Topics

1

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 Pokeys57CNC Setup - Machine Suddenly Only Moves in the Negative X-Axis Dir

« on: August 31, 2023, 09:53:17 PM »

Hello All,

For full transparency I also submitted ticket information to PoLabs Support.  However I thought I would also post here to see if anyone else has experienced the same issue or has any ideas. 

Whether I jog manually or send a GCode command the machine will only move in the negative X direction.  All other axes, YZA move properly.  I swapped computers and the stepper driver for the XAxis without success.  I also unplugged and disabled all homing switches.

I think that rules out software, switches and the stepper driver.  I am thinking the Pokeys board has gotten scrambled.  I also updated to the latest firmware.  And of course during diagnostics I have rebooted the computer and board multiple times.

In addition the board will not recognize the XAxis homing switch, which had been working fine.

Now a brief history which might give some clues.

Last week the machine went dead and would not move.  All axes were dead.  The problem was a dead power supply.  I replaced the power supply and cut a couple small jobs.  Now tonight after installing a new XAxis homing switch the machine will only move in the negative XAxis direction.  However as previously mentioned I have since disconnected and disabled all homing switches, with no luck.

I am scratching my head here.  Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks so much!

2

Mach4 Plugins / XBox 360 Plugin - Can't get it to work or recognize

« on: December 29, 2022, 03:43:20 PM »

Hello All,

Trying to use the plugin made by @dazthegas for the XBox 360 Controller.  Have some weird issues, wondering if someone can give some advice.  I have the plugin in the plugins directory.  I can activate the plugin from the Configure -> Control->Plug in menu. However here is where it gets a bit weird for me.  I do NOT see the plugin under Configure->Plugins.  Also it does not show me that the XBox 360 Controller is active in the message bar. I am on Windows 10 running the latest version of Mach4.  Another weird thing is that if I check the controller from Diagnostic->Regfile it DOES show signals from the controller.  I am sure it is something simple, but I can't seem to figure this one out.  I've reinstalled, restarted, etc... no joy. 

Thanks!

3

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH4 G31 MOTION WILL NOT STOP ON PROBE CONTACT

« on: August 27, 2021, 01:40:32 PM »

Hello,

I am running Mach4 with Pokeys57CNC

Sorry to post a new topic on G31.  I've tried searching the forum archives and can't find a similar problem / solution.

The problem is when I run this gcode command in the MDI (as a test) the z axis does not stop on probe contact.

G31 Z-10 F50

I can run probing with no issues using the Probing Wizard.  Also the Touch light indicates contact during the move (using the gcode above).

Not sure what I am missing.

Anyone else had this issue?

Thanks.

4

Mach4 General Discussion / Mach4 XAxis Motor only vibrates and does not move - suggestions welcome :-)

« on: August 21, 2021, 02:37:47 PM »

Hello CNC'ers!

I am running Mach4 and Pokeys57CNC.

I am at my wits end and can't track down a problem with my Xaxis stepper motor.

The problem is it just vibrates loudly and doesn't move.  (Short video attached if it let's me upload.  Yup!  That noise is the stepper motor!)

This machine had been running with no issue.  My issue started when I disassembled the machine to install new Y axis plates.  The machine was running fine (cutting then new plates I installed) before I disassembled it.  Literally all I did was re-assemble the machine and now the Xaxis won't run.  (All other axes are fine)

I won't bore everyone with all the details (of course unless you ask) however through series of elimination I thought I had it narrowed down to an aviator connector for power (A+/-, B+/-) at the stepper motor.  (Swapping stepper drivers, cables, checking stepper motor winding pairing, checked voltage, connections at stepper driver, tested motor on another axis, etc...)

Well that's not it!  I don't know what else to try.

Any hints, advice, past problems that would help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

5

Mach4 General Discussion / ZAXIS Decreasing (By Error) During Cut

« on: August 07, 2021, 03:17:40 PM »

Hello All!

Hoping to gather some brainstorming ideas from all the big brains here!  :-)

I have a problem with my machine, running MACH4 and POKEYS57CNC.  I noticed after the finish cut was completed that the Z height of the cut was normal at the start.  However when the job was finish (at the final cut) it was ~ 5mm too deep.  The job looks great if it wasn't for the erroneous cut.  There is no obvious stepping in the cut or signs of a problem.  So I am assuming that the z depth problem is gradual on each pass.  The job is 183 mm wide with a 0.1mm step over.  So mathematically I am assuming that for each step over the z axis is out (negatively) by 0.0027mm [183mm wide / 0.1 mm step over = 1830 steps, 5mm error / 1830 steps = 0.00273~ mm]  At this exactly how the cut looks.  It's smooth and "flat" looking, otherwise a good cut.  Now the way I see it is the z axis error is on the positive travel direction (up), when it's not cutting vertically.  My logic is if the actual zaxis move up is less than the programmed move, then when the zaxis moves down (and there is no error with the downward travel) it will move down too far (the same amount as the error on the upward movement).  Now this really baffles me as there should be little or no resistance on the zaxis motor on the z+ movement.

A bit more context on the machine zaxis setup. I have a 8mm x 1mm pitch lead screw with a flexible shaft coupling.  The stepper driver is set to 800 pulses/rev with a Nema 23 Closed Loop Stepper Motor 2.0 Nm/283.28oz.in of torque.

