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Messages - Hobbyist

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1
General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe trouble
« on: May 26, 2019, 08:39:30 AM »
After far too many hours upgrading connectors, virtually all of the wiring, the BOB, and other components trying to pinpoint the problem, I noticed a burn mark on one of the insulation displacement quick connectors supplying power to one of the driver boards.  Although the driver seemed to be switching correctly to drive the stepper when I went through a diagnostic, the size of the burn mark was an indication that there had been arcing going on which must have produced high enough voltage spikes to blow all of the driver boards.  The first new driver installed works perfectly.

2
General Mach Discussion / Re: Pendant trouble
« on: April 14, 2019, 09:00:41 AM »
I spent some time verifying continuity of the connections between the Smooth Stepper through the C22 to the M36 connector and found no problems, however, when I checked between the range selector switch and the Db25 connector pins there was an open.  After removing the M36 from the panel I noticed a burnt trace on the switch side of the board (which is double sided).  A short jumper from a Via to the pin fixed it.  I don't remember exactly when that may have happened but I seem to remember that switch position not working when I initially connected it to the Db25 connector but was able to use it when I used a ribbon cable connected directly to the Smooth Stepper at that time. I had reverted back to the Db25 when I rewired the system recently.

John

3
General Mach Discussion / Pendant trouble
« on: April 11, 2019, 08:18:15 PM »
I am having trouble getting my fixed remote pendant to work after rewiring pretty much my entire control system and replacing all of the software (Mach3, ESS and pendant plugins, and totally re-configured from my notes).  It was working perfectly when I had the M36 board connected directly to the ESS via a 6 foot long ribbon cable, however, the same M36 is now connected through a C22 board (to supply power to the M36) to the ESS.  Everything on it is working except the resolution switch will not turn on pin 10 for the X100 setting.  Anyone have an idea where to look next?

John

4
I see that the last post was only a couple of months ago but I will attempt to add mine to it.  Although I am trying to track an elusive problem with what appears to be lost steps, after rewiring my entire control system, reinstalling all software and reconfiguring it I now have a problem with the pendant plugin.  I am using the M36 board from CNC4PC as a fixed remote pendant connected through a C22 board to port 2 on an ESS.  Everything works on it except the resolution switch.  The X1 position activates pin 8, the X2 position activates pin 9 as expected, but the X3 position does not turn on pin 10.  Everything was working correctly when I had the M36 connected directly to the ESS via an excessively long ribbon cable.

Thanks

John

5
General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe trouble
« on: March 24, 2019, 09:56:50 AM »
Update: The system is now rewired into one enclosure with a remote fixed pendant.  There are now two problems to resolve: The first problem is still the original one where after getting a run out of data error from the ESS and the program stopped in the middle of a pass, I was not able to recalibrate either axis.  An MDI input of 0.1 inch results in about 0.06 of movement.  Mach3 R3.043.062 was reinstalled and configured along with all of the plugins, ESS 2019_02_25 10w2a-10f1 as well as for the pendant.  The second problem is related to the pendant, (a C22 and M36 from CNC4PC).  When I change the range switch to the X100 position pin 10 does not energize but every other function works.  It used to work just fine when I had it connected directly to the ESS with a 26 conductor ribbon cable.  The M36 is now connected to the C22 with a DB25 cable with power supplied by the C22 which is connected to the ESS by a ribbon cable.  Any ideas?

John

6
General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe trouble
« on: January 16, 2019, 05:51:15 AM »
While it is possible that there may be an issue with the smoothstepper, I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt and more likely suspect a poor connection somewhere in my system.  I have cobbled it together with various components scattered in three different enclosures with numerous feet of cabling between them.  The only conclusion I can come up with is to dismantle everything and put it all into one proper enclosure.

7
General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe trouble
« on: January 12, 2019, 05:52:31 PM »
I actually uninstalled Mach, deleted the Mach3 folder and set up a new profile manually for the new installation.  No change.  The computer was purchased new in 2014 with Windows 7 and worked perfectly till now.  The drivers are currently running from port 1 on the ESS with everything else on port 3, I will see if I can switch from port 1 to port 2 without too much trouble.

8
General Mach Discussion / Re: Lathe trouble
« on: January 11, 2019, 06:26:03 PM »
I have worked my way through the suggestions on the warp9 link, however, it seems as though what ever happened is now causing both the X and Z axis to lose steps because it will not move the correct amount at all.  Everything else seems to be working correctly.

9
General Mach Discussion / Lathe trouble
« on: January 09, 2019, 05:57:44 PM »
I have been using Mach3 version 062 with a smoothstepper on a lathe for a number of years.  In the middle of running a program all motion stopped and an error popped up on the screen saying the smoothstepper had run out of data.  When I tried to zero the axis' there was a major loss of steps and calibration was out to lunch.  All of the configuration numbers still seem to be correct.  So far, I have re-installed Mach, updated the smoothstepper plug-in, replaced the network cable, verified that there is power to all boards, and fixed up some wiring from when I was running it from a parallel port until the computer died and it was replaced.  The 64 bit operating system is Windows 7.  Anyone have an idea where to check next?

10
General Mach Discussion / Connection advice
« on: April 18, 2015, 01:35:01 PM »
I am upgrading several custom circuits on my lathe with an M36 selector board from CNC4PC.  It is unclear to me from the documentation how to properly connect a C15 spindle relay, a C3 spindle index and a momentary switch to re-enable Mach after a reset. 

Can all of this be done through the M36 or do I need to use another port on my ESS?

Thanks

John

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