Messages

61

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 01:38:46 PM »

I'll have to check tonight.  I'm at my day job currently;)

62

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 01:12:27 PM »

Hmm, I'm not sure I understand.  My laptop is connected via 3 prong power adapter.  The PC is powered via a 3 prong cord to the wall.  Aren't those the same then?

63

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 12:47:09 PM »

No problem, I'm happy to have the help.  The relay switching sends a DC signal to tell the VFD to turn on a off the spindle.  I also have it wired with low voltage DC to control the speed of the spindle.  Btw, I'm using the C23 card from CNC4PC which has inputs/outputs for all this stuff directly on the card.

Barry

64

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 14, 2010, 12:01:56 PM »

It's via relay.  I've been in MN, so i haven't been using the CNC for about a week.  I'll try and troubleshoot this weekend.  I don't think it's the VFD/spindle though, as with the other machine (laptop) it's tits on perfect.  With this PC, I get strange error messages sometimes just by launching Mach3, communication errors, errors seeing the card.  Maybe I should nuke and pave and start over on that machine.

Barry

65

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 07, 2010, 03:44:13 PM »

No, it shows up in the device manager just fine.  It's Mach3 that doesn't see it.  Sometimes I have to power down the card, and power it back up.  Sometimes that won't work either.  It's really odd.

As for the 3 LED's, I'd have to check.  I'm at the day job, the CNC machine is the night job.

Barry

66

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 07, 2010, 02:07:22 PM »

I've tried with several cables, with all the same result.  The drivers are all up to date.  Nothing in the device manager has ? on them.  I'm able to connect other things to the computer like flash drives or external USB drives if I want to transfer data.  I've tried other ports too, all with the same result.  I just don't see this working on this computer.  Is it finicky?  Is Mach3 finicky computer to computer?

Barry

67

SmoothStepper USB / Re: smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 07, 2010, 12:48:01 PM »

The pc is custom built for this purpose.  All new athlon 2, 2 gig ram, win xp home premium.  It literally has nothing installed on it except xp, Mach 3, lazy cam and the smooth stepper drivers.  I don't even give it Internet access unless I'm updating it.  I don't think there is any overhead.  The USB cable is the same cable I use with my laptop, so it is known good.  Half the time the smooth stepper isn't even recognized on the pc. If it is, it is guaranteed to fail if I turn the spindle on when using the pc.  The laptop doesn't have these issues.

Barry

68

SmoothStepper USB / smooth stepper works differently in different computers?

« on: April 06, 2010, 08:44:43 PM »

Hey folks, I'm trying to set up a smooth stepper on a custom built AMD box, and I'm having a devil of a time.  I originally set it up on a laptop, which I've gotten it to work on that brilliantly.  However, installing Mach on the custom AMD box, the smooth stepper loses connection all the time.  If I do get it to be seen at the startup for Mach, it will almost always lose connection as soon as I try to turn the spindle on.  This doesn't happen when using the laptop.  Any ideas?  The computer is closer to the CNC machine, but would that matter?  Everything else is in the same spot regardless of which computer drives the card.

Barry

69

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2nd parallel port madness

« on: March 14, 2010, 11:37:49 AM »

Those numbers aren't ranges.  They are the first address in a range. Each parallel port had two ranges listed in the device manager.  The first number in the range is what you put in Mach, so that's all I listed. Sorry for the confusion. An interesting result is originally I bought the ss to work on a laptop, which I have gotten it to work perfectly there. I can mill all day and then some.  The trouble I'm having in on a desktop, which is so strange to me. Anyway, I've spent so much time on this issue, I think I'm going to just upgrade to another laptop and retire this one to the shop, to run Mach.  It seems overkill, but I know this combo works.

Barry

70

General Mach Discussion / Re: 2nd parallel port madness

« on: March 13, 2010, 08:06:48 PM »

Yes, I know the SS is USB.  Originally I was using the SS with a USB port;)

I stopped because it would lose connection after a couple hours.  I'm attempting to use parallel ports instead.  I'm attempting to use the exact same setup, except with parallel ports, same pins, etc.  It's not a pin assignment issue, as this WILL work with the smooth stepper.  The issue, is that a 2nd parallel port isn't seen inside Mach3, no matter the port addresses I'm giving it.

Barry