Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: budman68 on November 07, 2008, 12:11:25 PM
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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.
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More pics
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Dave
looks like A axis has to be set port 1
bill
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Thanks, Bill but forgive me for leaving some info out, this setup is connected to a second parallel port.
Sorry about that-
Dave
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ok,so what is wrong A wont, spin.
bill
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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
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are your power led lights coming on ,both boards
bill
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Yes, they're both on.
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Dave,
Is the driver enabled ?
There is a jumper, but not clear in the docs.
RC
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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
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Dave,
Did you try the jumper ?
On some, the jumper bypasses the software enable option.
RC
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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
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Some more pics of the actual setup may help:
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Dunno Dave.....
Might try setting this Active Low ?
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Dave
it looks like you have to close JP6 when you use USB power.double check the manual.
bill
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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
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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
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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
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Thank you, - :)
Dave
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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!
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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