I've checked for interferences on the zaxis travel, there are none.  I also ran a reliability test moving the zaxis vertically up and down in the same XY location for 1000 cycles.  That is also ok.  At the end of the 1000 cycles the cutter is exactly where it should be in the zaxis with no error.

I have also checked the flexible coupling set screws to ensure there was no motor shaft slippage.  All checks out there also.  When I installed the motor I made a mark on the end of the shaft so I could align the set screw properly on the shaft flat.  It's right where it should be and the set screws are still tight. (there are 4 set screws total, 2 on the flat and 2 90 degrees off the flat).  There is 1 flat on the motor shaft.

I was also thinking about motor amperage.  However the stepper driver is outputting their max 5 amps which is the rated current for the motor.

I've got a lot of cutting hours on this machine and never had this as an issue.  I'm scratching my head here.  Obviously there is something I am missing.

Any feedback / help / ideas greatly appreciated!

Hope everyone is safe and healthy.

Best regards.

6

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH4 MACHINE Z WILL NOT ZERO ON HOMING

« on: March 20, 2020, 05:42:59 PM »

Hello All,

I have this nagging issue.  Wondering if anyone else has seen it.  I have a homing switch on X and Y axis.  When I Home the machine (Reference All Axes button) X and Y axes home and zero the machine axes properly. 

I have set the Z set to Home in Place.  If I watch the DRO (machine coordinates) I see that Z  will flash for a partial second 0 (zero) then revert back to it's value.  Therefore it will not zero at all.  It just stays at whatever value it is currently on.

Is there any other way to fix this issue through configuration or set the Machine Z axis zero through script or GCode?

I do have a support ticket in with ArtSoft.  Their suggestion was to install a newer version of the software.  I tried this and it didn't got so well as I lost all of my settings.  Trying to avoid the re-install unless absolutely necessary.

Thanks,

S

7

Mach4 General Discussion / MACH4 HOW TO DISABLE 1 AXIS

« on: January 26, 2020, 10:06:39 AM »

Hello fellow CNC'ers.

My setup is a 4 Axis CNC with Mach4 and POKEYS57CNC.  The 4th axis is A (rotary).  I have the enable/disable signals wired from the stepper drivers.  So for example when I "Unable" control all of the stepper motors are de-energized. 

My question is how / can I disable only 1 axis?  For example when I am cutting a job and I don't need to use the A axis I would like to disable it. 

I can't see in any documentation or inputs/outputs where I can make this happen.

Not sure if I should post here on in the Pokeys Topic.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

8

PoKeys / MACH4 AND POKEYS57CNC CANNOT SET SPINDLE SPEED

« on: January 19, 2020, 10:24:21 PM »

Hello all!

I have an issue that I cannot set the spindle speed using Mach4.  If I set the VFD to set the speed using it's control panel I can change the speed with no issues.  If I leave this setting on the VFD I can turn the spindle on and off in Mach4 and adjust the spindle speed with the VFD potentiometer.

The problem is when I try to set the spindle speed with Mach4.  I cannot get the configuration correct so I can output 0-10V across Pin17 (PWM).

In Mach Output Signals I have Spindle On set to PoKeys_*********XX PE Relay 1.  This works for turning on and off the spindle. 

I also have Spindle Fwd set to PoKeys_*********X Pin 17(out).  This does not work.

In the Pokeys57CNC Plugin configuration Miscellaneous Tab I have Enable PWM Outputs checked, PWM frequency set to 20000, Enable Pin 17, Spindle output to Pin 17 and Set to 0 when OFF checked.

I have a NOWFOREVER VFD and the Relay 1 output connected to X1 and Com.  This works to turn the spindle on and off.

I have GNDi and Pin 17 from the Pokeys57CNC connected to AIN1 and Com on the VFD.

As far as I know by looking at the NOWFOREVER VFD manual this is correct.   Additionally I have set the VFD setting to accept the signal to AIN1 for setting spindle speed.

However if I probe GNDi and Pin 17 on the Pokeys57CNC board it is always flat at 0V even when setting the speed.

Now an interesting point is if I use the Pokeys V4.4.5 Configuration Software and go to the Peripherals -> PWM Outputs Tab and manually set the output on Pin 17 (PWM 5) I get the proper voltage output across Pin 17 and GNDi on the Pokeys57CNC board.

So I know I dancing very close around the solution however I can't figure out how to get it to work.

Can anyone give me a clue on what I am missing?

Thank you.

9

Mach4 General Discussion / Slave Motor Will Not Home

« on: January 18, 2020, 11:18:44 PM »

Hello all,

I have 2 motors on my Y Axis.  When I manually jog the axis the motors work properly.  However when I try to home the machine it appears that only one of the stepper motors is turning.

I am using POKEYS57CNC and Mach4.

Does anyone know what would cause this issue?

Thanks.

10

PoKeys / POKEYS57CNC and Mach4 Homing Switches

« on: January 13, 2020, 07:44:56 PM »

Hello All,

I am having difficulty configuring home switches.  I have NC switches wired to the X and Y axis.  They are connected to the Axis 1 and Axis 2 switch locations on the board terminal.  I have tested the switches with a multi-meter and they function as required.

However it seems I am just going around in circles trying to configure them in the POKEYS Plugin and the Mach4 Control Configuration.  I cannot figure out how to complete the configuration.  I've spent time googling and even found reference to the same  type of problem on this forum.

No joy.

Could anyone help me with the steps to configure the home switches?

Much appreciated.

Thanks.