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General Mach Discussion / Any help / suggestions please?
« on: October 07, 2016, 07:05:57 PM »
Hi, I’m wondering if you are able to offer some advice?
My home built cnc has been running flawlessly for 4 years but developed an intermittent problem with random stoppages for ‘Smoothstepper error’.
I changed the board to a usb board but to no avail.
I wondered if after 4 years there might be some cables starting to break down internally after all that movement.
So, the next step was a complete rewire and at the same time an upgrade. I have moved to a DMM Technology Breakout Board (DMB4250-8B) and to one of your ESS boards. During the rebuild I have added a contactor as the mains on and this highlighted that one of the 48v power supplies (I use 2 of these) had failed.
Of course, now I suspect that this had been the issue all along!
I have ordered 2 new power supplies from you to replace both of mine.
Anyway, I have pressed on with finishing the machine while I wait for the new power supplies and have installed the new ESS.
The question I am looking for some suggestions for is:
Although I am running on only one power supply at present – When I switch the machine on, the X and Y axis run perfectly but as soon as I touch the Z axis, the Z axis doesn’t move AND then both the X and Y axis become very ‘grumbly’ when I try to move them? This situation doesn’t change until I turn off power to the controls and then restart the machine. Also, when started up – although the X and Y move properly, if I leave the machine standing for a short period without any movement, then both X and Y will no longer move smoothly either, they grumble just as they do if I try to move the Z.
I have been back through the wiring multiple times and I’m convinced all is well. I am also running a quality 5v dedicated supply to both the BOB and the ESS.
Are these issues likely to be as a result of trying to run the machine on the single power supply and they may resolve themselves once the 2 new supplies are fitted?
Or is there anything else that you can suggest might be the issue?
I probably should have mentioned too that this machine is running servo motors not steppers on the X and Y but a stepper on the Z AND (although I know it is frowned upon) I have been running this machine for the last 4 years with the power supplies wired (properly) in parallel. I also run 3 drivers – 2 dedicated to X and Y and a lower powered unit for the Z stepper.
There is also a small Geckodrive unit to run my 4th axis occasionally.
I have attached my .xml in case that helps?
Any suggestions will be gratefully received – especially after the last 10 days of frustration!
Regards,
Colin.
My home built cnc has been running flawlessly for 4 years but developed an intermittent problem with random stoppages for ‘Smoothstepper error’.
I changed the board to a usb board but to no avail.
I wondered if after 4 years there might be some cables starting to break down internally after all that movement.
So, the next step was a complete rewire and at the same time an upgrade. I have moved to a DMM Technology Breakout Board (DMB4250-8B) and to one of your ESS boards. During the rebuild I have added a contactor as the mains on and this highlighted that one of the 48v power supplies (I use 2 of these) had failed.
Of course, now I suspect that this had been the issue all along!
I have ordered 2 new power supplies from you to replace both of mine.
Anyway, I have pressed on with finishing the machine while I wait for the new power supplies and have installed the new ESS.
The question I am looking for some suggestions for is:
Although I am running on only one power supply at present – When I switch the machine on, the X and Y axis run perfectly but as soon as I touch the Z axis, the Z axis doesn’t move AND then both the X and Y axis become very ‘grumbly’ when I try to move them? This situation doesn’t change until I turn off power to the controls and then restart the machine. Also, when started up – although the X and Y move properly, if I leave the machine standing for a short period without any movement, then both X and Y will no longer move smoothly either, they grumble just as they do if I try to move the Z.
I have been back through the wiring multiple times and I’m convinced all is well. I am also running a quality 5v dedicated supply to both the BOB and the ESS.
Are these issues likely to be as a result of trying to run the machine on the single power supply and they may resolve themselves once the 2 new supplies are fitted?
Or is there anything else that you can suggest might be the issue?
I probably should have mentioned too that this machine is running servo motors not steppers on the X and Y but a stepper on the Z AND (although I know it is frowned upon) I have been running this machine for the last 4 years with the power supplies wired (properly) in parallel. I also run 3 drivers – 2 dedicated to X and Y and a lower powered unit for the Z stepper.
There is also a small Geckodrive unit to run my 4th axis occasionally.
I have attached my .xml in case that helps?
Any suggestions will be gratefully received – especially after the last 10 days of frustration!
Regards,
Colin.