Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 12:11:25 PM

Title: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 12:11:25 PM
Ok, a little parts background info for you. This is a Probotoix system setup on a second parallel port with a breakout board, drive, and motor. Specs can be seen here:

http://www.probotix.com/breakout_boards/pbx-rf_isolated_breakout_board/

http://www.probotix.com/stepper_motor_drivers/SideStep/

http://www.probotix.com/stepper_motors/ht23-200-6/

I honestly don't think the issue is with the connections but I think I have have Mach 3 setup incorrectly. I'm including some screenshots to help see what I have setup and also a shot of the Probotix info as well. I'm mostly confused about what to "enable" on the motor outputs page.

Thanks so much for looking-
Dave


EDIT: added info about second parallel port.
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 12:12:51 PM
More pics
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: docltf on November 07, 2008, 12:30:22 PM
Dave

looks like A axis has to be set port 1

bill
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 12:32:47 PM
Thanks, Bill but forgive me for leaving some info out, this setup is connected to a second parallel port.

Sorry about that-

Dave
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: docltf on November 07, 2008, 12:36:46 PM
ok,so what is wrong A wont, spin.

bill
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 12:54:45 PM
Correct, and when I introduce power, shouldn't the stepper at least make a "click" sound, like it's locked up and has power to it?

The other motors on my Taig do that so I just assumend this usually happens.

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: docltf on November 07, 2008, 01:05:04 PM
are your power led lights coming on ,both boards

bill
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 01:15:42 PM
Yes, they're both on.
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: Overloaded on November 07, 2008, 02:10:43 PM
Dave,
 Is the driver enabled ?
There is a jumper, but not clear in the docs.
RC
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 02:21:24 PM
Agreed, not clear in the docs for me either. As for the second part of your text, I believe that is about using the drive with another breakout board that you would configure manually. The drive I have as shown in the picture above is connected through their header cable (wide gray strip connecting the 2 boards ).

I do have questions into Probotix for more info as well but have heard nothing so far. They're usually good about support so we'll see.

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: Overloaded on November 07, 2008, 02:31:51 PM
Dave,
  Did you try the jumper ?
On some, the jumper bypasses the software enable option.
RC
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 02:37:39 PM
There is no Jumper on this particular drive since it is mating with their own breakout board -

If you were going to buy one of these drives for a different board, then you would buy the other revision that they sell.

Hope that made sense?

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 03:12:01 PM
Some more pics of the actual setup may help:

Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: Overloaded on November 07, 2008, 03:44:12 PM
Dunno Dave.....
Might try setting this Active Low ?
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: docltf on November 07, 2008, 04:19:55 PM
Dave

it looks like you have to close JP6 when you use USB power.double check the manual.

bill
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 04:26:53 PM
Hi fellas,

Just got off the phone with Chris over at Probotix. He got me all fixed up as I had the wrong setup in the outputs signals tab. It should have been enable 4 port 2 pin 1. Not enable 2 like I had because I misread something in the manual. Those people over there are just fantastic with their support-

Bill, the JP6 does need to be disconnected if powering with the USB port as is written in the manual.

Thanks again for all your help fellas, even though I see how much you guys are there to help out everyday, when you're the one being helped, it means so much more- :)

Now I just have to get my base for the motor and rotary table fabricated and I'm ready to try some 4th axis schtuff!!  :D

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 04:33:17 PM
One more question for you guys, by saving the Mill XML, that should save all the setting as I have them now, correct?

Thanks,
Dave
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: Hood on November 07, 2008, 06:53:30 PM
Yes Dave thats correct, also you might want to save the dat files in the profiles macro folder as they also contain info such as tooltables.
Hood
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 07:42:30 PM
Thank you,  -  :)

Dave
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: simpson36 on November 15, 2008, 06:33:35 AM
Dave,

I hope you start a thread (with pictures) of your 4th axis setup.

After some consideration, I sold my rotary table and went with a stepper powered spin index. For my purposes, the trade of in accuracy for speed was useful. I have two full steps per degree. I don't know what the max RPM is.

I just got it going last night and it's first job was to grind the last 3 inches of a new ball screw down to .5" diameter and then the tip to .375 for treading. The I ground a flat for  set screws.

Made quite a mess, but it worked great!
Title: Re: 4th axis issues, please have a look?
Post by: budman68 on November 15, 2008, 06:48:21 PM
Absolutey, I will definitely have pics up but please don't hold your breath as it's slow going as this is a very busy time of year for me.

I have started the base to hold the sherline rotary table horizontally, so I am getting there, just s-l-o-w-l-y-  :D

I'd like to see pics of your setup so post some if you can  :)

Dave