Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Loosing steps Add a second Y axis DRO for mach3

« on: April 24, 2020, 02:12:25 AM »

A fellow from CNCZone sent me a couple of videos that I needed because I had been using a XP PC for the past ten years and this one is a Win 10, one of the videos dealt  with optimizing windows and the other grounding.  That was good to do anyway.
I have a new driver in the Y master spot I could move it to the Y slave spot and if the problem switched sides that would indicate that the older driver was the problem. 
Think I will do that and see what happens.

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Add 2nd DRO for Y axis

« on: April 23, 2020, 06:04:05 PM »

Got it, I was hoping that it recorded the actual position rather than the Command.
Thanks

3

General Mach Discussion / Add 2nd DRO for Y axis

« on: April 23, 2020, 01:25:28 PM »

How can I add a second DRO to monitor the Y Slave (C) axis I’m having problems with lost steps and would like to monitor both the Y master and Y slave movement.
Thanks

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Loosing steps Add a second Y axis DRO for mach3

« on: April 23, 2020, 09:58:59 AM »

Thanks I understand that, please read the explanation of what I did and how the lost steps changed sides, Sorry guess I didn’t make my problem clear.  If I could have attached a drawing this could have been simplified but I don’t know how to do that.

Originally I ALWAYS lost steps on the LEFT side the Y Slave stepper side of the machine.  The RIGHT side Y MASTER stepper NEVER lost steps.

All the stepper wiring have a 9 pin connector on the side of the control box.

To troubleshoot the problem I unplugged the Y slave stepper connection and the Y master stepper master connector from the side of the control box.

I then connected the Y slave stepper connector to the Y master driver connector, and connected the Y master stepper connector to the Y slave driver connector.

Confused yet?

In summary, the Y slave driver is now controlling the Y master stepper on the right and the Y master Driver is controlling the Y slave Stepper driver on the left.

In this wiring configuration now I ONLY LOOSE STEPS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MACHINE,  THE Y MASTER STEPPER that is driven by the Y slave driver.

So, this rules out both a loose stepper connector on either side, and a bad stepper motor on either side because the problem switched sides after switching the Y master and Y slave connectors.

That’s leaves I THINK either the Y Slave driver causing the lost steps or the hardware or software.  This is where the lost steps are coming from that always cause lost steps.

Thanks
Hager

5

General Mach Discussion / Loosing steps Add a second Y axis DRO for mach3

« on: April 22, 2020, 03:11:28 PM »

I am having a bad problem with lost steps, and was wondering if a second DRO display for the Y axis. Am using Y Master and Y slave.
The lost steps are always coming from the Y slave driver to the left side Y stepper motor.
If I switch the cables to the steppers, send the Y slave driver output to the right side stepper, the right side stepper starts loosing steps.

This looks like it points to the driver, and not the stepper motor.

What could be the cause of loosing steps?
The below test was ran Wednesday morning. Tuesday afternoon it was not possible at all to run the same code at 75IPM without it failing and loosing steps.

I was surprised this morning for it to run so well until later in the test, and I realize thet 200 IPM is extreme for me.

Here is some testing I have done at different speeds.
Material 3/16" plywood, 1/8" single flute end mill,  cutting 0.050" per pass, the letter outline I'm cutting is 12"x14"

Test 1 pass 60 IPM
Test 2 pass 60 IPM
Test 3 pass 75 IPM
Test 4 pass 75 IPM
Test 5 pass 100 IPM
Test 6 pass 125 IPM
Test 7 pass 150 IPM
Test 8 pass 175 IPM
Test 9 fail 200 IPM  Realign gantry
Test 10 pass 75 IPM
Test 11 pass 75 IPM
Test 12 fail 75 IPM  Gantry skew left 33" right 34 3/4"
Stepper temperature left 170 F   right 185 F

6

General Mach Discussion / Configure C25S with ESS Smoothstepper

« on: March 26, 2020, 08:24:05 PM »

Mach3, ESS Smoothstepper, C25S BOB, windows10, Gecko G251 Drivers
Two Y drivers, C slaved to Y2

I  have the Smoothstepper set up and the C25S card arrived today.

My problem is that the C25S board manual or site doesn’t include the configuration of the C25S to the drivers.   The wiring diagram that they show in the manual doesn’t match the C25S board.  I have left three messages on their phone, but I guess the virus or something has them shut down.   Also Posted on their forum a few days ago without any reply.

The only response I got back was that the back row of pins is exactly the same as the front row, that’s true except for some 5V and Ground pins are not in the same location on the front and back rows.

I need to know how to configure my four drivers X, Y1, Y2, and Z. Where Y2 is slaved to C.

SIGNAL. ENAB.  STP PIN NO. DIR PIN NO. DIR LOW ACI. STP LOW ACI. STP PORT DIR PORT
X axis.     Yes.           1.                  2.              X.                   X.                1.                1
Y AXS 1.  YES            3.                  4.             X.                    X.                1.                1
Z ax’s.     Yes.            7.                  8.             X.                    X.                1.                1
C axis      Yes.            5.                  6.             X.                    X.                1.                1

C axis is slaved to Y2

I’m guessing that the numbered pins on the C25S board can be step or direction either on, as the pins are defined in the Ports and Pins.  Is that correct?

The “PORT” in ports and pins, on the C25S board the front row of pins, are they PORT1 and the back row of pins, are they PORT 2?

Thanks

7

General Mach Discussion / Update Mach3 SW to a newer version

« on: November 02, 2014, 10:44:42 PM »

I have recently purchased the 2010 Screen utility which allows for auto zero of the Z axis and for zeroing the Z axis when a tool change is done.

The 2010 Screen SW requires a newer version of Mach than I have installed, I downloaded a version of Mach3 that is compatible with the 2010 screen utility.

What is the process to replace my old version of Mach3 with the newer version?  Any precautions?


Thanks
HH

8

Mach3 and G-Rex / Updating from Mach3 version 3.43.022 to 3.43.062

« on: October 28, 2014, 05:36:05 PM »

I have updated to a newer a version of Mach a few years ago but at age 74 it might as well been in a past life.  I downloaded the newer version from their FTP site, and that went well.

But it seems I remember something about backing up a certain file just in case things go Amis,  that's all I remember.  If someone could give me a step by step procedure I sure would appreciate it. 

Thanks
HH aka Mr Chips

9

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach3 stops at this line "S100M03"

« on: October 19, 2011, 03:53:11 PM »

I picked the first one in the Mach2/3 list.

10

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: Mach3 stops at this line "S100M03"

« on: October 19, 2011, 01:06:52 PM »

Attached a screen shot.
Spindle CW F5 blinks yellow.

Thanks
Hager