RC
And this is from the Gecko Manual:
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In your pic., BROWN =A
RED =B
You have them backwards....maybe ?
RC
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OK
Here is the deal
I had mixed up the big thick black wire (System/Motor Ground) with the encoder small thin black signal wire. As soon as I grounded the whole system and placed the thin signal wire in the ENC- slot on the drive the whole system worked. Yes the encoder has taken a bit of a smack but for me proving the whole system it is OK. I have written a small G code program with feeds and rapids and it seem to be going well
I am really gratefull for the help as I am a mechanical person and I find electronics a bit frightening. It is comforting to find a place where information is shared so freely
Thanks again
Flash
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That's one pretty tough encoder. Glad to see that it was only your wiring that was awry.
RC