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General Mach Discussion / Help with Mach3 interface problem
« on: May 22, 2009, 03:18:07 PM »
I'm new to CNC so I'm learning a lot as I go. I have just finished a build of a woodworking router, and I have a problem. I have installed a breakout board, FET4, from Stepperworld and 23 size motors. I have been having trouble getting the steps per inch set. I am getting very inconsistent results.
For a set-up that should be at 2000 steps per inch I was getting values in the 3000 range from the steps per inch test in Mach3 and inconsistent results.
After some trouble shooting and concerns that there was too much friction in the router I went back to basics to understand the no-load responses of the system.
I disconnected the lead screws from the motors to avoid any torque issues. Using the simple test software from Stepperworld I got consistent results, 200 steps gives me 360 degrees of rotation, 2000 steps gives me ten rotations. This was repeatable and consistent. I tried full speed and I get around 100 rpm. This worked on all three axes.
All good news.
However, when I use Mach3 and set the steps-per-inch to 2000, and ask for an inch of travel, I get a rotation between six and seven revolutions instead of the ten revolutions expected. The amount of rotation is very variable when repeated.
I have about 4 ft of wiring to each motor in separate harnesses between the board and each of the motors.
Since the test software behaves correctly, I'm stuck trying to figure out what to try next with Mach3 to cure the problem.
I am going to try a short harness (just the wires attached to a motor connected to the board) to see if the harness has a problem.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Ivor
For a set-up that should be at 2000 steps per inch I was getting values in the 3000 range from the steps per inch test in Mach3 and inconsistent results.
After some trouble shooting and concerns that there was too much friction in the router I went back to basics to understand the no-load responses of the system.
I disconnected the lead screws from the motors to avoid any torque issues. Using the simple test software from Stepperworld I got consistent results, 200 steps gives me 360 degrees of rotation, 2000 steps gives me ten rotations. This was repeatable and consistent. I tried full speed and I get around 100 rpm. This worked on all three axes.
All good news.
However, when I use Mach3 and set the steps-per-inch to 2000, and ask for an inch of travel, I get a rotation between six and seven revolutions instead of the ten revolutions expected. The amount of rotation is very variable when repeated.
I have about 4 ft of wiring to each motor in separate harnesses between the board and each of the motors.
Since the test software behaves correctly, I'm stuck trying to figure out what to try next with Mach3 to cure the problem.
I am going to try a short harness (just the wires attached to a motor connected to the board) to see if the harness has a problem.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Ivor