Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: X axis quits functioning after 3-5 minutes only in mach 3

« on: March 27, 2008, 08:34:50 AM »

I should also note that if I exit mach 3 and instantly go back in to it.  The axis kicks back to life for another 3-5 minutes.  Right now I'm doing simple jogging tests.  Right now each piece of software is jogging at the same speed.  I had to flycut some pistons for a customer so I drove the machine around with the jog till I can iron the kinks out.  Both pieces of software run the same steps and velocity.  I will check and see for an error message when I get into work.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: X axis quits functioning after 3-5 minutes only in mach 3

« on: March 27, 2008, 07:52:14 AM »

That's why I put that it works for several hours in a different piece of software..  If the board was heating up and not working then it should do that in both..  unfortunately the problem lies only when I run mach 3...  other software works..

3

General Mach Discussion / X axis quits functioning after 3-5 minutes only in mach 3

« on: March 26, 2008, 10:59:13 PM »

I'm so close to getting mach 3 and my x2 mini mill to live in harmony.  I've tried lighting incense candles and sprinkling flower petals around. They're just not totally in love quite yet.  I've got one last problem.  Mach 3 boots up and runs fine but after about 3-5 minutes the x axis stops working.  Even if your using it. 

My board is a easy CNC  http://www.easy-cnc.com   (crappiest board ever but still functioning)
probotix 260oz steppers

The inputs are opticoupled so I have to run the board in sherline 1/2 pulse mode or the signal seems to get really jittery and not function.  Something about the pulses not being spaced far enough apart.

The X axis will cease to function but when I try and jog it I can hear a faint high pitched signal coming from the motor.  Keep in mind the Y and the Z function perfectly no matter how much time passes.  Also the x,y,z also function on kcam but I use that old program sparingly but alas after cutting 8 parts with it today.  I know that the board will use it.  I've tried different frequency's to no avail.

I soooooooooo want my mach 3..   Any ideas?  Pulse issue?  interference issue?

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help... Can't get motors moving

« on: March 12, 2008, 11:09:11 AM »

Setting it to sherline mode has all the motors moving. and moving smoothly at 200 steps.  I have the board set to quarter step instead of 1/8th step.  They were moving quite jittery earlier.  This machine does not go through a gear reduction.  it's the CNC fusion kit to mount the motors.  The reason I bought a easy CNC is for the "easy" part that's plug and play.  As chip was saying that sometimes the opticoupled boards need more time to process the stuff and the sherline mode gives it that time.  Everyone thank you for your help!

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help... Can't get motors moving

« on: March 11, 2008, 06:23:08 PM »

Ok... I checked pins and unchecked the "low actives" to where they're red x's now.  The x axis started to work..  but like crap.  I mean it would take maybe 2 minutes for it to make one full rotation.  It seemed to be fighting itself.  Was real jittery and somewhat unresponsive to small inputs.  If I layed on the jog it moved but if I just taped the jog arrow key it would sometimes move sometimes not.  So I adjusted the steps from 200 to 500.  The Xaxis motor began to work fine.  Set the steps to 800 and it worked even better.  Tested all the way up to a velocity of 85IPM and it was spinning like a champ and being really responsive.  The yaxis and Z axis are still doing the same thing.  Or have stopped it all together.  The low actives are red x's. For grins I changed the xaxis pins with the y axis pins to see if I could get it running the other motor.  The xaxis doesn't move and then the y axis moves (previously the functioning x axis)  SO I power cycled the box and still no change.  To double check everything fearful I've fried something on the y and z axis, I booted up kcam again and it worked again on all 3 axis's.     I also fired up the driver test again.  The line was almost completely flat with zero spikes. 

Chip you want to make a "consulting fee" and drive up from Gainesville and fix it only about 45 mins if you're getting it. 

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help... Can't get motors moving

« on: March 11, 2008, 05:16:08 PM »

I set the steps to 200, velocity to 20IPM, acceleration to 4, dir to 5 and step to 5 pulses.

No change.  If any the step that they make when I change directions seems a little stronger.  Could just be my mind.

7

General Mach Discussion / Help... Can't get motors moving

« on: March 11, 2008, 03:23:06 PM »

Right now the motors are just on my bench and I'm tinkering with it to get it running before I attach it to the mill.

I've got mach3 installed on my basic box which is a 666mhz celeron with 256mb of ram.. 
The driver test works well and shows that it works well.  The program boots up and says that it detects the control board (EasyCNC 4 axis).  I go into it and setup the pin outs on my control board into the configuration.  I then following the manual goto setup the motor velocity and acceleration settings and pick a conservative setting. (like 20ipm) If I load in some Gcode test sample or I try and jog the machine.  The motors do not turn.  When I change directions jogging the machine the motors will hop like a quarter step in the direction that I've changed.  I figured it was a problem with the machine speed so I brought in my amd 4600x2 gig of ram machine today.  Same symptoms and results. 

I have got the driver board and same box to run successfully in KCam but I had to disable the ramping feature because I was getting really CPU intensive delayed movements.  After that everything has been running smoothly on the bench.  So I'd think the port, board, and voltage can be ruled out.  I tried switching to the special driver and it only resulted in mach 3 becoming unresponsive to any input.  Switching back to original driver and changing directions jogging will only cause the motors to jump at best a quarter step.  I tried low level inputs checked and with them checked no motor movement occurred.  Any Help?

Specs are
XP Sp2
4600x2 athlon
1gig ram

Controller is EasyCNC 4axis 2.5a per phase
Motors are Probotix 260oz steppers unhooked laying on bench.