Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Any help / suggestions please?

« on: October 08, 2016, 06:44:28 AM »

Ok, last dumb question (unlikely!) if you don't take all the earths to one place what do you do with them. I thought the whole point was that (ultimately) they all do end up in one place?

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Any help / suggestions please?

« on: October 08, 2016, 05:58:26 AM »

I have attached a picture of the new panel I have put together for this upgrade.
They say a picture pants a thousand words? Hopefully it will explain more clearly the layout and connections I have been talking about.
As I said before, there are clearly some very knowledgable people on this forum so NO LAUGHING!
Thank you.

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Any help / suggestions please?

« on: October 08, 2016, 05:50:55 AM »

I have already removed the dead power supply hence trying to set it back up with just one temporarily.
This may sound odd but I have run each positive 48v out of the power supplies separate from each other but to a common junction, I have done the same with the negative (to another common junction).
I have then taken a line from those junctions to the power in on the BOB.
I have taken the positive and negative power out lines from the BOB to separate (insulated and covered bus bars) and have then taken respective individual positive and negative lines (each of the same length) straight across to the drivers.
So, no daisy chaining. I hope this makes sense - clearly there a some VERY knowledgable people on here!
Thanks

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Any help / suggestions please?

« on: October 08, 2016, 05:39:02 AM »

Understanding a little more! Ok, I will try that. Thanks.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Any help / suggestions please?

« on: October 08, 2016, 05:20:59 AM »

Hi,
Thanks for the advice. I have used a dedicated 5v power supply BUT I have returned all earths to a din rail. Why is putting all grounds together an issue? Pardon my ignorance.
I have no ground loops that I can detect and I have tested everywhere I can think of.
Thanks.

6

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.

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie Advice

« on: May 23, 2014, 05:40:24 AM »

Thanks Rich,
Are you talking about Mach3 Turn or my normal Mach3?
I have done a lot of manual programming of lathes (years ago) but was hoping to find something as useful and intuitive as Aspire but specifically for turning. Something that might carry useful 'canned cycles' that calculate roughing and finishing based on the stock bar used and the finished shape, threading etc. Easy to design the component, easy to post process the tool-paths?
Sorry if I'm showing my ignorance here? Thanks, Colin.

8

General Mach Discussion / Newbie Advice

« on: May 23, 2014, 03:10:04 AM »

Hi All,
I'm new to this forum and would really appreciate some advice.
I currently run my CNC router quite successfully with Mach3 as the interface and Aspire 4.0 as the source of design and G Code post processing. However, I've just purchased a small SIEG lathe that comes with (what seems to be) limited software for control of the machine and I would like some advice about suitable software for designing and post processing items to be turned on the lathe? I know a little about Mach3 turn but is there a Vectric product like Aspire but dedicated to turning? Thanks, Colin.