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Messages - philaro

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1
The solution was - replace the DIY cables from the PoKeys kit with common and inexpensive 10 pin ribbon cables ("printer cables" -- 5 for $9.00 on Amazon). Whatever fault in whatever cable it was allowed motors to run but not for a slaved drive to work. Even after moving all the cables between different motors and board connections it was the same result. So I guess the lesson is that if you have a mysterious problem with your Pokeys 57CNC add DIY cables to your "suspect list".

I'd say that of all the DIY things to make cables are among the least rewarding, especially if you count potential reliability issues. And I'm one of those people who go out of my way to make as much of my machine from my own design and fabrications as possible.  8)

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Just to make things interesting, for a while today A started working and X axis stopped.  But after juggling things around more it went back to plain old "slaved drive is not working."

Is there any issue with running 25-32 and 60-256 drives together?

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PoKeys / PoKeys 57CNC, and P'25-32 and Mach 3 slave mode not working.
« on: June 03, 2018, 01:55:47 PM »
I have PosStep25-32 drivers + Nema 23 motors on the X axis and A axes. I selected A as the slave axis for X. The X axis moves correctly, but the slave motor won't budge. I've tried to isolate the problem with different motors or axis and even cables. The LEDs are green on both drivers - which I assume means they're good.

Any suggestions?

As an alternative, I have a PoStep 60-256. Is there enough juice to wire the pair of Nema 23's in parallel to it?

Phil

4
Mach3 under Vista / Re: Troubleshooting steps Electronics/ CPU/Mach3
« on: October 12, 2012, 09:13:13 PM »
The answer is: the BOB was bad, and there was also a BIOS setting that needed to be changed before I could find that out. ger21 (above)  suggested the BIOS -  I changed the BIOS off of the default "energy saver" setting to the one with the little "hot rod flames" icon. After that, I could read the voltage toggle at the direction pins at the port, and then at the end of the cable. I bought another BOB and now it's working. Now it's on to actually learning and using Mach3 for this newbie.

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Mach3 under Vista / Re: Troubleshooting steps Electronics/ CPU/Mach3
« on: September 17, 2012, 09:44:49 PM »
 I've just re-checked my numbers: the pulse speed is around 24000, and the Port 1 setting I entered is c040 - but it Mach3 re-sets the entry to 0xc040 (which isn't a real address).

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Mach3 under Vista / Re: Troubleshooting steps Electronics/ CPU/Mach3
« on: September 17, 2012, 09:06:23 PM »
Thanks! I'll give them a try! I'll also be checking my typing skills t0 make sure I didn't leave a zer0 0ff the pulse speed number!

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Mach3 under Vista / Re: Troubleshooting steps Electronics/ CPU/Mach3
« on: September 17, 2012, 08:25:33 PM »
Foggy initial post - here's an abbreviated one:

I'm pretty sure the Parallel Port isn't addressed correctly in Mach3 - and I cant get Mach3 to accept the hex address that "getaddressport" (CO40) or Windows "device manager" (CO50-CO57 C040-C047) is giving me. The closest I can get is entering Oxc040. Then again it might be the cable, and it might be the breakout board - but I need to get through this port setup conundrum first to know.

I'm testing the communication using "automated setup of inputs:" FAIL -- it does not get a signal from the test leads I connected (and then disconnected) at the BOB.  Also, I can't get the motors to jog with the arrow keys.


I have a vanilla Windows 7 32 bit, Asix PCI parallel card, ASUS P8-77 motherboard, Intel Core i3 3.3 GHz, Nvidia GT 520 video card. 4GB ram, usb network connector.  The CNC is a DIY BlackFoot from BuildYourCNC with their electronics and breakout board.


On the software side, Mach3 is running, as is the parallel port driver  (with windows 7 memory patch). So far I have been able to run the Mach3 driver test - It says "System is excellent" (positive reinforcement?) with pulses at about 2400 per sec.

Any suggestions?

Phil

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Mach3 under Vista / Troubleshooting steps Electronics/ CPU/Mach3
« on: September 15, 2012, 07:11:27 PM »
I'm having a problem that seems familiar on this support forum (and also the buildyourcnc.com support forum "buildyourtools."): a port address / communication issue. I'm wondering if there is a generic troubleshooting path for dealing with this? I've been taking steps as I dig them up, but really I'm running blind.

I have a newly assembled D.I.Y. Blackfoot 4.0 CNC with parallel port breakout board attached to stepping motor drivers. It is attached to a D.I.Y. PC I built with off the shelf part: Windows 7 32 bit, Asix PCI parallel card, ASUS P8-77 motherboard, Intel Core i3 3.3 GHz, Nvidia GT 520 video card. 4GB ram, usb network connector.  The PC is working - I'm writing this on it...

Problem is revealed when I try "automated setup of inputs:" it does not recognize the signal break from the test leads I connected at the BOB. Error message: " ... you have a wiring problem (not with test leads) or have not properly enabled your printer port." Also, I can't get the motors to jog with the arrow keys.

On the software side, Mach3 is running, as is the parallel port driver. So far I have been able to run the Mach3 driver test - It says "System is excellent" (positive reinforcement?) with pulses at about 2400 per sec. So I'm pretty sure that it is a LPT3 parallel port or after (like the cable or BOB).

The Mach "getportaddress.exe" produced a text file report: "LPT1:&H /  LPT2:&H / LPT3:&HC040" which somewhat resembles the second line of addresses in Windows "device manager": CO50-CO57 C040-C047.
Mach 3 does not accept C040 in the port address box

Suggestions would be very appreciated - though really experienced users might consider putting together a troubleshooting roadmap for future newbies like myself.

Regards

Phil

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