Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 06, 2010, 04:07:38 PM »

Had a smooth stepper hooked up to my machine this afternoon, loaded the problem gcode back in and ran it at 4.4meters a min no missed steps brilliant bit of kit!

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 06, 2010, 05:15:46 AM »

Well I feel a right plonker!

Saturday morning I started my quest to find out what was going on with my machine, first thing moved my home switch wiring to another BOB only to find the the LED's were still flashing on the diagnostics screen.

So another check of the voltages and everything checked out ok until I checked the opto relays I was using to switch the 24v to 5v, 5 volts going in 2.3volt coming out ! So straight to the BOB removed the wires from one of my home switches and linked it out, solid LED on the screen.Removed the opto's replaced with some 24v relays problem solved.

Now the missing step saga,all the time I have been checking the problem I have been using the same G code program, I had checked the code and everything looked good, when I was running  the tests with my plunge gauge there was no sign of any missing steps(differnet code), I went back to my cam program I had used for creating the code and found that I was trying to move the tool 17mm a sec! I know the machine would only achieve it's max that is set on the motor tuning page, but never the less I thought this might be the problem,I adjusted my toolpath paramaters and created the G code loaded it into the machine, NO MORE MISSED STEPS

It just go's to show how a series of events can send you down the complete wrong track, I had convinced myself it was the new computer. I will look on this as part of the very steep learning curve we all embark on when we set out down the home cnc route.

Thanks Hood for your help and anyone else who chipped in with advice.

Regards

Andy

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 04, 2010, 05:52:06 PM »

Hood

I have managed to get my old PC back up and running (fitted a new graphics card) hooked it back up to the machine and its no different! Same problem.

So over night I have gone from a working machine with no issues to a blown graphics card and now what looks like a problem with my machine electronics.

I have got the scope from work, so this weekend I will be doing some probing and hopefully find the problem.

I will keep you posted.

andy

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 02, 2010, 06:47:07 PM »

Hood

I can get one from work to use. If I don't get sorted before I will get over the weekend and do some testing

Stirling Thanks for the link I will have a good look to see if it might be of help

thanks

Andy

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 02, 2010, 07:13:43 AM »

Hood I have tried a PCI port but it was no different.

I put myself on the smooth stepper waiting list   ; )

6

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 01, 2010, 06:18:08 PM »

should read port grounding

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 01, 2010, 06:17:24 PM »

One thing I have been asked to test by someone else is the poret grounding on the new motherboard which I will check tomorrow because I am off to bed up at 5.30 for work.

Cheers

Andy

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 01, 2010, 06:15:39 PM »

just over 35KHz and nice and steady

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General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 01, 2010, 05:48:37 PM »

Hi Hood

Here is the XML file

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General Mach Discussion / Re: New PC Loosing Steps (I think)

« on: June 01, 2010, 05:15:48 PM »

Time in Int will jump about so thats nothing to worry about, it should be fairly low and only vary a bit though, not big differences. Whats your normally about?

Can you attach your xml, will have a look and see if I can find a problem.
Hood

Hi  Hood

Thanks for the help.

Time in Int ranges from +4 to +14 but flicking very fast between these numbers.

Whats the best way to attach the XMl file?

Andy